Hi folks,
I say i’m new cause after about 12 yrs and a house move, I got the bug again. Before, we had a 125 with softies built into the wall in my rec room. This time around, I am putting together a 75 reef ready with a 30 gal sump self contained in my family room.
Now then, where to start??
I constructed the stand my self ( 2 piece design) so that the I can pull the front and sides away to get to the sump if needed.
Currently filling with new rodi system, sump has baffles etc. I bought a 4 bulb t5 programable with moon leds.
Just wondering how much the technology has changed, what i need to do different these days…etc. Skimmer thoughts, Nitrate controls etc. Had just rock rubble in sump before trates seemed to stay 30ppm. Thoughts on nitrate control or other suggestions are welcome. ( I expect at least monthly water changes)
Thanks for letting me join this group of folks. ( across the line in md ) :~S
:Welcome) to DRC!
So what do you plan on keeping in the tank?
Welcome welcome. Always good to see new reef geeks.
Monthly water changes often don’t work well. You can spend a huge chunk of change on gimicky equipment and tear your brains you trying to figure out how to reduce Nitrates or just do your water changes. In an actively growing healthy system water changes are very important to replace many of the elements these animals are pulling out of the water column to build their tissue and skeletons.
Lots has changed, but I’m sure your experience in the past will help. Read up on animals before you buy them make sure your ready to take care of them for a life time and they will be compatible with what you want now and in the future. Don’t start collecting zoanthids and then purchase an angelfish or fall in love with 100 hermit crabs and then buy a clam.
Lots of the new stuff is option and can help the aquarium, but isn’t required. A dramatic new part of the hobby is the prevalence of low nutrient systems. (super low) but these are often not for noobs and can be built up to/converted into in the future.
A million other things could be mentioned, but once again welcome.
thanks guys,
saltcreep, sorry i forgot to mention intended occupants.
80-100 lbs live rock
few resident clowns, gobys, coral beauty…etc.
corals to be mostly softies for sure.
The intent is to start slow and easy and learn/grow with it.
I’m about 20 min from william penn. ( wife went there though) You guys wouldn’t shoot a md guy would ya?
:Welcome) to DRC! here’s a link to some good reading on substrate or not. As John has mentioned first is to determind what you planing on keeping? fish only, corals? what kind hard or soft corals? once that has been determinded then go on with equipment. Please ask questions, we are here to help as well.
http://delreefclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=62
[quote=“boggy, post:4, topic:4846”]
thanks guys,
saltcreep, sorry i forgot to mention intended occupants.
80-100 lbs live rock
few resident clowns, gobys, coral beauty…etc.
corals to be mostly softies for sure.
The intent is to start slow and easy and learn/grow with it.
I’m about 20 min from william penn. ( wife went there though) You guys wouldn’t shoot a md guy would ya?[/quote]
Haha Md guys are def welcome if we let the jersey characters attend :
:
where at in Md btw?
A lot has changed, and a lot of it is still good ol’ basics…
do you know what you’re plan is for the tank bottom? substrate choice? bare bottom?
Well,
substrate… swmbo came home from grocery shopping sunday with 80lbs of the live aragomax. (lfs was close by) so…it’s in there at about 2+ inch depth. Gads, lots to sort out. Was easier with less options. :
:
Welcome aboard!!!
:Welcome)
Don’t worry about any of these guys from DE, I got your back slap-stick :BEER
From MD also, just way down Eastern Shore.
:Welcome) TO DRC ::thumbsup::
I'm not in Md but so close I wonder sometimes ::rofl::
That bug never goes away it's always lurking to raise it's head. ::thumbsup::[quote=“boggy, post:4, topic:4846”]
You guys wouldn’t shoot a md guy would ya?[/quote]
Hell No!!!
You guys have much better aim then us northerners ;D
Welcome to the DRC. I’d recommend a lot of reading as technology has changed quite a bit in the last few years, especially with lighting.
:Welcome) since your wife went to wm penn and i taught at wm penn, we should have similar horror stories. again, glad to have you aboard!
Ok update time.
Last nite i finished getting enough ro water in, water hit the skimmer section (rr tank) my wife went nutz as we heard the sound of water splashing.
It then dawned on me (plumbing challanged) that the bulkhead fittings work much better when they are actually tightened down. oooops
80lbs of live aragomax is in, salinity @ mid range 1.024ish temp 78… no more leaks!
I’m running a quietone 3000. with 4 to 5 ft of head pressure, so i’m not sure what that comes out to. I have added 2 power heads both run 1450gph.
Not sure if i mentioned that i have the aquaticlife 4bulb t5 setup with moon leds.
Somebody had mentioned that the factory bulbs were crap???
so here’s what i know i have left…please add your thoughts:
- get a bit of live rock in…eventually up to 80-90 lbs
- get a refractometer for salinity? i’m told the needle float types are in accurate??
- check and adjust chemistry
- get the fuge rollin ( that part of the sump is empty aside right now.
- get reccomendations on skimmer to fit in the 30 gal sump.
OH, and take the wife out to dinner >LOL<
Sounds like a good start :
:
The pump and flow sound good…
which bulbs did the light come with? aquaticlife switched up recently with the “stock bulbs”
Live rock… watch for unwanted hitch hikers, and also plan out the rock formation in your tank to optimize flow.
I’m a fan of refractometers
Fuge light yet?
Skimmer… def research… tons of crappers out there… I’m happy with my asm g2, but seems like the trend lately is cone skimmers (more efficient pulling air) what size “footprint” area do you have set aside for one? also the depth most skimmers sit in have an “optimal water height” and, is the skimmer section going to be at a constant water level regardless of evaporation?
chemistry… what salt did you start with btw? you should be pretty close with decent salt ( reefcrystals is affordable and just fine imo).
Just take the dosing slow, and take time and learn to get consistent test readings of your parameters…
what kits are you using?
Dinner… good idea, i like the restaurants that are close to my LFS…
ha,
so the guys in newark are the lfs for me. I am using the api kit, bought the reef master kit then went back cause it doesn’ t have ph and trites.
haven’t done anything yet for the fuge…other than it has the dedicated space. Seems lots of theories about what to put there… I’ll have to get a measurement for the footprint of the ps. I will also report back the stock bulbs.
now to get a bio load, get cycled and watch her come alive. Am i the only one that gets as fascinated watching pods and " critters" as i do with the other real " display pets’?? ::
Oh and yes reef crystals were the initial choice for me…
[quote=“boggy, post:14, topic:4846”]
Am i the only one that gets as fascinated watching pods and " critters" as i do with the other real " display pets’?? ::[/quote]
4 a.m. with a flashlight… I’m guilty of pod peeping
#2 refracto for sure, but also get calibration fluid
Ok day 6 update:
All chemistry stable, carbonate a little low. Ph had dropped a bit but aquavitro 8.4 seems to work well.
With all the live sand, seems that I am having very small cycle. Trites have never gone above .25, and trates bounce from 5.0 to 0.
In the tank is nothing but 20 lbs live rock and 2 doz members of the cleanup crew. (2 pj cardinals)
Oh and a nice starting diatom bloom.
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