Refugium build for a 75G SW tank?

[fltekdiver]

My first post here ! After 40+ hours reading about this hobby the past several weeks, I bought a used 75G SW Tank off CL

It came with a 35 Gallon 36"x12" glass refrigum, which I didn't like his set up

I just bought a new Reef Octopus 6" Sump Needlewheel Skimmer :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Octopus-6-Su...E:L:OC:US:3160

First Question :

Socks or no socks ? I heard socks can turn into a Nitrate factory?

Second question:

ATO or not? My RO-DI unit will be in my garage which is opposite end of house, do I fill a bucket or something and set up a ATO ?

Third question:

Overflow is a must correct? I don't understand the whole overflow thing yet

Forth question:

Is Acrylic better then Glass ? Should I toss the 35G glass tank, and build a acrylic one?

Filth question:

Light's go off on main aquarium, 1 hour later, lights go on Refugium, and vs versa?

My man tank is drilled

Last question! :

Refugium set up: Line in, and skimmer in same area, then refugium in center, then last chamber return line

OR Skimmer on one side, return pump in center, and Refugium on opposite side of skimmer?

Thanks so much for your help!

I bought the 75G Rimless tank last week, and I just bought the RO-DI unit, and Skimmer, now I have allot more to buy here soon to get it up and running!

[stanley_3]

I uses socks, but have to change every 3 to 4 days, kind of a pain but really keeps the water crystal clear. I have had no nitrate problems.

IMO ATO a must depending on what you plan to keep. Without it it's very hard to keep parameters stable. I resisted this for a long time and wish I would have done it right away.

I have a basement sump, but use glass for my sump and refu. Glass is fine, just a little heavier than acrylic and a lot cheaper.

I run my refu light opposite of my main tank to help stabilize ph. Depending on your macro algae you may have to keep it on more. If you search macro algae there is a lot of info about the different types and there needs.

[fltekdiver]

Thanks, Do I need a overflow being my tank is drilled?

Also, what do you do with the socks, when you take a vaction for a week etc?

So I run the water through the RO-DI system, then take the fresh water, and fill a 5 gallon bucket or something next to the tank, and the
ATO take it from thier?

You top off using fresh water right?

When do you add your salt water then for everopation?

[stanley_3]

Yes on the overflow.

If I'm going to be gone or know I won't be able change them I will just remove the sock total for that time. I do this every month or so with no problems.

Yes top of with RO/DI water. You only add salt when you do a water change. As your water evaporates the salt remains thus raising the salinity. For reference I add about 1.25 gallons of top off water a day and do a 20% water change every 2-3 weeks. Ideally I would do 10% per week but you know how that goes.

[PAnanoguy]

Originally Posted by fltekdiver

Thanks, Do I need a overflow being my tank is drilled?

Also, what do you do with the socks, when you take a vaction for a week etc?

So I run the water through the RO-DI system, then take the fresh water, and fill a 5 gallon bucket or something next to the tank, and the
ATO take it from thier?

You top off using fresh water right?

When do you add your salt water then for everopation?

please dont take offense by this, but it looks like you have ALOT more reading to do before you are ready for this tank.

[marvelousone]

Use sock. It helps collect debris. Just change it out twice a month or more. Ato is not a must but make life easier. I use 5 gallon jug with a valve that it gravity feed. Without ato you have to add water daily. salt does not evaporate water does. You add salt back during water changes. Use overflow. If tank is drilled it should have overflow. Glass is fine. that don't matter. All my refugiums are glass tanks. As far your refugium light depends on what macroalgea you use. calurpa keep lights on 24hours, cheato you can have lights come on when dt lights go off. Have you drop in refugium then next is skimmer area, then macro area then return pump.

[footballdude2k3]

Originally Posted by PAnanoguy

please dont take offense by this, but it looks like you have ALOT more reading to do before you are ready for this tank.

I agree with this, however, you can do the reading while setting up the tank and start the cycling, just make sure you do enough reading on the build before you do that, otherwise you are going to want to take down the tank to change it. Good luck, ask LOTS of questions.

[fltekdiver]

Thanks, I been reading about 5 hours a night for the past several weeks

But I been spending way to much time, probably 20+ hours alone, reading about DYI refrigum's, and how they work.

I was thinking of starting the tank with dry rock & live rock to kick it, for 6 weeks, while I build everything else

Then add the sand later?

I have the power heads, and heater, so should I just fill it, add the rock and let it sit for 6 weeks, with the power heads going, heater?

No offence taken, I appreciate the help

SW tanks have the tank, power heads, refrugium's, which is a whole ball game by themselves, plumbing all this, RO-DI unit's, in sump pumps, and allot more going on

So theirs allot of reading in general

I which thier was one thread or book, to explain all this at once

I know many people build their tanks and have the drilled, and add sumps, so It seems very common

[footballdude2k3]

Originally Posted by fltekdiver

Thanks, I been reading about 5 hours a night for the past several weeks

But I been spending way to much time, probably 20+ hours alone, reading about DYI refrigum's, and how they work.

I was thinking of starting the tank with dry rock & live rock to kick it, for 6 weeks, while I build everything else

Then add the sand later?

I have the power heads, and heater, so should I just fill it, add the rock and let it sit for 6 weeks, with the power heads going, heater?

No offence taken, I appreciate the help

SW tanks have the tank, power heads, refrugium's, which is a whole ball game by themselves, plumbing all this, RO-DI unit's, in sump pumps, and allot more going on

So theirs allot of reading in general

I which thier was one thread or book, to explain all this at once

I know many people build their tanks and have the drilled, and add sumps, so It seems very common

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

Boom

[fltekdiver]

Perfect, My wife's going to love me, I havn't been doing anything but reading all night till 11pm, lol, Now I have way more reading their, great thread, I'll start tonight

[PAnanoguy]

Have fun, take your time and good luck. This hobby is a continual learning process. Ive been into it for about 14 years now and I still learn something new everyday

[fltekdiver]

Once they are up & running, I understand Ick problems possibley etc, but I've heard they run like FW tanks with alittle more testing. I this true ?

I have a 40G FW breeder tank for a year, and weekly water changes to bi-weekly, etc, but other then maintence, it's been great

We have allot of hobbies, off shore fishing, 30' camper we use allot, so I'm hoping when were gone 3-4 days at a time, the tank will be ok

[Windirmere]

Ato was the best thing to happen to my tank besides Led lights

[fltekdiver]

Next paycheck I plan on buying LED lights, I couldn't imigine the eletric bill each month running the T5's he gave me when I bought the tank

[HOBtx]

Updates??

[thegrun]

It sounds like you've learned a lot since your initial set of questions, but I'll give you my two cents worth:
1. I like to use filter socks, but only if you are willing to clean them regularly. Mine get cleaned on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays if I feel like it or not! They pull a lot of detritus out of the water. I would rather remove the waste before it breaks down. If you are not willing to clean the socks every three days skip them.
2. It's been so long since I ran a tank without an ATO I've almost forgotten what a pain it is to have to daily top off your tank by hand. Salinity stability is important for many corals and with an ATO your tank gets topped off numerous times a day so your salinity stays very stable. For simple ease of maintenance an ATO is a must for me. You can use anything from a 5 gallon bucket to a nice custom tank as a top off reservoir.
3. If you don't have some type of surface water skimming going on your tank is going to develop a thin layer of cloudy oil. An overflow is not absolutely necessary, but you will be glad you have one.
4. Are you talking about a glass display tank or your sump? For the tank most of us prefer glass since acylic scratched much too easily. For a sump I prefer acrylic since they are easier (to me) to modify, but if you have a glass tank already I don't think I would go out and purchase another tank just so it would be acrylic.
5. Since I now use LED lighting in all my tanks and they all fade on and off, I don't have an all on or off situation, but when I used metal halide lighting I ran my main metal halide lights for 7 hours a day and the refugium opposite for 17 hours a day. I had actinic lights (blue) also on my display tank that overlapped the refugium and display tank lighting. Basically you want to run the main daylights for 6-8 hours a day and have the refugium lights come on as soon as the main lights go off.
6. I still like the drain/skimmer-refugium-return pump set up but there are many who use the other set-up. There are threads here on Reef Central with hundreds of responses giving valid reasons for either set-up. In the end I don't think there is a big difference.
7. (bonus) You can add the sand whenever you want, but I think sooner rather than later is best to allow it to settle down and mature before you add livestock.

[fltekdiver]

Thanks, sorry for not updating in awhile !

I had a 120 Gallon Set up, was beautiful!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2268848

Since then sold it to a fellow RC member, and move up to my 180 Reef Build that is cycling now!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2324085

[JDMR2]

Wow, you upgraded fast! Haha good job on your builds!

[fltekdiver]

Thanks !

I been busy building that's for sure !