Too much?

MMacro · 11/30/2016, 11:45 AM

I am putting together all of the equipment for my new tank and was wondering if I am overdoing it.
I am planning on having a biopellet reactor, GFO reactor, refugium, ATS, and skimmer. Is this too much? The only reason I am keeping the refugium would be for pods and not so much nutrient export. I have hears that the turf scrubber might make the skimmer less effective.

Spectorman · 11/30/2016, 11:50 AM

I'm not sure I would worry about GFO right away. I run an ATS and a skimmer.

BlackTip · 11/30/2016, 11:58 AM

I planned for everything as you did with the exception of ATS. Right now (14 months old) I am only using the skimmer. GFO was useful against phosphate leaching in the first 8 months. I didn't have to use it for the past 3-4 months. My nitrate is always 0, so I never had to use bio-pellet. Don't buy equipment up front, buy them when you need them. It is good thing that you are planning and doing research. Good luck.

MMacro · 11/30/2016, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackTip

I planned for everything as you did with the exception of ATS. Right now (14 months old) I am only using the skimmer. GFO was useful against phosphate leaching in the first 8 months. I didn't have to use it for the past 3-4 months. My nitrate is always 0, so I never had to use bio-pellet. Don't buy equipment up front, buy them when you need them. It is good thing that you are planning and doing research. Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectorman

I'm not sure I would worry about GFO right away. I run an ATS and a skimmer.

My rocks are also full of phosphates so I am planning on running GFO until they are clean.
I am not planning on getting gha again... Haha

Ssteve · 11/30/2016, 12:02 PM

Yes. Way over doing it since you really only need liverock and a skimmer.

MMacro · 12/01/2016, 03:12 AM

Also, I am still looking for lights. I was planning on two ap700s and some T5s but now im not really sure.
The tank is 48"x31"x24"
Any suggestions?

Grayhead · 12/01/2016, 11:04 AM

If the rocks are going to be an issue, and you know it up front, why use them. I added some my old rock to my new tank and had phosphate issues out the gate. Took the rock away and no more phosphate issues. I ran go heavy in my old tank and new as well. Never could put a dent in the issue. Once I removed the old it cleared up. I was using pukani from brs. New rock is tbs

MMacro · 12/01/2016, 12:38 PM

I acid dipped the rocks so most of the phosphates should be out however there is still a chance that there is some in there. If it causes a noticable problem I will remove them.
Also, should I put anything under the rocks like eggcrate before putting the sand/water in?

MMacro · 12/05/2016, 10:24 PM

Should I use eggcrate or something to put under the rock? I am planning on having a 3"-4" sandbed.

ca1ore · 12/05/2016, 10:58 PM

I always put a sheet of acrylic underneath my rocks just to avoid the possibility of point loading. Also, keep in mind that the techniques you employ for nutrient export will depend upon how much you feed, which will be determined by the animals you choose. Skimmers only remove about 30% of the organics (GAC will remove some as well). So, you're going to have to manage the rest. Live rock will take care of some of it, as will the sand, but i personally always employ some form of biological export, whether ATS, refugium, or both. I don't bother with GFO anymore.

MMacro · 12/05/2016, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

I always put a sheet of acrylic underneath my rocks just to avoid the possibility of point loading. Also, keep in mind that the techniques you employ for nutrient export will depend upon how much you feed, which will be determined by the animals you choose. Skimmers only remove about 30% of the organics (GAC will remove some as well). So, you're going to have to manage the rest. Live rock will take care of some of it, as will the sand, but i personally always employ some form of biological export, whether ATS, refugium, or both. I don't bother with GFO anymore.

Sweet
How thick of a sheet do you use?
I think I am going to run an algae scrubber, skimmer, refugium, and GAC and/or GFO. Instead of Chaeto or Caulerpa I think ill run some slower growing, harder to find macros instead since the scrubber should deal with the other nutrients.
I do plan on having a decent bioload; 12-16 fish.

Ron Reefman · 12/06/2016, 09:37 AM

I used egg crate, but not on the bottom glass. I set it an inch or two above the sand on pvc pipe legs and then use smaller rocks around the edges to hide the egg crate. You can see some of how I did it in my build thread (see link in sig below).

It opens up a lot of sandy bottom for sand dwellers, wrasses, sea cucumbers, serpent stars and more. It also allows for water to circulate under the rocks and virtually eliminates dead spots and cyano. I saw the idea in a fellow reefers tank and now many who see my tank do it and it seems to work quite well. When I move a rock off the egg crate the underside always has sponges and small feather dusters all over it. But rock sitting in the sand has very little (probably just bacteria) growing on it.

11/30/2016, 11:45 AM	#1
MMacro Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,442	Too much? I am putting together all of the equipment for my new tank and was wondering if I am overdoing it. I am planning on having a biopellet reactor, GFO reactor, refugium, ATS, and skimmer. Is this too much? The only reason I am keeping the refugium would be for pods and not so much nutrient export. I have hears that the turf scrubber might make the skimmer less effective. __________________ 155 Mixed Reef (48x31x24)

11/30/2016, 11:58 AM	#3
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	I planned for everything as you did with the exception of ATS. Right now (14 months old) I am only using the skimmer. GFO was useful against phosphate leaching in the first 8 months. I didn't have to use it for the past 3-4 months. My nitrate is always 0, so I never had to use bio-pellet. Don't buy equipment up front, buy them when you need them. It is good thing that you are planning and doing research. Good luck. __________________ 325G DT. 100G sump. In-sump refugium. SRO-5000SSS. 2 Gyres 150. 2 Water Blaster HY-5000. 2 Razor 320W. Apex Gold. MR2 GFO. 2 800W Heaters. Tunze Osmolater. 2 20g-long QT tanks. Geo 624 CA. 80W UV

12/01/2016, 03:12 AM	#6
MMacro Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,442	Also, I am still looking for lights. I was planning on two ap700s and some T5s but now im not really sure. The tank is 48"x31"x24" Any suggestions? __________________ 155 Mixed Reef (48x31x24)

12/01/2016, 11:04 AM	#7
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	If the rocks are going to be an issue, and you know it up front, why use them. I added some my old rock to my new tank and had phosphate issues out the gate. Took the rock away and no more phosphate issues. I ran go heavy in my old tank and new as well. Never could put a dent in the issue. Once I removed the old it cleared up. I was using pukani from brs. New rock is tbs __________________ 240 Gallon mixed reef, Apex Controlled Radion gen4 pro/T-5 hybrid combo, TBS Liverock Lifereef sump, skimmer, and Fuge 2- MP 40, 1- Vectra M1 return pump, Build thread below http:

12/01/2016, 12:38 PM	#8
MMacro Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,442	I acid dipped the rocks so most of the phosphates should be out however there is still a chance that there is some in there. If it causes a noticable problem I will remove them. Also, should I put anything under the rocks like eggcrate before putting the sand/water in? __________________ 155 Mixed Reef (48x31x24)

11/30/2016, 11:50 AM	#2
Spectorman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Upstate NewYork. No buildings... Lots of cows Posts: 186	I'm not sure I would worry about GFO right away. I run an ATS and a skimmer.

11/30/2016, 12:02 PM	#5
Ssteve Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 2,087	Yes. Way over doing it since you really only need liverock and a skimmer.

12/05/2016, 10:24 PM	#9
MMacro Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,442	Should I use eggcrate or something to put under the rock? I am planning on having a 3"-4" sandbed. __________________ 155 Mixed Reef (48x31x24)

12/05/2016, 10:58 PM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I always put a sheet of acrylic underneath my rocks just to avoid the possibility of point loading. Also, keep in mind that the techniques you employ for nutrient export will depend upon how much you feed, which will be determined by the animals you choose. Skimmers only remove about 30% of the organics (GAC will remove some as well). So, you're going to have to manage the rest. Live rock will take care of some of it, as will the sand, but i personally always employ some form of biological export, whether ATS, refugium, or both. I don't bother with GFO anymore. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

12/06/2016, 09:37 AM	#12
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I used egg crate, but not on the bottom glass. I set it an inch or two above the sand on pvc pipe legs and then use smaller rocks around the edges to hide the egg crate. You can see some of how I did it in my build thread (see link in sig below). It opens up a lot of sandy bottom for sand dwellers, wrasses, sea cucumbers, serpent stars and more. It also allows for water to circulate under the rocks and virtually eliminates dead spots and cyano. I saw the idea in a fellow reefers tank and now many who see my tank do it and it seems to work quite well. When I move a rock off the egg crate the underside always has sponges and small feather dusters all over it. But rock sitting in the sand has very little (probably just bacteria) growing on it. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017