In lieu of a bigger tank for no good reason, I am thinking of improving current setup with a sump/refuge for my 30gal and really getting it to the point of 'proper reef tank'. I would really like to have more corals/clams. Everything has been doing well, but not thriving.
wondering what you all think about the following and if you see any pitfalls, or have suggestions on equipment/methods.
current setup...
-4-6" DSB
-RO/DI water only
-30gal tank,
-25lb tampa bay rock, 8-10lb fiji,
-2 bakpaks (both are getting old and not in great shape after several moves, rios are pretty beat up as well, but working)
-250w MH 20k HQI bulb from hellolights, no other lighting right now. (tank goes from darkness straight to the supernova of the 250w for ~10Hr a day)
Looking to do the following things...
1. setup a sump/refuge.
probably in a 10-20gal that I will have to create/buy. toss the bakpaks for a skimmer that will be capable of sustainig a bigger tank whenever that day comes (like a 90-120) I guess I can throw the shreded plastic / 'biomedia' from the bakpaks into the fuge.. would make a nice bubble/critter barricade in the baffles. I would also need to get a hang-on overflow and nessecary plumbing/pump.
2. create a smoother lighting cycle.
not sure how to go about this, maybe just get some actinic compacts and turn em on an hour before the 250w.
3. learn more about calc reactor, learn more about nutrient supplements, setup some type of auto topoff system to the sump.
wow.. that became a long post.. back to work for me. thanks for any advice you might have.
wondering what you all think about the following and if you see any pitfalls, or have suggestions on equipment/methods.
current setup...
-4-6" DSB
-RO/DI water only
-30gal tank,
-25lb tampa bay rock, 8-10lb fiji,
-2 bakpaks (both are getting old and not in great shape after several moves, rios are pretty beat up as well, but working)
-250w MH 20k HQI bulb from hellolights, no other lighting right now. (tank goes from darkness straight to the supernova of the 250w for ~10Hr a day)
Looking to do the following things...
1. setup a sump/refuge.
probably in a 10-20gal that I will have to create/buy. toss the bakpaks for a skimmer that will be capable of sustainig a bigger tank whenever that day comes (like a 90-120) I guess I can throw the shreded plastic / 'biomedia' from the bakpaks into the fuge.. would make a nice bubble/critter barricade in the baffles. I would also need to get a hang-on overflow and nessecary plumbing/pump.
2. create a smoother lighting cycle.
not sure how to go about this, maybe just get some actinic compacts and turn em on an hour before the 250w.
3. learn more about calc reactor, learn more about nutrient supplements, setup some type of auto topoff system to the sump.
wow.. that became a long post.. back to work for me. thanks for any advice you might have.