New here

[mgc1]

Hi,

My name is Mike, Im new to this site and hobby. Started out as a science experiment for my son now its snow balled into a new hobby for the both of us. We have a 55G tank with coral and fish. Ive got a large sump/refugium we are using along with a protein skimmer. We are battleing the nitrates as a result of over stocking the tank and over feeding (nothing out of the ordinary for a newbie I would think). Put a cleanup crew and some algae into the refugium last night, nitrates already coming down.

[JMorris271]

Hi Mike. Welcome to RC. So what kind of fish load are you dealing with and are you changing out any water?

[Jeff210]

Hi Mike - might want to look into a GFO reactor...

[mgc1]

Thanks for the replys! I have a total of 4 fish, a 3" yellow tang, a 2" clown, a 1.5" blue damsel and a 2" yellow goby. I think the system will settle out in a week or so. The nitrates are only around 10. I just started using the refugium to grow algae to get rid of the nitrates and use any extra algae to feed my chickens....Will probably end up adding an all fish system to the sump (its huge) in order to keep a steady supply of nitrates for the algae. Ive been doing steady water changes and was able to keep the nitrates down around 0 until I added the yellow tang a few weeks ago....no surprise there after seeing it poop a couple times

[Teenreefer15]

Welcome to RC! CUC's are great. I would recommend getting an RODI unit if you don't have one and either a bio-pellet reactor or GFO reactor with carbon and GFO in it.

[Mcgeezer]

GFO reactor is a must with a heavy bio load

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

Welcome! Like everyone else is saying a GFO may be a good investment for you. How big is your sump/fug?

[Dustyboots]

+1 rodi. I'm a fan of carbon dosing for high nitrate. Chemi pure elite in the sump works wonders for DOCs and water clarity.

[AmberLee]

Hey I'm new here too! And to the hobby (marine) do you mind if I post my proposed stock list here? Nobody has replied to my thread I started yesterday

[fishhuman]

I will take a look at it as soon as I can find it, but this is someone else's thread so i wouldn't post here. If no body posts in a few days start a new thread

[AmberLee]

Originally Posted by fishhuman

I will take a look at it as soon as I can find it, but this is someone else's thread so i wouldn't post here. If no body posts in a few days start a new thread

Thanks! Thread name- 72 Gallon Cube stocking (First Marine Tank!!)

[mgc1]

Hi Again, Thanks for the feedback! My system is doing well now as far as I can see. The sump is for a 300 gallon system acording to the reef store Ive been going to. Its a 40 gallon setup with 2 dividers forming 3 sections. The center area is about 20 gallons, thats also the refugium zone. So far its working well and the nitrates came down again a bit today and the algae is growing down there now instead of the main tank. I really like the sounds of the gfo reactor and will do a bit more reading about it. This site is cool!

[Denbf58]

To Reef Central looks like you are off to a good start . as far as what you have stocked the tank is ok with the exception of the yellow tang. long term they do better in at lease a 6ft
tank

[Zacharoo]

Welcome

[MarineBiased]

Hi! New too ... hello all you

[Teenreefer15]

nice start!