Reef Sanctuary - View Single Post

BlueNWhite · 06-23-2005, 12:22 AM

Wow, I can't believe how openly helpful you guys/gals are on here.

I do have five years of experience in SW, but I wouldn't really call it five years because it was all under my old set up of undrilled and sumpless and NO lights.

So this Saturday, I will be picking up a used 180g from Mugster on Aquariumpros.ca. Actually, it was from that site that I found out about this one. The used 180g is drilled with overflows and bulkheads, but not drilled for closed loop. I think I understand what closed loop is, but I am not sure if I should have it drilled for it (for future use) or not. The purchase includes a DIY canopy with moguls sockets, brackets and reflectors (but without ballasts), DIY stand, 55g sump (but no refugium in it), and manifold for the return with loc-lines.

I plan to eventually stock heavy on fish with easy corals, so I will be concentrating on spending most of my future budget on the skimmer. I am not sure about MH because of the cost factor. My mushrooms, zoos, polyps, frogspawn, and candy canes seem to be doing fine under my current lighting, so I am thinking about going with something similar in the 180 to start but maybe with a couple more bulbs.

Is it necessary that the sump be drilled? Currently it is not.

Should I try to transfer as much of the water from my current 130 in the 180?

I plan to go without gravel on the bottom, as I've found that there is way too much detritus at the bottom of the tank when I have my 1" of aragonite in my 130. It doesn't look as natural, but I am more concerned with trying to minimize any nitrite (or is it nitrate) build up. What do you think?

Many more questions to come.

I am still in awe of all of the warm welcomes that I've received already.

Thank you,
Raymond

06-23-2005, 12:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
BlueNWhite Bryozoan Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 42 View Gallery Karma Komment	Wow, I can't believe how openly helpful you guys/gals are on here. I do have five years of experience in SW, but I wouldn't really call it five years because it was all under my old set up of undrilled and sumpless and NO lights. So this Saturday, I will be picking up a used 180g from Mugster on Aquariumpros.ca. Actually, it was from that site that I found out about this one. The used 180g is drilled with overflows and bulkheads, but not drilled for closed loop. I think I understand what closed loop is, but I am not sure if I should have it drilled for it (for future use) or not. The purchase includes a DIY canopy with moguls sockets, brackets and reflectors (but without ballasts), DIY stand, 55g sump (but no refugium in it), and manifold for the return with loc-lines. I plan to eventually stock heavy on fish with easy corals, so I will be concentrating on spending most of my future budget on the skimmer. I am not sure about MH because of the cost factor. My mushrooms, zoos, polyps, frogspawn, and candy canes seem to be doing fine under my current lighting, so I am thinking about going with something similar in the 180 to start but maybe with a couple more bulbs. Is it necessary that the sump be drilled? Currently it is not. Should I try to transfer as much of the water from my current 130 in the 180? I plan to go without gravel on the bottom, as I've found that there is way too much detritus at the bottom of the tank when I have my 1" of aragonite in my 130. It doesn't look as natural, but I am more concerned with trying to minimize any nitrite (or is it nitrate) build up. What do you think? Many more questions to come. I am still in awe of all of the warm welcomes that I've received already. Thank you, Raymond