Waz Up?

ReefGuy69 · 11-25-2006, 01:46 PM

Hello All.

Let me introduce myself. I wouldnt consider myself a flat out Newbie, But i have gotten my feet wet in this before but not recently. I use to have a SW Reef Tank 3-4 yrs ago. 125g. but then i had to move and didnt want to take it with me. Now i'm thinking of getting back into it with a smaller tank because i plan on buying a house in the next few years and figure it will be easier to take with me. Luckily i saved all my stuff from before. I'm going to list it all and you all can tell me if its worth keeping or if i should pitch it and get something else.

First I plan on getting 2 maroon clowns (I had one before) and an anenome (havent decided which species yet, use to have a brown carpet that i gave away when i tore down tank). Probably a Goby (Dont know which one yet), a Long Spined Urchin, and different hard/soft corals (Sticking with all the easy ones though).

Im getting a 55 gal. tank.

Filtration:
I have a profession Ehiem Wet/Dry System with airator thingy (Was top of the line at the time)

I also have an aquaclear 300 for mechanical filatration with the foam/carbon inserts.

i have a venturi style protien skimmer (Aquarium Systems)

Water Flow:

Other then the two different filtrations i have (2) 1200 Maxi Jet Powerheads
and a litle one for helping to mix the salt bucket when doing water changes.
With a wavermaker system.

Heating:
Ebo Jagger 250 Watt
and a Thermal Compact 200 Watt

Lighting:
(3) 96 watt Power Compacts Actinic/10,000k Retro Fit Kit (Going to try and make them fit this tank. i beleive its the same length and width.

1 Moon Light (Going to upgrade to an LED one rather then a blue light bulb)

RO/DI 4 Stage System (Need new Filters for though)

and need all new addatives, and test kits and a new digital temp thingy.

Now part of the reason i got out of this was the move and because Algae started taking over. Over the years ive thought of what i may have done wrong.

Obvisoly the simple thing was i need to do more regulary scheduled water changes. But i never dechlorinated my water? i used the RO/DO system, but no drops to dechlorinate it. I also had a deep sand bed of like 8 inches. (That was recommened by the pet shop. This time in going to keep it and an 1 to 1 1/2 inch and use bigger course sand. I had really fine sand.

I'm planning on getting 60 or so lbs of Live rock. and not do half base half live like i did last time. Any suggestions, Advice, recommendations, or problems?

Woodstock · 11-25-2006, 01:58 PM

Welcome to Reef Sanctuary and back to this wonderful hobby!

To ward off algae problems, I recommend:

Using a phosban reactor (two little fishies makes a good one) and using either rowaphos or phosban media (both are iron based). This will help keep the phosphates down.
Upgrading your skimmer. AquaC Remora pro has a hang on tank style and works great. I use one on my sump. If you have room, you could get the insump ASM G2 skimmer. Utilizing an effective skimmer will remove dissolved organics BEFORE they begin to break down and degrade water quality and feed nusiance algae.
If you have a sump, create a refugium and grow a macro algae. The macro algae will compete with the nusiance algae for nutrients.

Sand? The "bigger course sand" you refer to will trap ditritus much faster so you will need to keep it vacuumed during water changes. I recommend using a fine aragonite sand... or you could always go BB (bare bottom) like some prefer. I have about a 2.5" aragonite sand bed that has wonderful NNR properties and helps to keep nitrAtes down to 0-5 ppm.

...that is all I can think of right now...

boozeman · 11-25-2006, 02:52 PM

to RS!!

sasquatch · 11-25-2006, 04:42 PM

Hi Reefguy! welcome to RS, like Woodstock said but I would reconsider the mechanical filtration thing. Steve

ReefGuy69 · 11-25-2006, 10:07 PM

I really dont use the mech filter for filtering. It does take some debris out of the water sometimes. But i mainly use it so i have a place for the carbon. I didnt feel comfortable putting it in the Eheim. I'm def. going to look into the skimmer and the sump. Good news is it sounds like I can stick with the fine sand i enjoy but just keep it a thin layer. Thanks all. Im off to look at the posted pics and browse through all the forums. Keep up the good work Reef Sanctuary.

ReefGuy69 · 11-25-2006, 11:08 PM

Quick Question. I think i like the idea of the Refuge. I have a spare 25-29 gal tank. Would this work or should i opt to just pick up a 10 gal at the LFS? also if i go with the Refuge do i need the Eheim Wet/Dry? or do i say more is better and keep the Eheim, The Live Rock, and the Refuge?(but i read some where on here just a min ago that to much can lead to high nitrites or nitrates..

cheeks69 · 11-25-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefGuy69

Quick Question. I think i like the idea of the Refuge. I have a spare 25-29 gal tank. Would this work or should i opt to just pick up a 10 gal at the LFS? also if i go with the Refuge do i need the Eheim Wet/Dry? or do i say more is better and keep the Eheim, The Live Rock, and the Refuge?(but i read some where on here just a min ago that to much can lead to high nitrites or nitrates..

The bigger the refugium the better. The macro algae will be used to export nutrients so the wet/dry filter is unnecessary and tends to buildup detritus leading to nitrate problems. What you can do is gravity feed the refuge from the main tank.

billyr98 · 11-26-2006, 04:51 AM

welcome to rS

blue_eyes53813 · 11-26-2006, 08:43 AM

Welcome to RS. I agree with the above post... The best skimmer possible,lots of live rock, a refugium, sump , use of phosphate media to keep nutrients down, and of couse stay away from the course substate,,,, sand is best, good luck and cant waite to see your progress.

DrBCool · 11-26-2006, 10:52 AM

Howdy and welcome ..

SOunds like you are a step up on me with the reef setup .. I am really new to the hobby just getting my feet , arms , legs wet ...LOL >.. More my arms than anything at this point .. Hopefully not my feet any time soon cause that would indicate a leak somewhere in the system ... :-)

This being my first tank , I am going slow and taking in all the different information from all the different people .. I just got my tank cycled and am waiting to trade my damsel in for some clowns .. ANyway maybe you can help me out one day :-)

I love the reef tanks hope mine is a successful peaceful healty one

11-25-2006, 01:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 746 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Waz Up? Hello All. Let me introduce myself. I wouldnt consider myself a flat out Newbie, But i have gotten my feet wet in this before but not recently. I use to have a SW Reef Tank 3-4 yrs ago. 125g. but then i had to move and didnt want to take it with me. Now i'm thinking of getting back into it with a smaller tank because i plan on buying a house in the next few years and figure it will be easier to take with me. Luckily i saved all my stuff from before. I'm going to list it all and you all can tell me if its worth keeping or if i should pitch it and get something else. First I plan on getting 2 maroon clowns (I had one before) and an anenome (havent decided which species yet, use to have a brown carpet that i gave away when i tore down tank). Probably a Goby (Dont know which one yet), a Long Spined Urchin, and different hard/soft corals (Sticking with all the easy ones though). Im getting a 55 gal. tank. Filtration: I have a profession Ehiem Wet/Dry System with airator thingy (Was top of the line at the time) I also have an aquaclear 300 for mechanical filatration with the foam/carbon inserts. i have a venturi style protien skimmer (Aquarium Systems) Water Flow: Other then the two different filtrations i have (2) 1200 Maxi Jet Powerheads and a litle one for helping to mix the salt bucket when doing water changes. With a wavermaker system. Heating: Ebo Jagger 250 Watt and a Thermal Compact 200 Watt Lighting: (3) 96 watt Power Compacts Actinic/10,000k Retro Fit Kit (Going to try and make them fit this tank. i beleive its the same length and width. 1 Moon Light (Going to upgrade to an LED one rather then a blue light bulb) RO/DI 4 Stage System (Need new Filters for though) and need all new addatives, and test kits and a new digital temp thingy. Now part of the reason i got out of this was the move and because Algae started taking over. Over the years ive thought of what i may have done wrong. Obvisoly the simple thing was i need to do more regulary scheduled water changes. But i never dechlorinated my water? i used the RO/DO system, but no drops to dechlorinate it. I also had a deep sand bed of like 8 inches. (That was recommened by the pet shop. This time in going to keep it and an 1 to 1 1/2 inch and use bigger course sand. I had really fine sand. I'm planning on getting 60 or so lbs of Live rock. and not do half base half live like i did last time. Any suggestions, Advice, recommendations, or problems?

11-25-2006, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,558 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? Welcome to Reef Sanctuary and back to this wonderful hobby! To ward off algae problems, I recommend: Using a phosban reactor (two little fishies makes a good one) and using either rowaphos or phosban media (both are iron based). This will help keep the phosphates down. Upgrading your skimmer. AquaC Remora pro has a hang on tank style and works great. I use one on my sump. If you have room, you could get the insump ASM G2 skimmer. Utilizing an effective skimmer will remove dissolved organics BEFORE they begin to break down and degrade water quality and feed nusiance algae. If you have a sump, create a refugium and grow a macro algae. The macro algae will compete with the nusiance algae for nutrients. Sand? The "bigger course sand" you refer to will trap ditritus much faster so you will need to keep it vacuumed during water changes. I recommend using a fine aragonite sand... or you could always go BB (bare bottom) like some prefer. I have about a 2.5" aragonite sand bed that has wonderful NNR properties and helps to keep nitrAtes down to 0-5 ppm. ...that is all I can think of right now... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

11-25-2006, 02:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? to RS!! __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

11-25-2006, 04:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? Hi Reefguy! welcome to RS, like Woodstock said but I would reconsider the mechanical filtration thing. Steve

11-25-2006, 10:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 746 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? I really dont use the mech filter for filtering. It does take some debris out of the water sometimes. But i mainly use it so i have a place for the carbon. I didnt feel comfortable putting it in the Eheim. I'm def. going to look into the skimmer and the sump. Good news is it sounds like I can stick with the fine sand i enjoy but just keep it a thin layer. Thanks all. Im off to look at the posted pics and browse through all the forums. Keep up the good work Reef Sanctuary.

11-25-2006, 11:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 746 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? Quick Question. I think i like the idea of the Refuge. I have a spare 25-29 gal tank. Would this work or should i opt to just pick up a 10 gal at the LFS? also if i go with the Refuge do i need the Eheim Wet/Dry? or do i say more is better and keep the Eheim, The Live Rock, and the Refuge?(but i read some where on here just a min ago that to much can lead to high nitrites or nitrates..

11-26-2006, 04:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,399 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? welcome to rS __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

11-26-2006, 08:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 fully trained mod,,,its my fault~ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,097 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Waz Up? Welcome to RS. I agree with the above post... The best skimmer possible,lots of live rock, a refugium, sump , use of phosphate media to keep nutrients down, and of couse stay away from the course substate,,,, sand is best, good luck and cant waite to see your progress. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

11-26-2006, 10:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
DrBCool Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 77 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Waz Up? Howdy and welcome .. SOunds like you are a step up on me with the reef setup .. I am really new to the hobby just getting my feet , arms , legs wet ...LOL >.. More my arms than anything at this point .. Hopefully not my feet any time soon cause that would indicate a leak somewhere in the system ... :-) This being my first tank , I am going slow and taking in all the different information from all the different people .. I just got my tank cycled and am waiting to trade my damsel in for some clowns .. ANyway maybe you can help me out one day :-) I love the reef tanks hope mine is a successful peaceful healty one

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