Help me decide my future path

Navyblue · 03/10/2010, 12:59 AM

I have a 120G mushroom dominated reefs. It's running on 2x250w MH and 4x54w T5. Flow wise I have a Tunze 6065, 6060 and 3 x Seio M620. I think I am pretty versatile and can pretty much keep anything that I want. (may be I'll add a few powerhead if I am keeping stuffs that need more flow)

Lately a dead chiller took down most things with it. I am left with a few colonies of mushrooms and a lobophytum. It made me rethink what I want.

I don't like a high maintenance tank. I used to keep SPS and stuffs but sort of "scaled it back". I am thinking if I should get back in the game. But I do not want a 120G full of SPS, calcium uptake would be too much for me.

Another aspect that I dislike with the current state of my tank is I find that there is quantity, but quality wise seems to be lacking considering what is being invested.

Now I wonder if I should turn the 120G into a mixed reef. I think this option might be a bit easier to maintain.

Or have a smaller tank (something between 1-2' long) plumbed into the 120G and focused on "quality" stuffs. And turn the 120G into a ricordea/yuma/mushroom tank, or even a FOWLR and have a greater choice of fishes. I think I have quite a few spare stuffs that I can setup the smaller tank with relatively little cost. I might even move one of the MH and half the rocks to the smaller tank and have the larger tank have a dim and open side.

All thoughts are welcome.

Navyblue · 03/10/2010, 10:31 AM

Anyone?

Bri Guy · 03/10/2010, 10:55 AM

It does seem like a waste of flow an light for just mushrooms right now, if your are going to shy away from SPS both could be downgraded and instead put in some sort of tank automation, making the hobby easier to maintain.

JMO

Navyblue · 03/10/2010, 11:27 AM

What sort of automation do you suggest? The only thing I could think of is auto top up. As it is now all I do is pretty much top up water, feed the fishes and clean the glass. I have the timer feeder but I don't use it. If there is windscreen wiper for tank I'd probably buy it.

Or do you mean things like calcium reactor or kalk doser?

jacksonpt · 03/10/2010, 11:40 AM

an auto topoff and 2-part dosers would automate much of the "work" required to maintain the tank should you go mixed reef. If you don't mind the investment, a fairly full blown controller would do that, plus lights, powerheads, etc.

You could also stay with a softie dominated tank and not have to worry much about the 2part additives. If you planned things out, you can end up with a very nice, diverse tank.

Navyblue · 03/10/2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonpt

an auto topoff and 2-part dosers would automate much of the "work" required to maintain the tank should you go mixed reef. If you don't mind the investment, a fairly full blown controller would do that, plus lights, powerheads, etc.

Why do I want to control the light and powerhead? For fail safe purpose?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonpt

You could also stay with a softie dominated tank and not have to worry much about the 2part additives. If you planned things out, you can end up with a very nice, diverse tank.

That is what I did for the past few years, but I think I want to move on now, to ricordea and SPS. What I am not sure is whether I want to do it in one tank or two. Or if I should just stick with ricordea/yuma/mushrooms.

03/10/2010, 12:59 AM	#1
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	Help me decide my future path I have a 120G mushroom dominated reefs. It's running on 2x250w MH and 4x54w T5. Flow wise I have a Tunze 6065, 6060 and 3 x Seio M620. I think I am pretty versatile and can pretty much keep anything that I want. (may be I'll add a few powerhead if I am keeping stuffs that need more flow) Lately a dead chiller took down most things with it. I am left with a few colonies of mushrooms and a lobophytum. It made me rethink what I want. I don't like a high maintenance tank. I used to keep SPS and stuffs but sort of "scaled it back". I am thinking if I should get back in the game. But I do not want a 120G full of SPS, calcium uptake would be too much for me. Another aspect that I dislike with the current state of my tank is I find that there is quantity, but quality wise seems to be lacking considering what is being invested. Now I wonder if I should turn the 120G into a mixed reef. I think this option might be a bit easier to maintain. Or have a smaller tank (something between 1-2' long) plumbed into the 120G and focused on "quality" stuffs. And turn the 120G into a ricordea/yuma/mushroom tank, or even a FOWLR and have a greater choice of fishes. I think I have quite a few spare stuffs that I can setup the smaller tank with relatively little cost. I might even move one of the MH and half the rocks to the smaller tank and have the larger tank have a dim and open side. All thoughts are welcome.

03/10/2010, 10:55 AM	#3
Bri Guy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin Posts: 2,995	It does seem like a waste of flow an light for just mushrooms right now, if your are going to shy away from SPS both could be downgraded and instead put in some sort of tank automation, making the hobby easier to maintain. JMO __________________ For my birthday i got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. (Steven Wright) Current Tank Info: 40BR w/ 250w 14K Phoenix + 192w PC, 10g fuge w/ 55w PC, 10g sump, Eheim 1250 return w/ SCWD, ASM Mini G skimmer, Gravity fed ATO, Kalk doser, 1/10 HP chiller, 1 Vortec + 3MJs, all on an AC Jr. - Born on date 8-06 Pics in gallery! + 55g FOWLR w/ macro

03/10/2010, 11:40 AM	#5
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	an auto topoff and 2-part dosers would automate much of the "work" required to maintain the tank should you go mixed reef. If you don't mind the investment, a fairly full blown controller would do that, plus lights, powerheads, etc. You could also stay with a softie dominated tank and not have to worry much about the 2part additives. If you planned things out, you can end up with a very nice, diverse tank. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

03/10/2010, 10:31 AM	#2
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	Anyone?

03/10/2010, 11:27 AM	#4
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	What sort of automation do you suggest? The only thing I could think of is auto top up. As it is now all I do is pretty much top up water, feed the fishes and clean the glass. I have the timer feeder but I don't use it. If there is windscreen wiper for tank I'd probably buy it. Or do you mean things like calcium reactor or kalk doser?