Suggestions?

[SanDiegoBryan]

I just converted my Fish Only tank to reef, and I wanted to get some input.

Click here for my Tank Specs

I'm want to get to know everyone, and see what you have done!

So Far, I don't have much, the Natures Ocean, Bio-Activ Reef Sand says no cycling, but I ain't buying that!!!

Anyway, if you could take a second, and read what I have, and PLEASE COMMENT!!

I know I need more crabs, and snails, and fish, and rock, but how can I slowly add stuff so I don't cause any spikes.

Thank you very much in advance!!!

 

[davelin315]

My suggestion is to bump up the lighting, you have enough to support only the easiest photosynthetic corals, mushrooms, but they will not do well (also, actinic only can get pretty annoying on it's own). Also, you will want to increase the flow from your sump to your tank, 600gph not very much especially when you don't calculate head pressure into the equation (my guess is you have only a few hundred gph after all is said and done and are turning your tank over about 2-3 times per hour). Also, RIO pumps are notorious for breaking down in certain models, so you might want to replace the pumps for that reason as well (although you could get a new return pump and use the RIOs as circulation only until they break). You're on the right track as far as increasing the amount of rock and sand and not trusting a cycle to the prepared sand only. The only other suggestion that I have for slowly increasing is to make sure that the hermits you currently have are appropriate for a reef (many believe that no hermits are appropriate at all). Otherwise, good luck and rely on your knowledge from when you had a reef before, and you'll do fine (especially with slowly increasing bioload instead of rushing into it).

 

[31-2c]

If this 125 is 6 foot long, Wouldn't he need 3 Metal Halide lights? anyways. Looks like you are on the right track. Sounds like you could used quite a bit more sand. I would stay away from the hermits (thats just me opinion) I didn't see any mention of a Protein Skimmer? (Maybe I just missed it) Lights and Protein Skimmer are the most important things.

Good Luck and keep asking questions.

Most of us are more than willing to help

David

 

[toptank]

Yes David you are correct, 6' tank should have 3 MH

My 180 is 6' and I have 3 x 250 MH 6,500Isawski and 2 x 140 watt 60" actinic VHOs.

 

[toptank]

Bryan, I am with davelin as to what he has told you.

If you are going to keep any SPSs or clams and believe me you will in the future I would incease your lighting. I think a good combo would be 2 x 250s MH with VHO actinic suppliments. Then you can do just about anything you want.

As far as power heads I like MaxiJets better than Rio, for one you can rotate the head for the direction you want to put water movement.

I see you are also in San Diego as I am also, if you need anything just shot me a e-mail. [email protected]

We also have a good reef club her in San Diego. One of our members have a 1200 gal reef.

Barry

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Whoa Whoa Whoa!! Thanks for the $1000's in suggestions!!! HAHAH!!

I appreciate it, but I was looking for cheap things I can do like hermits and stuff...

As for the lighting, I'm really ONLY into the leathers, colts, mushrooms, and polyps that don't require very much light at all - I've been able to have some beautifull sun polyps, and cool stuff like that with the 6 Florescents and everything spread and stuff..

I would like to add a couple 250 MH's down the road, but at $300, I've got some other WAY more important hobbies.

I used to be into this stuff quite a bit. I was a member of the Marine Aquatic Roundtable of Sacramento (M.A.R.S) like 5 years ago when I first started in the reefs, and I know how technical some of you are, and how much you invest in your tanks..

I'm NEVER GONNA HAVE $4000 in my tank again.. Not worth it. Chicks Dig the $15 clown more than a coral that looks like "Grass" to most! hahaha!!

I checked my water today, and the PH is low.. Anything I can do?

Again - Thanks for everything, and hopefully, I'll come across some money soon, and be able to step up to MH..


As for water flow - the Rio only has about 2 feet of pressure, and is pushing somewhere around 400, and the Rio in the tank is pushing about 600, so I'm almost exactly at 10X flow!

See you guys around!!

PS - do you all have the serenescreen.com thing? Its AWESOME - they should make it open source so others can make fish etc...

Cya

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

UPDATE!!!

Just bought a Bubble Tip yesterday for my Gold Stripe Maroon Clown, and he's already IN IT TODAY!!! (I forgot how cool that symbiosis is!)

I also got rid of a HUGE hermit I had - I caught him up on the Green Star Polyps yesterday Morning! He was just too risky.

I replaced him with 2 peppermint shrimp to get rid of my aptasia's


This is a cool place to hang out!! Maybe I'll get addicted like last time, and be able to keep up with your conversations, and spending habits!!

You Guys Rule!! Thanks!

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

DAMMIT!!! YOU GUYS SUCK!!!! HAHHHAHA!!!

I'm already starting to get addicted again!!!!!

I want HALIDES!!!!

I also want to replace my pumps, and SUMP, and replace it with a refugium and new skimmer!!

Ahhhhhh!!! I shouldn't have even asked..

I'm gonna be broke broke.. TWO Expensive hobbies!!

I would like to hear what you guys say about 2- 250's? That should be a good start, maybe add a big 500 in the middle later or something, but for now, just 2-250's

I like the higher (Bluer) lights like 10,000k
My spending limit is only like $300 on the lights.. I know, that isn't much...

What should I buy FIRST???

 

[31-2c]

Keep an eye on ebay, every once in a while you can get a pretty good deal. Also watch the equipment trading section in here and reefcentral. There is always someone looking to sell MH set-ups. I think most would agree that the lights are the most important.

Anything less that 3 MH lights would leave some dark spaces in your tank.

David

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

Well you could get 2 x 10K HQI bulbs going DIY for under $300. I personally like the German BLV bulbs - lovely color and - well - cheap too

You could light about two-thirds of your tank quite brightly with two bulbs the rest being not so bright (but still bright enough for many soft corals).

The third can always be added later.

Buying aything other than MH for your main lights is going to prove to be an expensive mistake.