Tom's 75 reef build

[TommyP]

Thanks will do that when I get home. Need to upgrade my cuc. I only have a handful of hermits and 4-5 small snails. This is what I was recommended.



50 Dwarf Ceriths
16 Nassarius
26 Florida Ceriths
18 Nerites

Overkill? Thoughts?

 

[Jaftica]

Just go to aqauhut and grab a few snails, they have plenty all the time, I'm not a huge fan of hermits

 

[TommyP]

Ok. I may just leave the ones in there now but grab some snails from there or any other lfs. Ill compare prices. Trop island is closest to me. What about the type of snails? Should I get some of each that was mentioned or it doesn't really matter?

 

[Jaftica]

I don't know the names , sorry... Just go to aqua hut and buy an assortment of snails, prices are awesome

 

[TommyP]

I don't know the names , sorry... Just go to aqua hut and buy an assortment of snails, prices are awesome

Cool thanks again. You've been really helpful.

 

[TommyP]

So this weekend I'm going to order the TLF Phosban 150 reactor with 1/3lb of the GFO from BRS. Should I get the LB of GFO now instead? How long does it last?

Also, just realized the return pump I'm using says 1,100 Lph. That means it's only 290 gph minus the 4' head loss (at the most) to the DT. Pretty sure I have to update this. Was thinking about going a mag 7. Any other comparable return pumps that may be more affordable? Would that be sufficient?

 

[BaaMNYC]

I love my next reef reactor.

 

[Jaftica]

Get a ehiem 1262 return pump, dead silent, and perfect for a 75

 

[Jaftica]

If your paying for shipping get the biggest gfo size you can afford, I usually get the 3.5 lb 1/2 gallon size of the high capacity gfo, but just get the regular gfo

 

[TommyP]

If your paying for shipping get the biggest gfo size you can afford, I usually get the 3.5 lb 1/2 gallon size of the high capacity gfo, but just get the regular gfo

Ok thanks. I'm going to order everything off BRS so figured I may get the most instead of buying and paying shipping everytime later on. I'm also grabbing new filters for my rodi machine so I have that available then it ends up being free shipping with everything over $175 so.. works out. I'll look into that pump. Thanks!

 

[TommyP]

Finally got the phosban reactor and an improvement in my cuc. Heading home to acclimate/install!

I also have a mesh media bag. Will this carbon be ok in it?

 

[TommyP]

This is the phosphate media I was told to get from tropical island. It says 1 TBSP per 20 gallons. It's a 75 plus the sump so I'm just going to do 4 table spoons. Is this correct? Do I have to rinse it before I use it?

 

[TommyP]

cant post pics said my acct is locked from my phone. but it's the pura phoslock 150g

 

[TommyP]

So I hooked up my phosphate reactor I used 4 tbsps of the media and dumped it in the reactor. It just sits at the bottom, some parts of it tumble every so often a little bit. Not really sure how this is supposed to work so if anyone can fill me in that would be great. I also used the mesh bag it came with to put that carbon I took a picture of in it. Rinsed both out in ro water before I used them. There's no more room (unless i can put the bag on top of the skimmer pump and pump for reactor in the first section so I put it in my fuge against the wall that the water goes over for the return section. Not sure how useful this is going to be but has ok flow...

 

[Jaftica]

Gfo should tumble slightly on top, as far as the carbon goes, for now just toss the bag of carbon near a baffle in the sump, you can also put the carbon in the reactor first, then a sponge, then the gfo, just make sure the gfo has a slight tumble

 

[TommyP]

Gfo should tumble slightly on top, as far as the carbon goes, for now just toss the bag of carbon near a baffle in the sump, you can also put the carbon in the reactor first, then a sponge, then the gfo, just make sure the gfo has a slight tumble

Ok yeah that's what I did, The reactor is very large compared to the amount of media was placed in it so maybe when I change out the media (how often btw every 6 weeks?) I'll put carbon in first like you mentioned, sponge, then the gfo.

 

[Jaftica]

Depends on the media you you used, gfo is usually 1x month, if its the white phosphate removal beads, it's usually like 3 days

 

[TommyP]

Depends on the media you you used, gfo is usually 1x month, if its the white phosphate removal beads, it's usually like 3 days

Read the thread! HAHA jk
Yes, I used it's the Pura Phoslock 150g containter it's like the brown colored stuff.

 

[Jaftica]

What do the directions on the package say ?

 

[TommyP]

It says 1 TBSP per 20 gallons for a reef tank but don't remember if I read anything about how often to change it out. I'll have to check when I get home.