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Hello! I've got so many questions
- Thread starter djmincer
- Start date
For starters here goes:
1. Is there a specific brand of biological filter media that I can put in my sump that you recommend? I have a 125g tank with 125 pounds of live sand, 125 pounds of base formerly live rock that is now dry, and 45 pounds of wet live rock coming from a several years long established tank -- or do I even need it with those quantities of live rock and sand?
2. Do you recommend a UV sterilizer or not? I am just setting up my tank again after its been torn down for 8 years and I don't recall knowing about UV sterilizers back when it was up. I'd get it both to help prevent disease and for algae control/water clarification.
3. If I start with that much live sand and rock and a 16 oz. bottle of API Quick Start nitrifying bacteria, how long do you expect it'll tank for the tank to cycle? I was going to get a few damsels to cycle with but am looking forward to adding a pair of clowns.
1. Is there a specific brand of biological filter media that I can put in my sump that you recommend? I have a 125g tank with 125 pounds of live sand, 125 pounds of base formerly live rock that is now dry, and 45 pounds of wet live rock coming from a several years long established tank -- or do I even need it with those quantities of live rock and sand?
2. Do you recommend a UV sterilizer or not? I am just setting up my tank again after its been torn down for 8 years and I don't recall knowing about UV sterilizers back when it was up. I'd get it both to help prevent disease and for algae control/water clarification.
3. If I start with that much live sand and rock and a 16 oz. bottle of API Quick Start nitrifying bacteria, how long do you expect it'll tank for the tank to cycle? I was going to get a few damsels to cycle with but am looking forward to adding a pair of clowns.
So, first thing I reccomended is slow down.
What are you planning on running for equipment, how do you plan on stocking IE.. You probably do not need 125 lbs of rock IMHO especially with having 125lbs of live sand.
Get a brute barrel throw all of your rock you want to use in with the live rock in it, fill it with salt water a heater and a flow pump and let it cycle and grow bacteria on it in the barrel while you plan your re-build.
I don’t have any biological media in my sump currently but I was going to add a few genissis blocks from polyp labs. Only thing in my sump is skimmer heaters and return pump otherwise.
I do run a UV on my system. I use it for the reasons you have stated above. make sure when and if you install one install it so servicing is easy.
The way I have cycled all of my tanks is toss a piece of fresh shrimp in there let it rot a few days and test for ammonia. I pull it at about 5 PPM ammonia. I also add Dr tim’s one and only. Then test weekly Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to see the cycle happen. The cycle could take 2 weeks to a month. once ammonia and nitrite are 0 and you have nitrates I dose the ammonia up again with regular ammonia (unsented) test 24 hr later if ammonia and nitrite are gone and 0 then do a 20% water change. You can add your clowns and maybe a few clean up crew at this point. if you cycle all of your rock ahead of time you cycle in the tank should/may be very minimal. If you don’t already know the key to being successful in this hobby is patience and research. These really are the 2 keys to success. The only things that happen in this hobby quick are all bad. Hope this answered your questions. Happy Reefing!!
Another thing that I would add to Corey's points above would be to have some sort of plan for the type of fishes you want to add and add them in an order that makes sense. Especially with the aggressive and semi aggressive ones.
It definitely bite me in the behind in hindsight having to deal with putting a peaceful fish into a tank of semi aggressive fishes that already have established territory. That add stress and can lead to ich and all kinds of nasties.
Happy reefing!
It definitely bite me in the behind in hindsight having to deal with putting a peaceful fish into a tank of semi aggressive fishes that already have established territory. That add stress and can lead to ich and all kinds of nasties.
Happy reefing!
Thank you for the advice! It is so tough to slow down because its something I'm really excited about, but I am going to take my time. Didn't mean to suggest I was rushing through this process. With having run two FOWLR and some soft corals before successfully for a decade each, I absolutely will not be adding a much livestock or any corals quickly.
I am grateful for you asking about my equipment, systems and plans. Technology has really changed over the last 10-15 years. My old systems had ballasted lights and one had wet/dry bioballs and the other a sump with a built-in rolling mat for biological filtration and I added hang on Whisper mechanical filters with carbon cartridges in them and those things all look to have gone by the wayside. I even used tap water with conditioner added for top offs the entire time because buying an RODI was too expensive for me and my lfs didn't sell it. All out the window now thankfully.
So here are my plans with this tank: As I said its a 125 (72x18x22) and I have a second identical that I'll wait to start until later in the year. I've bought a good 5 Stage Premium Plus 150 GPD Water Saver RODI System from BRS which will pay for itself and let me keep more difficult corals.
For lighting I've got arm mounted 2 new Nicrew HyperReef Gen 2 100w lights and a controller. After the tank is stable, I want to keep soft corals (green star polyps, pulsing xenia, a zoa garden, Clove Polyps, maybe a leather) and some LPS (hammers, a torch, frogspawn, some acans and gonis). I'm hoping the lighting will be sufficient but if not, I'll add because its going to be a while - at least 6 months - before I add any corals. At some point in the distant future, I'd like to maybe add an some easier SPS (an acropora or two) but I know I'll likely need more intense lighting for that.
For circulation, I am looking for a used Nero 7 powerhead for circulation for now that I plan to put on a side wall and then to add a second Nero 7 powerhead on the opposite wall within a few months before I get any corals. I'm going to 3D print the Nero 7 cover to try to keep fish, CUC, and anemones out of it as I plan to have an orange and a rainbow bubble tip in a while.
For mechanical filtration I've got a 20g tank as a sump with a Reefmat 500 then a protein skimmer (not sure of brand right now).
For bio filtration, I've got the 125# of live special grade sand, 125# of currently dry live rock and 45# of wet live rock from an established tank and it sounds like I don't need to add any bio filtration materials to my sump, which is great as I'd rather have it be less empty anyway.
For heaters I've got 2 x 200w AquaReady Preset heaters which will go in the sump. Return pump I'm going to use my old pump as it still works well but I'm not sure of the brand.
I've got a Useek ATO system and am looking for a 10g plastic foodgrade water jug to use for the ATO.
I may at some point add a UV sterilizer if I can find an Aqua 25w used. I really, really, really don't want Ich or other parasites and I could also use it for algae prevention at higher flow rate.
My livestock plan is: I plan to add a few damsels during cycling, which is what I've done before. Once tank parameters are good in a month or so I'd like to add a couple of clowns and some CUC - hermits and snails. I'll then wait a few more months and add a couple more fish -- likely a coral beauty, lemon peel , or eibli angel; a gold head or orange spotted goby; a kole tang; a lawnmower blenny; a firefish goby; and maybe a six-line wrasse or royal gramma and some additional CUC. At 6 months out if my parameters are all good, I plan to add a few soft corals -- the green star polyps, pulsing xenia and maybe a kenya or leather -- and a bubble tip and leave it alone for a few months. After that, I'll start looking at other angels and tangs, which are my favorite fish. A flame angel is ultimately a necessity for me. For tangs, yellow tangs used to be $19.99 and sailfins $29.99 but they are MUCH more expensive now and can be pretty aggressive. I'd love a naso tang or powder blue or brown tang. If I've got it running steady for a year, I am going to start looking for some of my more special fish wants -- an achilles tang for starters.
What do you think?
kind of a mixed reef safe non reef safe fish listed. it seems you like tangs be careful you only have 150G 72 x 18 not a whole lot of room after putting rock in the tank. really think about your fish list while it cycles. also make sure to check compatibility between your selections of fish. looking forward to watching your build come together.
