new members converstion, FO to reef with softies

[prow]

hey everyone,
Aqualady is planning on reefing out her old tank. she posted this in the newbie section but i thought she would get more suggestions on equipment and other options on/during this convertion. like changing out the bio ball and substrate, sump/refugium powerheads and placement ect.....all that good stuff. i started out with some questions before getting started in any changes.

Originally Posted by aqualady

I have had a fish only 90 gal for about 2 years and I want to work toward soft corals. Does that make me an advanced newbie??
I bought my current system used and it has an ancient wet/dry. It does not even resemble the units i've seen on the market now. I am thinking of geting a new one. Should I, or will new bio balls and new protein skimmer mess up my aerobic bacteria? If a new one will be OK any recommendations? How many gal per hour is best? I think my system is fairly stable even with the old and under-sized equipment. How can I best update without too much impact? I have new lights (compact florescents with actinics & moon)) but I am afraid to hook them up for fear of an algea outbreak, am I right on that? I will be buying mail-order live rock/base rock this summer. Any recommendations here? Also, any recommendations for power heads. I have a powersweep 228 but it's not hooked up as it seems to freak out my fish. I'm waiting until I have some lilve rock and such first. I am so confused and overwhelmed by all the products and research out there, some practical advice from real people would be welcome. I live way North (New York state near the Canadian boarder), not alot of suppliers or well stocked stores for reefers. All has to be done mail-order and I want to make the best choices. Any suggestions or advise would be great... Thanks!

here is my post on the other thread to get us started in helping out with this convertion.

hello and welcome to reefing there are of course many ways to do what your wanting to do. whatever way it will need to be done in steps. first though, before getting into it, need some more info on you current set up. so a few questions;
1. what type of substrate are you using and how deep is it? sandbed/CC/barebottom ect...?
2. what are you using for decor currently?
3. what fish are in there?
4. what lighting do you have, bulb wattage and # of bulbs.
5. what does your clean up crew consist of?
6. what have you been dosing, if anything, and what have you been testing for, what are the results of those tests?
7. testing equipment, what are you using kit wise or monitor wise?
8. other filtration systems, canister filters ect.. whatever else is being used.
+ more, but first lets lets see what needs to be changed and/or what needs to be added.

suggestions on powerheads and skimmer, many actually and yes your aerobic bacteria will get messed with during this change, timing is important on what and when to change up this or that. your going to have to do it in steps. i hope you dont mind but i will post a new thread for you with your post above. only because its going to get into more involved than just filtration, although that will be the main focus. others will chime in too, so you will get more and better suggestions on where to buy this or that. no worries though, your in the right place to get some good honest feedback.

[prow]

Originally Posted by aqualady
I bought my current system used and it has an ancient wet/dry. It does not even resemble the units i've seen on the market now. I am thinking of geting a new one. Should I, or will new bio balls and new protein skimmer mess up my aerobic bacteria?

na, for a reef you will getting rid of those bio balls.

How can I best update without too much impact?

slowly, if needed replacing small sections of substrate, increasing water flow and adding a good skimmer is where to start. after the substrate add rock and remove bioballs. not all at once, will go into that as we go to many unknown things to suggest any step by step process.

I have new lights (compact florescents with actinics & moon)) but I am afraid to hook them up for fear of an algea outbreak, am I right on that?

depends on what the nutrient addtions are, by both fish and you(watse, feeding, % of water changing and how often ect.. husbandry stuff) but yeah, your fear is correct, algae bloomings very well could occur with increased lighting, likely infact. best to leave the lighting change for later, wait till you get some rock in there and/or change out/add to your substrate(if needed).

I will be buying mail-order live rock/base rock this summer. Any recommendations here?

there are a many around here that live kinda close to you, i think. they may be able to point you in the right direction to buy things, LFS close to you. but online, Jeff's exotics has some good rock. its actually cured, as in cured 100%. anyway i am thinking we should deal with your substrate first, then add the rock as you remove bioballs. will get into this more after we fiq out what exactly this change will encompass.

Also, any recommendations for power heads. I have a powersweep 228 but it's not hooked up as it seems to freak out my fish.

lol, no worries they will get used to it. any changes alway freaks them out. the first time i put seaweed on a clip my tang was so scared he would not even go to that side of the tank. alway dong that duck and cover when the sea weed moved in the current. after a weekish he got used to it and fiq out it was food. now when i put the clipped sea weed in, he starts munching on it before i can even place it.

I'm waiting until I have some lilve rock and such first.

thats a good idea but you can start making changes before you get the rock. wheather you will be using a sump/refugium. substrate and skimmer hook up. powerhead flow setup. testing kits and equipment, dosing equipment and sups. stuff like that. do you have a start up budget in mind?

I am so confused and overwhelmed by all the products and research out there, some practical advice from real people would be welcome

it can seem like a lot i know. after answering the above questions we can come up with a plan. you know what to change first or what and when to add this or that. you can pretty much start anywhere but just dont want to mess with everything all at once. IMO, for you, its best to start with deciding on your substrate, water flow and getting a good skimmer, then go from there.