DSB and Corals question

[Taruk]

Some history first. I have a FOWLR setup which has been running for 2 months. I plan to start adding some corals once I build my canopy and add some lighting (next couple of months). I have a cheapo-depo 40W strip light ATM. I am planning on starting out with 440W VHO's and maybe moving to MH in the future. I'm working out the canopy design to accomodate future expansion.

I am thinking of going to a DSB before I start doing corals. Currently, I have crushed coral as the substrate. Should I remove all the CC or maybe add sand over the CC? Also, how much sand for a 55 gal? I am hoping to make this switch with as little stress as possible. Any suggestions as the easiest way to make this switch?

Also, I am new to the reef thing. I would appreciate any recommendations for starter corals with this setup

Aquarium Stats:
55 gal
10 gal sump
25lb LR

 

[fishfarmer]

What do you have for fish? Could they be held in a smaller tank for a couple of weeks while you do some changes?

If you are going reef, I would get another 25 lbs of rock and add a 4" fine sand bed(about 150 lbs). I would use Southdown Tropical playsand or sand from www.purearagonite.com. I'd remove most, if not all the CC. Do some searches on this board regarding switching sandbeds. There have been many threads on removing substrates.

What do you have as a protein skimmer? This is a must have if you are just starting out.

 

[big o]

dito fishfarmer ,i think that cc is to young too even seed the southdown.

 

[Taruk]

Livestock:
1 Yellow Tang (small)
1 Hippo Tang (small)
2 Yellow Tail Damsels
2 Clown Fish
7 Astrea Snails
4 Hermit Crabs
1 Horseshoe Crab

Protein Skimmer:
Berlin Classic w/ Mag 9

2 weeks, ouch. If I go that way, I definitely want to do it right, but this will not be stress-free. That's for sure.

 

[wombat1]

Along with everything said above, I would save your money and not buy the VHOs or MHs. Get some corals like mushrooms, button polyps, and maybe colt corals that don't need intense light.

 

[beerbaron]

start off slow, there are many lessons to learn about keeping corals, and it is much better to do this with hardy forgiving corals than to learn the hard way with a full tank of corals. i started out with the same setup, and i only had a colt coral and green star polyps for the first year, till i got used to the system. also you may want to look into getting more or replace some of your liverock after you get the new lights. a lot more will survive now and spread to your old LR= biodiversity.i changed out CC to a sandbed(shallow) and it was one of the best things i ever did. I had to do it with a fully stocked tank. here are my tips. get a 1" hose and actually siphon out ALL of the CC. your LR will seed the sand plenty. then get a 4" pvc pipe and dump cups of sand down it to reduce clouding. dont worry about spreading it around, just put it in piles. spread it after the dust has settled when you can see. to speed this u you can turn off all but the crucial pumps. some people cycle the new sand in order to coat it with bacteria etc. in order to keep it from clouding the tank, but then the pipe technique wont work.
HTH
BB

 

[fishfarmer]

IMO I would get rid of both of the tangs unless you are planning on upgrading you tank size in a couple of years. They will grow fast and can get cramped in a small tank like a 55, plus produce a lot of waste which would create water quality issues later on. You may think you could catch them out in a year or two and trade them in. You will probably have to rip your whole tank apart to do it. Something to think about.

I'd also get rid of the horsecrab. If you go with a deep live sand bed it will eat/disturb it too much in a tank of your size.

 

[Taruk]

IMO I would get rid of both of the tangs unless you are planning on upgrading you tank size in a couple of years.

If I do get bit by the reef fever bug, i will definitely be upgrading tank size in the future, so I prefer to keep the tangs for the moment. The are both small right now, so I have some time yet.

As for the DSB, I bought 150lb of Southdown Tropical Playsand tonight. I will start to attempt the switch this weekend. My plans are to use an old scratched up 55 gal to house everyone in the interim while I prepare the display tank. I doubt that I have much life in my CC bed atm, so not very worried about losing anything there. Take out the CC, place the DSB. Fill with water and wait to see what happens. I am hoping that I can restock the tank after a 3-4 of days.

 

[caecosystems]

Where are you guys buying Southdown from?

 

[Taruk]

I live in New York. HD stocks Southdown only in stores in the NE.

 

[Palmetto]

Take out the CC, place the DSB. Fill with water and wait to see what happens. I am hoping that I can restock the tank after a 3-4 of days.

It will take much longer for restocking after setting up a tank with new Southdown. The Southdown sand will leave the tank looking like milk for awhile before accumulating bacteria and settling down. I would setup the temporary home, remove the cc and add the Southdown. Then, I would cover the sand with plastic (Just to keep from overly stirring the sand) and add water. Next, I would add about a 50lb. box of uncured Live Rock that will start a cycle that will coat the sand with bacteria and begin the process of achieving healthy water chemistry. It will take about 3-4 weeks for the rock to cure and sand to settle. Once Nitrates and Nitrites are zero, do a 20% or so water change and add your existing Live Rock. Get your circulation and skimming all set, then add your critters. Being patient in this process will pay off big-time.

I like the idea of putting 440 watts of VHO in a hood, and I would put them as close to the ends if possible- you may want to put halides in the middle at some point and use the VHOs for Actinic supplementation.

Good luck, and go slowly- you will be glad you did.