Newbie with ?'s

Got Bait · 05-13-2006, 09:58 AM

Hello everyone, I'm Jay and I'm new to this site. I am a bit new to SW aquariums also. I used to have one about 1 1/2 years ago. But due to very high nitrates, it failed.(This was due to owner error) Anyway I have a few questions and a few pics of my set-up. First my set-up.

Here is the beauty. Note the pvc pips in the back. The one on the left pumps the water in, while the one on the right sucks it out.

Here is where the filter box sets.

Here is the filter system. Water sucks into the bio ball areas, where they sort of filter out the big stuff. Then it flows into another chamber with a filter bag with charcoal type stuff in it. That filters out the smaller stuff.

Here is the top of the tank. Note the calcium deposits on the clear plastic. Any idea on what to use to clean it? Anyway almost done, so bare with me.

Finally! The lights. There are two of these. I have no idea what kind they are or what. Also, my pump is a Supreme MAG-DRIVE Utility Pump. On the side it says 700 GPH. Anyway, now the questions. My first one is, how or what should I use to clean off the calcium scum off of the tank's top? My 2nd question is, this tank has been used before, and has also sat in storage for a while. What substance should I use to sanitize it? Also, after I wash it out should I leave the tank to air dry? Last time I let it air dry, it dried with some nasty looking streaks and blotches. Anyway, any hints, tips, or comments will be appreciated. Thanks for your time folks. Later.
Jay

blue_eyes53813 · 05-13-2006, 01:37 PM

Hi Jay, to clean the tank I would use vinegar or maybe some bleach. Im leary about bleach but if you can spray it all off really good with an outside hose or something. Make sure you get it rinsed good. My old tank sat in storage for a year and it actually cleaned up very easy. It may even come off with hot water and scrubbing it.

Good luck on the new start. The bio balls will be another nitrate factor. Look into a very very good skimmer instead. Get rid of the balls and put live rock in there instead.

Good luck

R.yumaDaddy? · 05-13-2006, 01:46 PM

Look for water changes to reduce N's also. What was / is your water change schedule?

Got Bait · 05-13-2006, 01:55 PM

Blue Eyes, does the skimmer go in the tank. Also, when you said get rid of the bio-balls. Did you just mean to take them out of the wet/dry system, or just get rid of the whole thing. R. yumaDaddy, I didn't have a water change schedule. Honestly, I have heard the phrase a million times. But I don't exactly know the process of a water change. Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks for you comments so far.

Got Bait · 05-13-2006, 01:57 PM

Also, I do plan on putting some liverock in. Probably around 10 lbs.

R.yumaDaddy? · 05-13-2006, 02:17 PM

Water changes in aquaria are about as necessary as water is to a fish.

blue_eyes53813 · 05-13-2006, 03:13 PM

Jay, You can get a hang on skimmer of if you plan on a sump put the skimmer in the sump. I dont have a sump and there is very nice hang on back sumps on the market. You could use the wet dry for flow but I would get rid of the balls. My filteration for my tank is live sand, live rock and a good skimmer.

Water changes, Get a rubber made container. Use R.O water , Use 1/2 cup salt to 1 gallon of water( dont know if you knew that) Put Ro water, salt and powerhead and heater into container and let mix at least 24 hours. Make sure the water salinity and temp matches tank water as close as possible. Take water out of main tank and dump new in. Pretty easy. I do 10% water change every other week.

What size tank did you say that was?

Got Bait · 05-14-2006, 11:32 AM

I have a 55 gal.

blue_eyes53813 · 05-14-2006, 11:39 AM

What I have done and its easy,, 10% would be 5 gallons so get a 5 gallon bucket and take out five gallon. Dump it , flush it what ever you chose and slowly add the new 5 gallons of fresh saltwater. I have a much bigger tank and change 25 gallons at a time, but I mark on the outside of the tank with a marker where the water line is after I take out 25 gallons so I dont have to worry about taking out to much. Every water change I suck out the water with a VAC to that line and add that much back in.

When adding the New water back in monitor the salinity. I sometimes have to add some fresh RO water. So the salinity doesnt jump up...

Good luck.... You will be fine.

05-13-2006, 09:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Got Bait Tubeworm Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28 View Gallery Karma Komment	Newbie with ?'s Hello everyone, I'm Jay and I'm new to this site. I am a bit new to SW aquariums also. I used to have one about 1 1/2 years ago. But due to very high nitrates, it failed.(This was due to owner error) Anyway I have a few questions and a few pics of my set-up. First my set-up. Here is the beauty. Note the pvc pips in the back. The one on the left pumps the water in, while the one on the right sucks it out. Here is where the filter box sets. Here is the filter system. Water sucks into the bio ball areas, where they sort of filter out the big stuff. Then it flows into another chamber with a filter bag with charcoal type stuff in it. That filters out the smaller stuff. Here is the top of the tank. Note the calcium deposits on the clear plastic. Any idea on what to use to clean it? Anyway almost done, so bare with me. Finally! The lights. There are two of these. I have no idea what kind they are or what. Also, my pump is a Supreme MAG-DRIVE Utility Pump. On the side it says 700 GPH. Anyway, now the questions. My first one is, how or what should I use to clean off the calcium scum off of the tank's top? My 2nd question is, this tank has been used before, and has also sat in storage for a while. What substance should I use to sanitize it? Also, after I wash it out should I leave the tank to air dry? Last time I let it air dry, it dried with some nasty looking streaks and blotches. Anyway, any hints, tips, or comments will be appreciated. Thanks for your time folks. Later. Jay

05-13-2006, 01:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 fully trained mod,,,its my fault~ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 5,851 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Newbie with ?'s Hi Jay, to clean the tank I would use vinegar or maybe some bleach. Im leary about bleach but if you can spray it all off really good with an outside hose or something. Make sure you get it rinsed good. My old tank sat in storage for a year and it actually cleaned up very easy. It may even come off with hot water and scrubbing it. Good luck on the new start. The bio balls will be another nitrate factor. Look into a very very good skimmer instead. Get rid of the balls and put live rock in there instead. Good luck __________________ 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

05-13-2006, 01:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
R.yumaDaddy? Torch coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 513 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Newbie with ?'s Look for water changes to reduce N's also. What was / is your water change schedule? __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but what about the early worm?

05-13-2006, 01:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Got Bait Tubeworm Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Newbie with ?'s Blue Eyes, does the skimmer go in the tank. Also, when you said get rid of the bio-balls. Did you just mean to take them out of the wet/dry system, or just get rid of the whole thing. R. yumaDaddy, I didn't have a water change schedule. Honestly, I have heard the phrase a million times. But I don't exactly know the process of a water change. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks for you comments so far.

05-13-2006, 01:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Got Bait Tubeworm Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Newbie with ?'s Also, I do plan on putting some liverock in. Probably around 10 lbs.

05-13-2006, 02:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
R.yumaDaddy? Torch coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 513 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Newbie with ?'s Water changes in aquaria are about as necessary as water is to a fish. __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but what about the early worm?

05-13-2006, 03:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 fully trained mod,,,its my fault~ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 5,851 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Newbie with ?'s Jay, You can get a hang on skimmer of if you plan on a sump put the skimmer in the sump. I dont have a sump and there is very nice hang on back sumps on the market. You could use the wet dry for flow but I would get rid of the balls. My filteration for my tank is live sand, live rock and a good skimmer. Water changes, Get a rubber made container. Use R.O water , Use 1/2 cup salt to 1 gallon of water( dont know if you knew that) Put Ro water, salt and powerhead and heater into container and let mix at least 24 hours. Make sure the water salinity and temp matches tank water as close as possible. Take water out of main tank and dump new in. Pretty easy. I do 10% water change every other week. What size tank did you say that was? __________________ 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

05-14-2006, 11:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
Got Bait Tubeworm Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Newbie with ?'s I have a 55 gal.

05-14-2006, 11:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 fully trained mod,,,its my fault~ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 5,851 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Newbie with ?'s What I have done and its easy,, 10% would be 5 gallons so get a 5 gallon bucket and take out five gallon. Dump it , flush it what ever you chose and slowly add the new 5 gallons of fresh saltwater. I have a much bigger tank and change 25 gallons at a time, but I mark on the outside of the tank with a marker where the water line is after I take out 25 gallons so I dont have to worry about taking out to much. Every water change I suck out the water with a VAC to that line and add that much back in. When adding the New water back in monitor the salinity. I sometimes have to add some fresh RO water. So the salinity doesnt jump up... Good luck.... You will be fine. __________________ 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

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