Just getting started in the hobby. - Page 2

ajherrera2 · 08/16/2013, 12:36 PM

I just want to add that a skimmer will help with gas exchange in the water as well. From the 2 powerheads you mentioned i doubt youll have much surface movement and may become a problem once tank is stocked. I would position powerheads on opposite ends of the tank and also one towards front and the other towards the back to try and get as much random low as they will allow. Flow is often overlooked when first starting out but is very necessary as it helps keep waste suspended in the water column that would hopefully make it to the skimmer and not settle on the sand bed. It is also a necessity for gas exchange. Hope ths helps

ghst1203reef · 08/16/2013, 12:46 PM

I'm glad you said that because I was getting a little worried I had too much flow in the tank for the two clowns. I wouldn't think it too little though my tank is on a 37g 30x12x22 with the sand and rock I oonly have around 29g in the tank. The boxes for the maxi jet say I have a total of 1500gph circulation when both are on. So that isn't too much flow for the two fish then right?

ajherrera2 · 08/16/2013, 02:04 PM

Well i personally prefer to turn the tank volume as many times as possible over per hour. After looking at your dimensions you may be ok didnt realize it was only a 12" depth front to back. When it comes to flow keep in mind that we can only try to emulate the natural conditions of these specimens. With so many changing currents and constant under tows i doubt we will ever nail it exactly...

ghst1203reef · 08/16/2013, 02:12 PM

Do you think i would be better off turning on one at a time or always having them both running?

ajherrera2 · 08/16/2013, 02:14 PM

Id run both

ghst1203reef · 08/16/2013, 02:22 PM

ok thanks

ghst1203reef · 08/16/2013, 10:37 PM

I wasn't going to at first but I decided to get the Reef Octopus BH100 HOB Protein Skimmer. I was thinking water changes would be enough but the more I look into it seems like I'll need a one. I should be getting sometime next week.

ajherrera2 ... I guess you gave me the push I needed

ghst1203reef · 08/19/2013, 02:15 PM

The two clown fish. I have two fire shrimp coming in tomorrow. I got them from vividaquariums dot com. I'll post some pics tomorrow

ghst1203reef · 08/20/2013, 09:58 AM

Just got done acclimating the 2 fire shrimp. I'll post picture later if they come out of hiding.

ghst1203reef · 08/20/2013, 10:29 AM

here goes one while in the shipping bags

Arc Drafter · 08/20/2013, 10:39 AM

You ever get your salinity balanced out? When you are topping off your water for evaporation are you using saltwater or RODI water?

ghst1203reef · 08/20/2013, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arc Drafter

You ever get your salinity balanced out? When you are topping off your water for evaporation are you using saltwater or RODI water?

Yea I think I got the salinity balanced out but my refractometer will be here today so I'll have a better idea. I'm having to top off everyday, about half a gallon. I'm still using distilled water no salt mix unless doing a water change. I still need to do more research on the rodi setups before I buy one.

ajherrera2 · 08/20/2013, 11:12 AM

Well im glad to see you went with a skimmer can never go wrong with a good quality skimmer. Added bonus if you choose to skim wet you can use that as small water changes on a daily basis. I prefer to skim on the dry side of things because im too lazy to stay on top of salinity. I set and forget usint ATO system....I would switch to RODI (even if you buy your water) as soon as its feasible.

ghst1203reef · 08/20/2013, 11:36 AM

Where can I buy RODI water? I just got the refractometer and I'm a little high at 1.026 so I'll be bringing that down to 1.025. I should be getting the skimmer in tomorrow.

ajherrera2 · 08/20/2013, 11:53 AM

There is a place on trawood and geoge dieter called the water house i believe and in the shopping center next to kmart on george dieter there is a place agua pura. Both sell rodi water.

ghst1203reef · 08/20/2013, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajherrera2

There is a place on trawood and geoge dieter called the water house i believe and in the shopping center next to kmart on george dieter there is a place agua pura. Both sell rodi water.

Thanks I didn't realize those little water stations sold RODI water and for .25/gallon or $1/5gallons

ajherrera2 · 08/21/2013, 10:57 AM

Not all water stations are rodi but i do know that those are. They are more storefront type facilities.

ghst1203reef · 08/21/2013, 10:59 AM

I went to the one off of saul kleinfield and montana. It said on it the water went through reverse osmosis on it should I not be using that water?

ajherrera2 · 08/21/2013, 11:45 AM

Just know that ro is not the same as rodi. The di resin removes the remaining TDS from the water meaning that there is 0 ions floating around the water column. The problem is that when you have TDS present in the water you truly do not know what those solids are. Could be nitrate, phosphate, or other contaminents.

ghst1203reef · 08/21/2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajherrera2

Just know that ro is not the same as rodi. The di resin removes the remaining TDS from the water meaning that there is 0 ions floating around the water column. The problem is that when you have TDS present in the water you truly do not know what those solids are. Could be nitrate, phosphate, or other contaminents.

OK what would be better in your opinion the RO or the distilled water?

ajherrera2 · 08/21/2013, 12:00 PM

Now by no means am i an expert just sharing the little ive learned through the years....but id probably use ro over distilled.

ghst1203reef · 08/21/2013, 12:14 PM

thanks. good because since I used distilled water at first and now have about 50 1 gallon jugs here at the house I'll just keep filling those up for now.

ghst1203reef · 08/21/2013, 12:19 PM

I also started using Red Sea coral pro salt and got the red sea test kit for ca mg kh

pnavarro170 · 08/21/2013, 12:34 PM

buying your own rodi unit is the easiest and cheaper in the short run.

ghst1203reef · 08/21/2013, 01:22 PM

I'll plan on getting one once I get a bigger tank. With this tank with the water stations that sell RO water I will only cost $60/year. If I bought my own rodi unit it will be 2+ years before I start saving any money.
This is doing 2 water changes a month and adding daily top offs

08/21/2013, 12:34 PM	#49
pnavarro170 S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 3,963	buying your own rodi unit is the easiest and cheaper in the short run. __________________ 150G

08/16/2013, 12:36 PM	#26
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	I just want to add that a skimmer will help with gas exchange in the water as well. From the 2 powerheads you mentioned i doubt youll have much surface movement and may become a problem once tank is stocked. I would position powerheads on opposite ends of the tank and also one towards front and the other towards the back to try and get as much random low as they will allow. Flow is often overlooked when first starting out but is very necessary as it helps keep waste suspended in the water column that would hopefully make it to the skimmer and not settle on the sand bed. It is also a necessity for gas exchange. Hope ths helps

08/16/2013, 12:46 PM	#27
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I'm glad you said that because I was getting a little worried I had too much flow in the tank for the two clowns. I wouldn't think it too little though my tank is on a 37g 30x12x22 with the sand and rock I oonly have around 29g in the tank. The boxes for the maxi jet say I have a total of 1500gph circulation when both are on. So that isn't too much flow for the two fish then right?

08/16/2013, 02:04 PM	#28
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	Well i personally prefer to turn the tank volume as many times as possible over per hour. After looking at your dimensions you may be ok didnt realize it was only a 12" depth front to back. When it comes to flow keep in mind that we can only try to emulate the natural conditions of these specimens. With so many changing currents and constant under tows i doubt we will ever nail it exactly...

08/16/2013, 02:12 PM	#29
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Do you think i would be better off turning on one at a time or always having them both running?

08/16/2013, 02:14 PM	#30
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	Id run both

08/16/2013, 02:22 PM	#31
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	ok thanks

08/16/2013, 10:37 PM	#32
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I wasn't going to at first but I decided to get the Reef Octopus BH100 HOB Protein Skimmer. I was thinking water changes would be enough but the more I look into it seems like I'll need a one. I should be getting sometime next week. ajherrera2 ... I guess you gave me the push I needed

08/19/2013, 02:15 PM	#33
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	The two clown fish. I have two fire shrimp coming in tomorrow. I got them from vividaquariums dot com. I'll post some pics tomorrow

08/20/2013, 09:58 AM	#34
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Just got done acclimating the 2 fire shrimp. I'll post picture later if they come out of hiding.

08/20/2013, 10:29 AM	#35
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	here goes one while in the shipping bags

08/20/2013, 10:39 AM	#36
Arc Drafter Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 228	You ever get your salinity balanced out? When you are topping off your water for evaporation are you using saltwater or RODI water?

08/20/2013, 11:12 AM	#38
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	Well im glad to see you went with a skimmer can never go wrong with a good quality skimmer. Added bonus if you choose to skim wet you can use that as small water changes on a daily basis. I prefer to skim on the dry side of things because im too lazy to stay on top of salinity. I set and forget usint ATO system....I would switch to RODI (even if you buy your water) as soon as its feasible.

08/20/2013, 11:36 AM	#39
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Where can I buy RODI water? I just got the refractometer and I'm a little high at 1.026 so I'll be bringing that down to 1.025. I should be getting the skimmer in tomorrow.

08/20/2013, 11:53 AM	#40
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	There is a place on trawood and geoge dieter called the water house i believe and in the shopping center next to kmart on george dieter there is a place agua pura. Both sell rodi water.

08/21/2013, 10:57 AM	#42
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	Not all water stations are rodi but i do know that those are. They are more storefront type facilities.

08/21/2013, 10:59 AM	#43
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I went to the one off of saul kleinfield and montana. It said on it the water went through reverse osmosis on it should I not be using that water?

08/21/2013, 11:45 AM	#44
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	Just know that ro is not the same as rodi. The di resin removes the remaining TDS from the water meaning that there is 0 ions floating around the water column. The problem is that when you have TDS present in the water you truly do not know what those solids are. Could be nitrate, phosphate, or other contaminents.

08/21/2013, 12:00 PM	#46
ajherrera2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	Now by no means am i an expert just sharing the little ive learned through the years....but id probably use ro over distilled.

08/21/2013, 12:14 PM	#47
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	thanks. good because since I used distilled water at first and now have about 50 1 gallon jugs here at the house I'll just keep filling those up for now.

08/21/2013, 12:19 PM	#48
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I also started using Red Sea coral pro salt and got the red sea test kit for ca mg kh

08/21/2013, 01:22 PM	#50
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I'll plan on getting one once I get a bigger tank. With this tank with the water stations that sell RO water I will only cost $60/year. If I bought my own rodi unit it will be 2+ years before I start saving any money. This is doing 2 water changes a month and adding daily top offs