All advice welcome - Finally preparing for my reef tank

[cloak]

Originally Posted by AnayaReef

So you're saying I can just add some salt to my freshwater tank and all will be good? Hee hee....don't think my freshwater family would like that much!!!

Your husbandry will determine.

Sounds like you already mucked it up...

[AnayaReef]

I'm still in the planning stages, I need to have everything figured out in advance before I start...I am trying to design my stand and have to get everything figured out in advance. Been doing endless reading and researching and it seems like everything I learn leads to 5 more questions...sigh

*Planned setup-
55 gallon display with shallow sand bed and lots of liverock. I will have to make an external overflow system as my husband refuses to let me drill any tanks (wierdo). Will overflow into my 20 gallon long sump (below tank) where it will be skimmed and whatever else, then pumped back up to my display as well as to my fuge (30 gallon breeder). Fuge will be a secondary display and have a DSB, some live rock, lots of plants/macro algae (TBD) and a pair of small seahorses (eventually...down the road). It will probably wind up sitting next to my display, potentially elevated slightly so it can simply overflow into my display. That is the plan.... So here is my questions for today, really need your feedback...

1. What filtration should I use in my system aside from a skimmer? I know some people use canisters, and who knows what else. In my planning I need some advice as to what other filtration I need, if any. I am hoping the skimmer, liverock and plants in the fuge is all I need BUT I want a healthy reef, so if I need something else, please advise. I'm trying to design my sump and just need to know what I should get for it and how to put it all together. Want to do it right from the beginning...

2. Questions for my Fuge... I am starting this entire system from scratch and want to build it to get a strong population of pods as well as great filtration for the system.

2a. What kind of flow should I have in my fuge? I understand it should not be as high as my DT. How do I get the right flow and still prevent dead spots. I want to prevent the dreaded 'D' word....

2b. I plan on pumping water into the fuge from my sump, after it has been skimmed. Is this good or should I have a supply of pre-skimmed water going into the fuge from the display or is the post-skimmed water good?

Ok, I think that is enough to keep you busy answering today Thanks everyone!

[thebkramer]

Have you taken a look at jason2459 thread? He has a pair of mandarins, beautiful too. He even has video of them doing their kissing dance They are my fav too!!!
Here is a link I think the mandarins start here!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...673282&page=23

[AnayaReef]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

Have you taken a look at jason2459 thread? He has a pair of mandarins, beautiful too. He even has video of them doing their kissing dance They are my fav too!!!
Here is a link I think the mandarins start here!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...673282&page=23

Thanks, I had not seen that thread. I started on page 23 then decided to go back to the beginning. I am on page 11 now...wow.

I now might have my husband talked into getting me a 75 gallon and will then use my 55 gallon as a sump/refugium combo...more fuge than sump....looking for feedback on that idea and some setup ideas. I will house the entire thing under the display and build custom doors so I can have the fuge portion of the sump as a secondary display. Need to determine the best setup though so I can get the right flow in the fuge for good filtration and pod population. All feedback is greatly appreciated....in the meantime, I'll be reading some more...while I watch Star Wars...lol

[mihamlet]

LEDs....big initial investment....solid technology IMO, can payoff if you intend to stay in the hobby long enough, should last very long time.

[AnayaReef]

Originally Posted by mihamlet

LEDs....big initial investment....solid technology IMO, can payoff if you intend to stay in the hobby long enough, should last very long time.

Thanks. My plsan is to have my tank for a very long time...which is why I am researching an planning so much. I want a good, solid system from day 1.

[AnayaReef]

Well update today, I got a killer deal on a 75 gallon setup. Picked it up today and here is a list of my equipment I have to play with as I begin to build:

75 gallon tank, not drilled
Overflow box (haven't looked at it close enough to tell you what model)
55 gallon tank I will make into Sump/Fuge with DSB and lots of rock & Macro algae
Coralife Super Skimmer 220 with pump (not sure the pump is submersible?!)
Cascade 1500 canister filter
Gamma UV Sterilizer 25 Watt
PondMag 950 pump (doesn't look submersible...not sure how I'll use it)
T5 lights 8x48", multiple controls (Still want to eventually build my own LED unit)
2x Maxi-Jet 1200
200 watt heater
AquaClear 100 power filter (not sure if I'll use this on this tank)
30+ pounds of formerly live rock. He kept it in saltwater but has not had lights or flow on for a few months. Not much alive on it at this point, I threw it in a 20gallon to see what it does for now.
Had a bunch of black sand, but after carefully scraping it out into a bucket, my husband thought he was doing me a favor by dumping it out back for me...oops!

Well that is my update, my next step is to start designing my 55 gallon sump/fuge based on my filtration devices....just not sure how to put them all together at this point!!

[Sisterlimonpot]

All the way to page 2 and still no pictures????

[AnayaReef]

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

All the way to page 2 and still no pictures????

LOL!! I am still in the planning stages, no stand build, tanks are sitting empty..supplies strewn about the room!!! Here, I have a pic of the 'not-so-live' rock I have jam packed into a 20gal long... Hoping it comes back to life after being neglected for a few months in his tank.



Anyone have any advice on how I should hook all of my filters up and in what order, and why? Thanks!

[mthomp]

put some flow in that tank.

[AnayaReef]

Originally Posted by mthomp

put some flow in that tank.

Thanks, I did after this picture was taken. I have 2 Maxi 1200's, one on each side as well as the hang on back filter. Thanks for watching out for me though!!