[prow]

Originally Posted by jimbanks

Thank you all for the quick replies.

Prow, the trigger is a Niger, suuposedly the most tame of the species, not sure if that means he would beat up on a CUC or not though!

just wanted to know mainly for growth. niger tiggers dont grow as big as some. so it being a baby you maybe able to get away with some CUC. the only wat to know for sure is try it out and hope for the best, likely you will have to be the CUC at some point.

I apprecite the info on the Diatom/silicate issue and intend to start using RO water, and in time, will get a RO/DI setup to make the optimal water, I might even drink it!

good idea, i setup my RODI unit so the RO/DI auto tops off the tank and then ran a DI bypass (RO only line) and setup an auto topoff water dispenser for drinking.

I bought this whole setup used off of someone so I'm not sure what he used in the tank(cc or sand, LR or not) and couldn't explain his filter combo. I have explored the option of a closed loop system but aside from having trouble understanding it I also would like to continue working with what I have from an expense standpoint.

totally understand that. after all, i am sure they forgot to mention the tank is the cheapest part.

for the closed loop its simple. your fluval is a closed loop, basically, minus the reservoir. if you replace the fluval with a pump and use the same plumbing you got a closed loop. to save $$$$ you can just use the fluva but leave out any media, its works the same as a closed loop, though some waste products and foods will get trapped in the fluvals reservoir and will need to be cleaned, bbut not as much as if there was media in it.

This is my first venture into saltwater and I don't want to be scared out of the hobby by more big expenses (at least not for now, I know I'll be upgrading equipment as time goes by!)

well then, welcome to SW have no fear it does get better and better as you go along

As far as cleaning 1/4 of the cc goes, how does one do that? Just scoop it out and clean it and then put it back in?

no no, dont take it out. just vacuum/syphon it. use tubing and dig into the CC when you do water changes and suck all the crap up. thats it. like said above you just dont want to disturb too much at one time.

It seems, based on these replies, that changing from tap water to RO and ultimately RO/DI will fix this diatom problem for the most part. I don't think it would ever completely go away but as far as I know that's not really a huge problem. Would this assumption be correct? If so, I'll try that first and then venture into some of the other suggestions.

yes, that be correct. actually diatoms are a good thing, they just look ugly and cover the glass blocking your view. do remember though, too much of any one thing is not a good thing.

What do you guys think?

i think you are asking the right questions and more importantly getting it. i think this may help you, great question added and explained along the way. its not for a FO tank, its for a reef but i think it will help you understand what going on. then you can get the why or why not when some say do this or that anyway hope it helps Newbies, a little something on cycling/breaking in a new reef tank.