Intro and questions

ArmyGuy · 10/28/2009, 01:40 PM

Whats up reefers.

I'm new to the forums and wanted introduce myself, ArmyGuy is a pretty good description. I'm an old school reefer, started my first invert tank in early 1996. I've not had a tank running in a very long while. A few months ago I set up a BC14 for my wifes birthday and ... yeah ... thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

I could complain about the design flaws in the BC14 but instead I'll jump to some questions. I'm trying to decide between adding either a UV filter or a refugium. The brain leans on the UV filter but I keep reading about the benefits of an "algea scrubber" err refugium. What is the general consensus between these two forms of filtration for micro reefs? Or is there some other more efficient form of filtration to keep nutrients and TDS low?

I have many other questions but I'll keep it short for now.

ChadTheSpike · 10/28/2009, 01:51 PM

I personally lean towards a refugium with DSB... I think its a natural way to gain a lot of benefits (microfauna, chemistry, filtration).

I think the best use for UV is on quarentine and hospital tanks, otherwise I think that beneficial microfauna is destroyed by UV.

Although this is just my opinion and what has worked for me for 8+ years since I started using a fuge.

Chad

socalmiket · 10/28/2009, 02:43 PM

I second the refugium, I had a 10 gallon nano running with a hang on fuge and it kept Nitrates at near zero always.

- MikeT

wab · 10/28/2009, 03:15 PM

+1 for sump/refug welcome aboard reefcentral. USN Thanks for your service

ArmyGuy · 10/28/2009, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the quick replies.

Chad - the reason why the UV filter came to mind was to kill off spores, larvae and help break down other solids. Having a habitat away from the wrasse for live foods didnt really sink in. Glad you pointed that out

MikeT - you mentioned a hang-on refugium for a 10g, was that a diy or a kit you picked up? Would like to hear more or even a link to pics ?

wab - thanks for the welcome, I am proud to serve!

There is very little room to work with, i miss my 150g, and needs to be simple enough for the wife to maintain during my absence. I just cant make up my mind now. Any links you have to some good refugium reading would be much appreciated.

socalmiket · 10/28/2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyGuy

Thanks for the quick replies.

Chad - the reason why the UV filter came to mind was to kill off spores, larvae and help break down other solids. Having a habitat away from the wrasse for live foods didnt really sink in. Glad you pointed that out

MikeT - you mentioned a hang-on refugium for a 10g, was that a diy or a kit you picked up? Would like to hear more or even a link to pics ?

wab - thanks for the welcome, I am proud to serve!

There is very little room to work with, i miss my 150g, and needs to be simple enough for the wife to maintain during my absence. I just cant make up my mind now. Any links you have to some good refugium reading would be much appreciated.

It was a kit from ebay, it was very similar to the CPR one that stores sell. I fed it with a maxijet 600, it even had room for my heater. I had a 16 watt PC light over it on 24 hours per day.

I'll look for pics, but it was years ago.

- MikeT

lucas73 · 10/28/2009, 07:42 PM

First off welcome and thank you for your service.For a 14gal Biocube I think weekly water changes and a quality nano skimmer such as a Tunze 9002,Sapphire or a Euro Reef nano skimmer would work well on such a small system.I perform weekly water changes and run a Euro Reef nano skimmer,along with Rox Carbon and HC GFO.This has worked very well for my system.I mainly have SPS,a couple Clams some Rics and Zoas.JMO

ArmyGuy · 10/29/2009, 12:08 PM

Quick run down on this little tanks' history; its been up and running for about 6 months now, for R & R i suprised the wife by showing up at the door on her b-day with several boxes, live rock and 2 firefin gobies in a bag.

Initial set-up had to be quick and painless as possible since i only had a week to get things settled in and running. I started out with filtered sea water from a LFS, live rock for filtration and the generic skimmer. I didnt think things would be all that bad since it was going to be a home for 2 gobies. The plan for easy maintenance, 2g filtered sea water every 5 days for water changes and some food for the fish. A few days before i left I added a small clean up crew and a couple of zoos. Dirty way to get the wife hooked on the hobby, it worked all too well.

While i was gone she had lost power to the tank, tripped the gfi circut from splashing water on the power strip, my fault for not hanging the strip out of the way. She's been dubbed QUEEN fish killer and colony destroyer! I love to tease her. Not bad though she has done a great job, only lost one goby, a colony of zoos, an emerald crab and a blue leg hermit. The coraline algae looks bright and so many things growing.

Now that i am home she wants to add several species of SPS and more palyies and zoos. I tried to tell her the tank is not the best suited for sps, but ... she gives me that cold drill sergeant look and says well you better make it suitable soldier!

The first upgrade was removing the lid and adding a 150w 14k MH w/2 36w actinic pendant and a couple small powerheads for more flow. Chemistry has been amazingly stable given the small ph drops early mornings. One of the mistakes I made was tossing in the live rock in the good ol fashing wall formation and detritus is slowly building up in the back.

This weekend I'll redo the rock to allow easier maintenace and placement for future live stock. Which brings me back to filtration. The skimmer that is made for the BC is a POS imo and at best works as wooden air block that she wont clean while i am gone.

MikeT - thanks for giving me some more details on the refugium

Lucas - awesome, just what I needed ... a skimmer that skims!

Because so many highly suggest the refugium i've looked in to the small cpr refugium and tunze nano.

10/28/2009, 01:40 PM	#1
ArmyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wasington Posts: 11	Intro and questions Whats up reefers. I'm new to the forums and wanted introduce myself, ArmyGuy is a pretty good description. I'm an old school reefer, started my first invert tank in early 1996. I've not had a tank running in a very long while. A few months ago I set up a BC14 for my wifes birthday and ... yeah ... thats my story and I'm sticking to it. I could complain about the design flaws in the BC14 but instead I'll jump to some questions. I'm trying to decide between adding either a UV filter or a refugium. The brain leans on the UV filter but I keep reading about the benefits of an "algea scrubber" err refugium. What is the general consensus between these two forms of filtration for micro reefs? Or is there some other more efficient form of filtration to keep nutrients and TDS low? I have many other questions but I'll keep it short for now.

10/28/2009, 01:51 PM	#2
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	I personally lean towards a refugium with DSB... I think its a natural way to gain a lot of benefits (microfauna, chemistry, filtration). I think the best use for UV is on quarentine and hospital tanks, otherwise I think that beneficial microfauna is destroyed by UV. Although this is just my opinion and what has worked for me for 8+ years since I started using a fuge. Chad __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

10/28/2009, 03:15 PM	#4
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	+1 for sump/refug welcome aboard reefcentral. USN Thanks for your service __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy

10/28/2009, 02:43 PM	#3
socalmiket Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lawndale, Ca Posts: 1,230	I second the refugium, I had a 10 gallon nano running with a hang on fuge and it kept Nitrates at near zero always. - MikeT

10/28/2009, 06:38 PM	#5
ArmyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wasington Posts: 11	Thanks for the quick replies. Chad - the reason why the UV filter came to mind was to kill off spores, larvae and help break down other solids. Having a habitat away from the wrasse for live foods didnt really sink in. Glad you pointed that out MikeT - you mentioned a hang-on refugium for a 10g, was that a diy or a kit you picked up? Would like to hear more or even a link to pics ? wab - thanks for the welcome, I am proud to serve! There is very little room to work with, i miss my 150g, and needs to be simple enough for the wife to maintain during my absence. I just cant make up my mind now. Any links you have to some good refugium reading would be much appreciated.

10/28/2009, 07:42 PM	#7
lucas73 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 542	First off welcome and thank you for your service.For a 14gal Biocube I think weekly water changes and a quality nano skimmer such as a Tunze 9002,Sapphire or a Euro Reef nano skimmer would work well on such a small system.I perform weekly water changes and run a Euro Reef nano skimmer,along with Rox Carbon and HC GFO.This has worked very well for my system.I mainly have SPS,a couple Clams some Rics and Zoas.JMO

10/29/2009, 12:08 PM	#8
ArmyGuy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wasington Posts: 11	Quick run down on this little tanks' history; its been up and running for about 6 months now, for R & R i suprised the wife by showing up at the door on her b-day with several boxes, live rock and 2 firefin gobies in a bag. Initial set-up had to be quick and painless as possible since i only had a week to get things settled in and running. I started out with filtered sea water from a LFS, live rock for filtration and the generic skimmer. I didnt think things would be all that bad since it was going to be a home for 2 gobies. The plan for easy maintenance, 2g filtered sea water every 5 days for water changes and some food for the fish. A few days before i left I added a small clean up crew and a couple of zoos. Dirty way to get the wife hooked on the hobby, it worked all too well. While i was gone she had lost power to the tank, tripped the gfi circut from splashing water on the power strip, my fault for not hanging the strip out of the way. She's been dubbed QUEEN fish killer and colony destroyer! I love to tease her. Not bad though she has done a great job, only lost one goby, a colony of zoos, an emerald crab and a blue leg hermit. The coraline algae looks bright and so many things growing. Now that i am home she wants to add several species of SPS and more palyies and zoos. I tried to tell her the tank is not the best suited for sps, but ... she gives me that cold drill sergeant look and says well you better make it suitable soldier! The first upgrade was removing the lid and adding a 150w 14k MH w/2 36w actinic pendant and a couple small powerheads for more flow. Chemistry has been amazingly stable given the small ph drops early mornings. One of the mistakes I made was tossing in the live rock in the good ol fashing wall formation and detritus is slowly building up in the back. This weekend I'll redo the rock to allow easier maintenace and placement for future live stock. Which brings me back to filtration. The skimmer that is made for the BC is a POS imo and at best works as wooden air block that she wont clean while i am gone. MikeT - thanks for giving me some more details on the refugium Lucas - awesome, just what I needed ... a skimmer that skims! Because so many highly suggest the refugium i've looked in to the small cpr refugium and tunze nano.