My Reef Log [Newbie's perspective]

Tmoriarty · 06/30/2011, 02:17 PM

Im going to be going through and posting pictures and updates of my tank and where it is at from the building of my stand and adding of rocks all the way through fish and corals hopefully. Im starting this a few weeks in but ill backtrace through and feed in pictures of where it all started. My goal with this tank is eventually to keep numerous sea anemone and also breed a set of true percula clown fish. Hopefully keep a good portion of the juve's in the main tank and create a living clown enviroment. Hopefully everything goes as ive planned (although it never does right

)

For starters in my tank is an Eshopps 300gph overflow box, Eshopps psk75 protein skimmer, koralia 1350gph power head. The plumbing was done by me (and hopefully works right) there is a check valve added on the return to prevent sump overflows (tested it and so far so good) there are also ball valves on the sump supply and return piping. My lighting system is a no-name t5-ho 216w lighting system. Hopefully its ok for some minor reefing and sea anemone keeping :P.

The first four pictures im posting are one with the new aquarium hood i built,
IMG_20110529_164000.jpg
one with the stand as a whole after ive built it and refinished it
IMG_20110615_151011.jpg
The stand was taken from an old existing 55g stand. I modified the bottom by building new larger doors and swords. Built the top to hide any lighting and carved a shield for the top.

one with my piping installation (as crappy as it might be, i dont know)
IMG_20110615_112341.jpg
lastly one of my rockwork with my take on pegging.
IMG_20110618_161028.jpg

For the pegging i used fiberglass rods which was recommended to me from another site. I chose not to create acrocrete and just allow the pegging to hold the rocks in place. The center arch piece is fully pegged while the outside caves are stacked.

Well I hope through this thread i can gain multiple insights on how to keep a reef aquarium. Im glad to be part of this community and cant wait for any feedback.

Tyler

sponger0 · 06/30/2011, 03:26 PM

First thing Im noticing is the background. IMO its kinda pointless cause at some point your back wall with be covered in some sort of algae unless you plan on spending alot of time cleaning algae off. Other than that looks like a godo start. What kind of equipment are you running in the sump?

Also the castle look is actually kinda neat

Tmoriarty · 06/30/2011, 11:08 PM

The background was my wifes desire but I went with it cause I knew eventually coralline will take it over which is fine. The castle theme is the general theme of furniture ive been building for our house so ive stuck with it.

As for in sump it goes through some bio balls mixed with some live rock rubble. Also some activated carbon pouches in the first baffle section. Next section is my psk75 protein skimmer, followed by a bubble trap and a 500gph return pump. Right now its summer and my ac stays at 78 so no heater yet......but that will go in the sump as soon as its needed.

sponger0 · 07/01/2011, 06:13 AM

I would remove the bioballs. Also, what size is the tank? That return pump seems a little low to me for that tank.

And instead of using carbon, have you considered running a reactor with carbon?

Tmoriarty · 07/01/2011, 02:02 PM

I am confused about removing the bioballs, I thought that the use of bioballs was a good biological filter prior to the protein skimmer. I dont know how to run a reactor with carbon (im guessing they are the hang on side things that pump water through them with carbon inside). I know that a few LFS's i went to all used carbon in bags, I used a modified version of what they did so that my water has to flow through the carbon to get to the next baffle.

And the return pump..... maybe your right but it will have to do for now as my overflow box is only capable of overflowing 300gph, which is right about what my tank pumps in from the pump after headloss. Maybe i can get some more feedback on the carbon reactor and the pump size im using for the tank.

Tyler

sponger0 · 07/01/2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tmoriarty

I am confused about removing the bioballs, I thought that the use of bioballs was a good biological filter prior to the protein skimmer. I dont know how to run a reactor with carbon (im guessing they are the hang on side things that pump water through them with carbon inside). I know that a few LFS's i went to all used carbon in bags, I used a modified version of what they did so that my water has to flow through the carbon to get to the next baffle.

And the return pump..... maybe your right but it will have to do for now as my overflow box is only capable of overflowing 300gph, which is right about what my tank pumps in from the pump after headloss. Maybe i can get some more feedback on the carbon reactor and the pump size im using for the tank.

Tyler

The bioballs are good for fresh water not saltwater tanks. They will hold detritus and cause nitrate spikes in your water.

A carbon reactor would be easy to run. Depending on your sump, you could place it in your return section and the pump attached to it would run water through the reactor, and with the return house the water would return to another section in your sump.

Your return pump should be at least 10x the volume of your tank. But you may be able to use powerheads to make up for lost circulation

Tmoriarty · 07/03/2011, 10:48 AM

In my original post i stated i have a 1350gph koralia powerhead, thats enough flow for a 55gallon tank alone im sure.

As for the bioballs, i researched some more and find nothing that supports they are not for saltwater tanks, I have only found information on the contrary. They will host algae just the same as the tank, and this algae serves to lower your detritus and nitrite. My nitrates will increase like in all new tanks, but will stabalize as my protein skimmer skims them out. Again if I can get anyone else to input on this.

06/30/2011, 02:17 PM	#1
Tmoriarty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 1,040	My Reef Log [Newbie's perspective] Im going to be going through and posting pictures and updates of my tank and where it is at from the building of my stand and adding of rocks all the way through fish and corals hopefully. Im starting this a few weeks in but ill backtrace through and feed in pictures of where it all started. My goal with this tank is eventually to keep numerous sea anemone and also breed a set of true percula clown fish. Hopefully keep a good portion of the juve's in the main tank and create a living clown enviroment. Hopefully everything goes as ive planned (although it never does right ) For starters in my tank is an Eshopps 300gph overflow box, Eshopps psk75 protein skimmer, koralia 1350gph power head. The plumbing was done by me (and hopefully works right) there is a check valve added on the return to prevent sump overflows (tested it and so far so good) there are also ball valves on the sump supply and return piping. My lighting system is a no-name t5-ho 216w lighting system. Hopefully its ok for some minor reefing and sea anemone keeping :P. The first four pictures im posting are one with the new aquarium hood i built, IMG_20110529_164000.jpg one with the stand as a whole after ive built it and refinished it IMG_20110615_151011.jpg The stand was taken from an old existing 55g stand. I modified the bottom by building new larger doors and swords. Built the top to hide any lighting and carved a shield for the top. one with my piping installation (as crappy as it might be, i dont know) IMG_20110615_112341.jpg lastly one of my rockwork with my take on pegging. IMG_20110618_161028.jpg For the pegging i used fiberglass rods which was recommended to me from another site. I chose not to create acrocrete and just allow the pegging to hold the rocks in place. The center arch piece is fully pegged while the outside caves are stacked. Well I hope through this thread i can gain multiple insights on how to keep a reef aquarium. Im glad to be part of this community and cant wait for any feedback. Tyler

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06/30/2011, 03:26 PM	#2
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	First thing Im noticing is the background. IMO its kinda pointless cause at some point your back wall with be covered in some sort of algae unless you plan on spending alot of time cleaning algae off. Other than that looks like a godo start. What kind of equipment are you running in the sump? Also the castle look is actually kinda neat

06/30/2011, 11:08 PM	#3
Tmoriarty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 1,040	The background was my wifes desire but I went with it cause I knew eventually coralline will take it over which is fine. The castle theme is the general theme of furniture ive been building for our house so ive stuck with it. As for in sump it goes through some bio balls mixed with some live rock rubble. Also some activated carbon pouches in the first baffle section. Next section is my psk75 protein skimmer, followed by a bubble trap and a 500gph return pump. Right now its summer and my ac stays at 78 so no heater yet......but that will go in the sump as soon as its needed.

07/01/2011, 06:13 AM	#4
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	I would remove the bioballs. Also, what size is the tank? That return pump seems a little low to me for that tank. And instead of using carbon, have you considered running a reactor with carbon?

07/01/2011, 02:02 PM	#5
Tmoriarty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 1,040	I am confused about removing the bioballs, I thought that the use of bioballs was a good biological filter prior to the protein skimmer. I dont know how to run a reactor with carbon (im guessing they are the hang on side things that pump water through them with carbon inside). I know that a few LFS's i went to all used carbon in bags, I used a modified version of what they did so that my water has to flow through the carbon to get to the next baffle. And the return pump..... maybe your right but it will have to do for now as my overflow box is only capable of overflowing 300gph, which is right about what my tank pumps in from the pump after headloss. Maybe i can get some more feedback on the carbon reactor and the pump size im using for the tank. Tyler

07/03/2011, 10:48 AM	#7
Tmoriarty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 1,040	In my original post i stated i have a 1350gph koralia powerhead, thats enough flow for a 55gallon tank alone im sure. As for the bioballs, i researched some more and find nothing that supports they are not for saltwater tanks, I have only found information on the contrary. They will host algae just the same as the tank, and this algae serves to lower your detritus and nitrite. My nitrates will increase like in all new tanks, but will stabalize as my protein skimmer skims them out. Again if I can get anyone else to input on this.