What would you do differently.

[gabemerrill]

I'm moving in mid-late October and will have the chance to re-set up my entire system... sounds like fun, and ALOT of work.

Right now I've got PC lighting and softies mainly. Here are the details of what I've got running:

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t ... highlight=
Except the sump is plumbed differently, and there isn't really enough space for the top-off inside the stand.

At this point I'm planning on going to just the 50g (36x18x18) for a show tank and using an old 40 (36x18x12) for sump/fuge/small frag tank. Possibly adding a kalk reactor and 30g RO tank in another piece of furniture or in a closet nearby.

So what would you do differently if you got the chance to rework you setup? I'm thinking:
- Keep it Simple (didn't follow that last time)
- Make sure maintenance isn't too difficult
- Leave enough room in the hood for MH in the future

So what else?? any thought?

 

[Anonymous]

on my 55g: (I would have)

1.) used limestone rock instead of aqaurium lava type base rock. ($20/ton)

2.) setup up the in tank refugium with macros as the first thing.

3.) setup external filter with crushed oyster shell media.

4.) not setup the external sump refug

5.) bought a 75g or 120g tank instead of the 55g.

But then hindsight is always so clear.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

Got a wider tank

Bigger sump

Fuge

Set up MH from the start

Bare bottom

Tank drilled for closed loop

Large closed loop pump

Built my own stand so I could have a larger opening

Built own canopy

No mushrooms

I bet there is more.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yea:

and bought a house with a south faceing window.

 

[Anonymous]

on my 55g: (I would have)

1.) used limestone rock instead of aqaurium lava type base rock. ($20/ton)

2.) setup up the in tank refugium with macros as the first thing.

3.) setup external filter with crushed oyster shell media.

4.) not setup the external sump refug

5.) bought a 75g or 120g tank instead of the 55g.

But then hindsight is always so clear.

Bob

Make sure you get all the facts and other opinions before attempting a tank in this setup. http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=55922

 

[gabemerrill]

so I'm just asking for opinions, that doesn't mean I'm gunna listen to them any more than I listen to the LFS who says yea sure, this mature tang will go fine in you 30gallon.

BUT there are alot of very experienced folks that frequent this forum, I figure there might be some brilliance out there that you'll share. I'll post my new design shortly and let you guys tear it apart.... better to at least get some opinions before getting stuck with a serious pain in the you know what... well it can't be more so than I've already got with my current overly complicated, Rube Goldberg reef.

What I'm really trying to work out right now is a top off + kalk reactor + RO/DI storage and water change system that isn't so ugly I need to hide it in a closet. Its going to have to fit in my new one bedroom apt. Currently I've got a whole house to hide things... but it also means I don't do water changes or Kalk additions as much as I should. I like Matts reef on wheels and may try something like that. So what do the experts here use???

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you could hide your ro/di topoff water in plain sight. A planted Fw would look awesome for instance. and of course using the water that is going to the reef tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you could hide your ro/di topoff water in plain sight. A planted Fw would look awesome for instance. and of course using the water that is going to the reef tank.

That's an interesting idea.

A couple of thoughts that come to mind though, that I honestly have no idea about, but would be concerned about...

What about excess tannins and other chemicals that typically leach into fw plant tanks? Wonder what kinds of effects they'd have on reef inhabitants.

While the water from the plant tank would be aged, I'd be worried about excess nutrients from any fw fish.


Also, just a clarification, bob--I don't quite understand your first part of the statement--"what about hiding the ro/di topoff water in plain sight..." Do you mean that ro/di water would be used in the fw plant tank?

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you could hide your ro/di topoff water in plain sight. A planted Fw would look awesome for instance. and of course using the water that is going to the reef tank.

That's an interesting idea.

A couple of thoughts that come to mind though, that I honestly have no idea about, but would be concerned about...

What about excess tannins and other chemicals that typically leach into fw plant tanks? Wonder what kinds of effects they'd have on reef inhabitants.

While the water from the plant tank would be aged, I'd be worried about excess nutrients from any fw fish.


Also, just a clarification, bob--I don't quite understand your first part of the statement--"what about hiding the ro/di topoff water in plain sight..." Do you mean that ro/di water would be used in the fw plant tank?

First of all it was just an idea that I have never actually implemented. But I have seen a couple of people report that water aged in another tank is used for topoff in reef tanks.

Although RO/DI could be used in the planted tank it would not be necessary and in fact would probably make the Fw planted harder to setup and get going. Obviously the ro/di would not have the initial nutrients that tap would so initially the plants would not grow as fast initially. But after the fish load is established you probably could not tell the difference in the FW water between ro/di and tap.

But if you must use ro/di then the idea was that a nice planted Fw would look better than some hidden tupperware plastic container hidden in a closet.

Just an idea.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

First of all it was just an idea that I have never actually implemented. But I have seen a couple of people report that water aged in another tank is used for topoff in reef tanks.

It is an intriguing idea. I don't know enough about fw planted tank chemistry to know how well it would work. I remember keeping fw tanks (non-planted) and doing water changes and sucking out foul brown/yellow water because of tannins and detritus; I'd imagine a fully planted tank would be quite different though.

Although RO/DI could be used in the planted tank it would not be necessary and in fact would probably make the Fw planted harder to setup and get going. Obviously the ro/di would not have the initial nutrients that tap would so initially the plants would not grow as fast initially.

I'd be more worried about the bad stuff that tap has (copper, etc.) than nutrients, but again, last time I ran a fresh tank I always used tap, but didn't have plants.

But after the fish load is established you probably could not tell the difference in the FW water between ro/di and tap.

I agree.

But if you must use ro/di then the idea was that a nice planted Fw would look better than some hidden tupperware plastic container hidden in a closet.

True, if you've got the space for that extra tank setup.

I had asked because I was just confused about the wording of your post. I couldn't tell if you meant that fw-planted-tank water was the same as ro/di, or to use ro/di in the fw tank.

 

[gabemerrill]

Interesting thought... but addition of vital minerals to RO/DI water through "RO right" or another similar product is recommended for a Planted Freshwater tank, isn't it? Other problems I forsee are:

- Addition of waste, Co2, and iron to the Reef; the point of going RO/DI is for super clean topoff, I plan on using a Kalkreactor between the holding tank and show.
- More work; I took my planted tanks down because I didn't put the effort forth to keep them looking nice once my reef was set up

I do have a 30g that I am thinking about using for the holding tank, it could have a bubble wand added to the front and back and just look like a bubble tank. I'm contemplating making it into a coffee table or endtable since I am not a fan of cluttered space. I'll put together a viseo diagram later on today hopefully.

Another problem I'm wrestling with is hiding the water lines:

1. Apt. water source to the RO unit:
Not a big deal since I can mount the RO unit under the kitchen sink

2. RO Unit to the Holding tank:
This is the biggie, esp if the tank is in another room, will have to cross doorways. - maybe run it above them, or add a door sill to hide it

3. Holding tank to Kalkreactor:
Also a biggie from whatever I build to the tank, probably crossing the livingroom. - around the baseboard maybe?

4. Kalkreactor to Sump:
Not a big deal since I can put the Kalkreactor next to the Sump.

How do you guys clean these lines, or is it even necessary since the water will have TDS < 1