Ok What's Next?

[Ken]

Some of you have been following some of my posts since "Starting Over" especially, Lynn, Boomer D and Steve. Your help, advice and incouragement has been extreamely helpfull. I have taken down an old 110gal fresh water conversion with major problems one of the worst being nitrates off the charts, replaced it with a 125gal reef ready with a 40gal sump and fuge ( some of this stuff I didn't even know what it was). I only lost one 6 line wrass in the process, and I think something fell on him, of course just about everything else had already died. My first tank was set up by a pro (????) and was a disaster after 1 year. This time I have done everything myself, except for some extra muscle changing tanks and of course the help from my new friends on reef santuary, and I feel completly different about this "Hobby" setting in my living room. Any way it's been 3 weeks since the change over and the water is:
pH=8.1
temp=77.7
salt=1.026
KH=11.2
Alk=4.0
calcium=420
magnesium=1260
amonia, nitrite, and phosphate = 0
and nitrate = 1.0 yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I still have a few questions though. I was afraid to use much of the sand out of my old system, cause it stunk to high heaven even after being washed alot. I did use about 5lbs though that I cleaned the best I could. I was thinking it might still have live stuff in it to help get things started again after the swap out. I have about 160lb+ of live rock moved over from the old tank. The sand in the tank is all new and is about 4 inches of oolic. The guy at the lfs tells me I don't need to add any live sand that it will go live in a short time. Some times I wonder about him so what do you guys think? The only things that are in this tank now are"
1 flame angel
1 six line wrass
1 figi clown
1 lawnmower blenny
30 or 40 hermits
10 to 15 snails
There are still some green stardips, zointhad in a place or two and some very small assorted mushrooms scattered about and that's about it. Oh and I put some seaweed in the fuge yesterday.
So anyway 1st question is should I get some live sand from somewhere, 2nd is there enough clean up crew in there 3rd am I missing anything other than my skimmer that is still on back order and won't be shipped for another 2 or 3 weeks.
Thanks,
Ken

[lcstorc]

Looks like you are off to a good start. For the sand, I wouldn't worry about it. With that much live rock and the inhabitants I think your sand will be just fine. If you can find a local reefer and ask them for a cup or 2 of sand to seed yours. Really you already did this with some of the sand from you old system.
What are you using for filtration, flow, etc while you wait for the new skimmer? It is probably on another post, but with the bioload you have without a skimmer you should be prepared to do lots of water changes with ro water to keep your levels where they are.
Post some pics when you can. I would love to see how it turned out.

[sasquatch]

Ken, got it done huh? im sure the sand will enliven from the rock,you could get a cup or two from the lfs, or pick up and cure a couple pieces of LR for diversity, hows you blenny taking all this? Steve

[blue_eyes53813]

You may need some more hermits and snails... Cant waite to see some pictures...

[lgerold]

I wish you the best of luck! Hang out here, and you are sure to be successful.

We love pictures!

[Ken]

You know the only filtration there is the rock and sand, 160lbs rock, 4 in. oolic sand in the tank and 5 in. in the fuge part of the sump. Do I need some type of partical filter or charcoal or both and if so where should they be placed? The tank is an 125gal 6ft. long All Glass with 2 large drains, 1 at each end and the return is a Mag 18. In the tank there is a Maxi jet 1200 at one end and a RIO Seio 820 at the other. I though I would do a 30gal water change ever 2 weeks until I got the skimmer and then about once a month after that. Think that's about right? Too much?, Not enough? The blenny seems fat and sassy, eatin' like crazy and stares at me ever where I go. I posted a couple of pics. right after the change over and nothing much has changed yet, except the water is alot clearer. Even though is's kind of bare in there right now, trust me I'm kinda' proud of this thing so I'll get some pics. on when I get a chance. I don't want to get in such a big hurry that I cause problems like I did the last time but if you have any ideas what is safe to add I would appretiate any suggestions.
Thanks,
Ken

[sasquatch]

sounds good for now, add a filter sock in the sump, more flow in the tank would get some of the debris into the water column and into the sump, I like activated charcoal, some how I always think something in the tank somewhere must be letting off something toxic or nasty. Funny how sometimes you do one thing and its like wow what happened carry on camper! Steve

[lgerold]

I can really tell the difference using carbon. It really helps clear the water. Hold a newspaper at the glass at one end of the tank. If you can read it from the other end, it's clear. If not, think about using some carbon. You can put it right in a media bag in the sump. It should be changed every month. I like to use two bags, change one out every two weeks, alternating. That way, you don't remove too much of the good bacteria (the nitrifying kind) that builds up in the carbon all at once.

[Ken]

How much more flow do you think would be enough? There seems to be a pretty good breeze going on now. Those socks your talking about do they go over the outflow tubing in the sump? 100 micron, 200 micron? Draw string type? Any certain kind of charcoal? Does the charcoal filter go in a high flow area or does it matter? Realy I'm not stupid I just want to get it right. I'm sure I will have alot dumber questions as the days go by.
Ken

[lcstorc]

Your water change frequency should be based on your test results. As long as your levels stay good they you should be fine. When you see something start to rise then it is time for a water change. I think it is likely you will need to do them more frequently in the beginning, but once the system settles in if you do not overfeed then once a month sounds quite reasonable. Just keep testing while the bacteria keeps growing and go from there.
Keep up with the great work.

[Woodstock]

Congrats on your successful upgrade

As far as water filtering (other than the skimmer,liverock & sand), I like using Black Diamond carbon. I also would recommend using a phosphate adsorbing media too.
The perfect way for both is in a Two Little Fishies Phosban reactor. It is an inexpensive cylinder that hangs on the side of your sump. Get one for the carbon and one for the phosban media. You can even plumb them together with one pump if you'd like (side by side). The carbon can have strong flow through it but hte phosban should have slow/gentle flow so it doesn't tumble the media.
The carbon removes organics and will polish the water wonderfully.
The phosban also removes organics but will also remove phosphates.