Hi y'all

mike43067 · 02-01-2005, 10:00 AM

I've posted a few times. Typical stupid beginner questions. Things are coming along well so far. Lovin' my new reef hobby and spending too much money. Thanks for all your help!

Travis · 02-01-2005, 11:00 AM

Hi Mike and welcome!

A couple of things about your setup you might want to rethink:

First, the Emperor 400. Unless you’re carrying a heavy bioload (lots of fish) you should probably ditch this. The live rock will provide adequate biological filtration, making the emperor redundant. Furthermore, the biowheel can actually cause nitrates to build up in your system. If you DO plan on a heavy bioload (not recommended for beginners) then you should get more live rock and still ditch the emperor.

Second, the bright sun-lit room will probably do you more harm than good. Your good critters won’t get much benefit from it, and direct sunlight is often to blame for excessive algae problems.

Just thought I’d throw that out there.

Travis

mkpaulson · 02-01-2005, 12:47 PM

Welcome aboard!

Woodstock · 02-01-2005, 03:19 PM

to Reef Sanctuary!!!!

mike43067 · 02-01-2005, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the input Travis.
I've heard that about the Biowheels being nitrate factories before. What if I just ditch the Biowheels and keep the mechanical filtration going? Are nitrates really such a problem? I'd like to get some aquatic plants which would utilize the nitrates.
As for the sunlight. When my tank was freshwater, I'd cover it occasionally with a towel to knock down the algae. That seemed to work. The algae I'm getting now isn't a problem. In fact it's kind of decorative on the rocks. Yellowish in color.
Thanks again.

Woodstock · 02-01-2005, 03:35 PM

Do whatever it takes to keep the nitrates below 10 ppm.... zero to 5 ppm is the goal. Removing diterus, useing a good skimmer, keeping a low bioload, not overfeeding, and doing regular water changes is the key. If you keep all filters rinsed and clean every couple of days you would be ok....but having dirty bioballs, biowheels, sponges, etc.... only allows for the diterus to stay trapped and breakdown via the nitrogen cycle which ofcourse results in nitrAtes. HTH

Gina · 02-01-2005, 04:40 PM

Welcome Mike!

02-01-2005, 10:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
mike43067 Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hi y'all I've posted a few times. Typical stupid beginner questions. Things are coming along well so far. Lovin' my new reef hobby and spending too much money. Thanks for all your help! __________________ 38 gallon reef tank Filtration: 22 lbs live rock, 2" live sand bed, Emperor 400, Sea Clone Skimmer, power head for current. Lighting: 36" 50/50 flourescent, located in bright sun room. Inverts: 1 Brittle Starfish 1 Bubble Tip Anemone Zooanthid Polyps colony 6 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs, 6 Astrea Snails, 9 Margarita Snails 9 Nassarius Snails 2 Mushroom Coral 1 Spiny Urchin 2 Turbo Snails 1 Atlantic Rock Anemone Fish: 1 Cinnamon Clown 1 Pygmy Angel

02-01-2005, 12:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
mkpaulson Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: port republic,va Posts: 750 View Gallery Karma Komment	Welcome aboard! __________________ Mark

02-01-2005, 03:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	to Reef Sanctuary!!!! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

02-01-2005, 03:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
mike43067 Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	suggestions Thanks for the input Travis. I've heard that about the Biowheels being nitrate factories before. What if I just ditch the Biowheels and keep the mechanical filtration going? Are nitrates really such a problem? I'd like to get some aquatic plants which would utilize the nitrates. As for the sunlight. When my tank was freshwater, I'd cover it occasionally with a towel to knock down the algae. That seemed to work. The algae I'm getting now isn't a problem. In fact it's kind of decorative on the rocks. Yellowish in color. Thanks again. __________________ 38 gallon reef tank Filtration: 22 lbs live rock, 2" live sand bed, Emperor 400, Sea Clone Skimmer, power head for current. Lighting: 36" 50/50 flourescent, located in bright sun room. Inverts: 1 Brittle Starfish 1 Bubble Tip Anemone Zooanthid Polyps colony 6 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs, 6 Astrea Snails, 9 Margarita Snails 9 Nassarius Snails 2 Mushroom Coral 1 Spiny Urchin 2 Turbo Snails 1 Atlantic Rock Anemone Fish: 1 Cinnamon Clown 1 Pygmy Angel

02-01-2005, 03:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Do whatever it takes to keep the nitrates below 10 ppm.... zero to 5 ppm is the goal. Removing diterus, useing a good skimmer, keeping a low bioload, not overfeeding, and doing regular water changes is the key. If you keep all filters rinsed and clean every couple of days you would be ok....but having dirty bioballs, biowheels, sponges, etc.... only allows for the diterus to stay trapped and breakdown via the nitrogen cycle which ofcourse results in nitrAtes. HTH __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

02-01-2005, 11:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,890 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Hi Mike and welcome! A couple of things about your setup you might want to rethink: First, the Emperor 400. Unless you’re carrying a heavy bioload (lots of fish) you should probably ditch this. The live rock will provide adequate biological filtration, making the emperor redundant. Furthermore, the biowheel can actually cause nitrates to build up in your system. If you DO plan on a heavy bioload (not recommended for beginners) then you should get more live rock and still ditch the emperor. Second, the bright sun-lit room will probably do you more harm than good. Your good critters won’t get much benefit from it, and direct sunlight is often to blame for excessive algae problems. Just thought I’d throw that out there. Travis

02-01-2005, 04:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Welcome Mike! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

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