Looking to start a reef

[new2scene]

I have a 45 g and FOWLR . I bought the Coralife 2x9610,000k and I would like to know what I need to do and what is the best coral to start with, and the most forgiving. Right now. I am looking to buy a 75g in the next month or 2. I'm using instant ocean salt and temp is at 79. what exactly do I need to buy as in food for the coral and also, here are my parameters:

Calc 400

Kh 12 dkh

Trates 40

Phos 0.25

Ph 8.4

Am 0

the tank is 24" deep.

__________________
45 g
100g rated Skimmer
30lbs argonite
50 fiji LR
Coralife 2x96, 10000k
200W heater
2 MJ 1200

[kau_cinta_ku]

I would stick with softies, shrooms, kenya tree's, leathers, zoas, ect. but I would also look at tring to get the phosphates and nitrates down.

[Aquarist007]

I agree with Sam, the nitrates and esp the phosphates are two high
What kind of flow do you have in the tank and what's your filtration setup

[new2scene]

I have 2 maxi 1200's and I have a Red Sea skimmer I don't have a refuge or any other stuff.

[AquamanE]

IMO- get a fug with EcoSystems "mud" and macroalgae. Nitrates drop right away if nutrients are kept under control. GFO for phosphates.

[new2scene]

I have been feeding twice a day for the anthia they told me that anthia 's have a high metabolism and need to eat frequently. I don't think she's going to suffer being fed once. Also, I use tap water and add Prime when I'm doing a water change top up etc... I just used the baster to blow off the algae off the rocks and I did a 25% water change. Maybe the trates are higher as the baster was blowing around everything. What can I do to bring these 2 things down? is everything else fine? What about the lights that I bought? I am on a budget. I am a single mom with 2 kids, cat, and a Pug (might as well make it three kids!)I bought the lights for $300 will they work if I place the corals half way to the top?

[new2scene]

How do I do a fuge? I have a 10 gallon. do i need to drill holes and everything? I have no idea!

[AquamanE]

Depends on you DIY skills. This site has a lot of good info-http://www.melevsreef.com/29g/sump/design.html

Dont know if 10 gallon is big enough. depends on what else is in there. Some guys build out of rubbermaid containers, and flow from one tank to the other.

You could always buy one.

[SquidHC]

Originally posted by new2scene


1)Also, I use tap water and add Prime when I'm doing a water change top up etc...


2)I just used the baster to blow off the algae off the rocks and I did a 25% water change. Maybe the trates are higher as the baster was blowing around everything. What can I do to bring these 2 things down? is everything else fine?

3)What about the lights that I bought? I am on a budget. I am a single mom with 2 kids, cat, and a Pug (might as well make it three kids!)I bought the lights for $300 will they work if I place the corals half way to the top?

1) One of your best investments would probably be to buy a 4 stage RO/DI unit. You can hook it up to your washing machine's supply if you needed too. You really dont want to be putting any tap water in your reef tank.

2)Doing this may not be that easy once you have coral because you can blow the coral away just as easily. Nutrient control is going to be your biggest alli here. The nitrates being up may be because of that, or they may be because most tap water has high levels of nitrates in it already. This is why I suggested the RO/DI unit. I would test your tapwater for nitrates just to see.

3) Is that fixture PC lights? If its PC you wont be able to grow much under it. I purchased a 4 bulb coralife PC fixture for my first tank before I knew any better and it got quickly replaced. I wish I would have put that money elsewhere for sure.

[SquidHC]

Originally posted by new2scene
How do I do a fuge? I have a 10 gallon. do i need to drill holes and everything? I have no idea!

Imho, it probably isnt worth your time to do a 10g fuge only. Being you still have to make it, plumb it, and have a return pump, you might as well go bigger. I used to have a 75g (you said you were looking to buy one) and I built a 35g sump. I wish it was bigger but oh well. Anyway, check out the link to Meleve's reef that someone else posted so you get an understanding. Keep in mind you can put your skimmer, heaters, and so on in your sump so you dont have to have them visible in your tank. This is a nice factor. Here is a video of my little refugium back in the day.

[new2scene]

Yeah, they're pc ( compact florescent) 2x96 10,000K. What can I grow under them?

[new2scene]

Thanks for the photo. I don't really want to get that involved though, I just want a few simple corals for now. don't have the time or money. Although I would love to. Maybe when I retire in 30 years!

[kau_cinta_ku]

you can still grow the corals I stated eariler but you need to work on getting the nitrates and phosphates down first if you want to keep them alive

[new2scene]

I just tested my tap water for phosphates and it came back zero. why is it reading 25 in my tank? is it from feeding? so more water changes, cut back feeding to once a day?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by new2scene
I have 2 maxi 1200's and I have a Red Sea skimmer I don't have a refuge or any other stuff.

That's giving you a flow rate of ~600 gph. Most reefers feel that between 20-40 times the tank volume per hour is diserable for flow rates in the tank---the exception being the kind of corals you have

Seriously I increase my flow rate in my tank from about 10 times to 45 times the tank volume in gph. Cyano, phosphate and nitrate levels and algae are not a problem

In your 45 if you go to 20 times the flow that would be 900 gph--if you add a korilia #3 that will give you 600 more gph and it is turbulant flow. I would keep the three power head as it gives you flexibility in directin the flow

I would also baste the rock and sand with a turkey baster once a week to get detrius ect back into the water column where it can be filtered off

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by new2scene
How do I do a fuge? I have a 10 gallon. do i need to drill holes and everything? I have no idea!

this was made from a 30 gal tote from Home Depot and a 9 dollar clip on light from there with a 25 watt energy saver bulb
The fuge is higher then the sump so gravity feeds the water back to the sump
I drilled a hole in the side and added a bulkhead for the return

The main flow is t'ed with two ball valves to regulate flow to sump and refugium

[new2scene]

hey capn_hylinur since you're in Hamilton maybe you could pop in one day and show me! lol . That looks great but I've never used a drill!

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by new2scene
hey capn_hylinur since you're in Hamilton maybe you could pop in one day and show me! lol . That looks great but I've never used a drill!

love to--pm me when a good time is for you

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
love to--pm me when a good time is for you

I come over to North American Fish Breeders all the time---once you have been there you wont go anywhere else for fish and coral

[new2scene]

I was just there this afternoon. Love their selection! I bought some mushrooms and I think an anenome feather duster. A bit pricey, but worth it. When I'm ready, I'll give you a shout.