help and advise

stephgaryg · 12/10/2013, 01:31 PM

Hi all
I have just set up a 750 ltr reef tank and starting to feel out of my depth a little just wondering what you think of what I have done so far
so 750 litre tank
120kilos live rock
4 power heads
sum going into spray head and wool pad then into 100 bio balls
then another 10 kilos of live rock the large skimmer and 2 carbon packs
then uv filter
I also have an external filter running in the last compartment with the heater and pump taking the water back into the tank
if you have any ideas about anything I might need or should replace
would be great help to ease my mind

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 01:34 PM

What kind of power head pumps? Remove the bio balls, you have plenty of live rock. And what skimmer are you using?

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 01:35 PM

Any photos?

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 01:41 PM

750 litre tank- dimensions? Glass or acrylic? Bulkheads size?
120kilos live rock- What kind of live rock? Did you start dry or live?
4 power heads- What kind?
sum going into spray head and wool pad then into 100 bio balls
then another 10 kilos of live rock the large skimmer and 2 carbon packs
then uv filter- ditch the bioballs and wool pad. Use filter sock instead and change filter sock once or twice a week.
I also have an external filter running in the last compartment with the heater and pump taking the water back into the tank
if you have any ideas about anything I might need or should replace
would be great help to ease my mind[/QUOTE]
Any ATO? How about controller? Lights? Future plans (e.g., corals?) Fish list? Any sand? Quarantine?

stephgaryg · 12/10/2013, 01:52 PM

thanks for reply
dimensions 2000mm wide 800 high 600 deep
started with live rock
you say ditch the bio balls and wool pad I have a large part of the sump for these parts and a spray bar onto this part so you say remove all of this and just put the filter sock on the pipe coming out of main tank
I do have 2 inch of live sand and have been looking into a controller but they don't seem to do much other than tell me the ph and temp no pics yet

patsfan1130 · 12/10/2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephgaryg

thanks for reply
dimensions 2000mm wide 800 high 600 deep
started with live rock
you say ditch the bio balls and wool pad I have a large part of the sump for these parts and a spray bar onto this part so you say remove all of this and just put the filter sock on the pipe coming out of main tank
I do have 2 inch of live sand and have been looking into a controller but they don't seem to do much other than tell me the ph and temp no pics yet

Correct - The LR is your filter - No need for the bio balls

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 02:08 PM

dimensions 2000mm wide 800 high 600 deep- nice length and depth!
started with live rock- Hopefully you have no bad hitchhickers!
you say ditch the bio balls and wool pad I have a large part of the sump for these parts and a spray bar onto this part so you say remove all of this and just put the filter sock on the pipe coming out of main tank- Yup! Put a filter sock on the pipe and the skimmer next to that. Next section should be your Refugium (macroalgae and more live rock) or more live rock is better. I would reduce the live rock in you main display to increase swimming room and put those in your sump instead.
I do have 2 inch of live sand siphon sand every water change and have been looking into a controller look into apex or reefkeeperbut they don't seem to do much other than tell me the ph and temp no pics yet- Controllers do so much more! And you need to have a stable pH and temperature, especially!

stephgaryg · 12/10/2013, 02:11 PM

are the bio balls not doing some good I always thought the more filters live rock live sand uv lights you can have the better the water quality I have had the tank up and running now for 2 months and have 10 fish in it and 4 corals after the cycle had gone I put these in but since then never had any of my levels go higher than 0 except my prosphate are at 0.25 and cant get them down

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephgaryg

are the bio balls not doing some good I always thought the more filters live rock live sand uv lights you can have the better the water quality I have had the tank up and running now for 2 months and have 10 fish in it and 4 corals after the cycle had gone I put these in but since then never had any of my levels go higher than 0 except my prosphate are at 0.25 and cant get them down

They help a little but in the long run, they'll do more harm than good. Unless you plan on cleaning them often, then just remove them. You already have so much live rock in your system. What skimmer are you using? Make sure you're skimming heaviliy and doing consistent water change (10-15% a week, or 20-30% every other week. I suggest weekly! Siphon your live sand consistently as well

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 02:26 PM

What kind of fish and corals? That's a lot of animals in a short period of time IMO, unless they are tiny and hardy fish like chromis.

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 02:34 PM

You have 286.6 pounds of live rock and probably less than 200gallons of water volume, I think you're more than good with your biological filtration.

stephgaryg · 12/10/2013, 03:00 PM

the skimmer in an octopus 2000 it is working good not over flowing I empty it every 10 days am doing water changes once a week but thinking of changing that to every other week because my water levels armonia nitrate and nitrite never change from 0
fish 2 clowns 1 x yeloow and blue damsel 1 x swiss guard 1 x pink queen anthias 3 grren chromis 1 x dusky wrasse 1 x chevron tang 1 x yellow tang 1 x tomini tang 1 x powder blue tang

coral
maze, hammerhead, cornet, leather coral, zoanthids,orange Yuma rock

I thank you for advise you have given so far It does make good sence to to remove bio balls so have more swim space in tank not that its crowed in the tank the fish are smallish
at the moment I know I have done to much in a short space of time and did not quarantine the fish first which im praying im not going to regret the powder blue was the last one to go in 3 days ago he is eating and out swimming around but know they can be problems with ich (went to long beach this year for holiday stayed on the beech had great time)

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephgaryg

the skimmer in an octopus 2000 it is working good not over flowing I empty it every 10 days am doing water changes once a week but thinking of changing that to every other week because my water levels armonia nitrate and nitrite never change from 0
fish 2 clowns 1 x yeloow and blue damsel 1 x swiss guard 1 x pink queen anthias 3 grren chromis 1 x dusky wrasse 1 x chevron tang 1 x yellow tang 1 x tomini tang 1 x powder blue tang

coral
maze, hammerhead, cornet, leather coral, zoanthids,orange Yuma rock

I thank you for advise you have given so far It does make good sence to to remove bio balls so have more swim space in tank not that its crowed in the tank the fish are smallish
at the moment I know I have done to much in a short space of time and did not quarantine the fish first which im praying im not going to regret the powder blue was the last one to go in 3 days ago he is eating and out swimming around but know they can be problems with ich (went to long beach this year for holiday stayed on the beech had great time)

Im glad you removed the bio balls! I hope they don't already have ich as well.. You should continue with your weekly water change routine, that's the reason why you have zero nitrates! I have the SRO-XP2000 and its a beast, not sure if that's the same as yours

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 08:34 PM

Check out the skimmate on this bad boy! I clean mine weekly, 30 gallons weekly water change and I change my filter sock once a week as well.

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 08:35 PM

Only 60lbs in the display and another 60-70lbs in the sump.

Arnel0387 · 12/10/2013, 09:02 PM

Fts

12/10/2013, 01:31 PM	#1
stephgaryg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: london Posts: 6	help and advise Hi all I have just set up a 750 ltr reef tank and starting to feel out of my depth a little just wondering what you think of what I have done so far so 750 litre tank 120kilos live rock 4 power heads sum going into spray head and wool pad then into 100 bio balls then another 10 kilos of live rock the large skimmer and 2 carbon packs then uv filter I also have an external filter running in the last compartment with the heater and pump taking the water back into the tank if you have any ideas about anything I might need or should replace would be great help to ease my mind

12/10/2013, 01:34 PM	#2
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	What kind of power head pumps? Remove the bio balls, you have plenty of live rock. And what skimmer are you using? __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.

12/10/2013, 01:35 PM	#3
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	Any photos? __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.

12/10/2013, 01:41 PM	#4
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	750 litre tank- dimensions? Glass or acrylic? Bulkheads size? 120kilos live rock- What kind of live rock? Did you start dry or live? 4 power heads- What kind? sum going into spray head and wool pad then into 100 bio balls then another 10 kilos of live rock the large skimmer and 2 carbon packs then uv filter- ditch the bioballs and wool pad. Use filter sock instead and change filter sock once or twice a week. I also have an external filter running in the last compartment with the heater and pump taking the water back into the tank if you have any ideas about anything I might need or should replace would be great help to ease my mind[/QUOTE] Any ATO? How about controller? Lights? Future plans (e.g., corals?) Fish list? Any sand? Quarantine? __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.

12/10/2013, 02:08 PM	#7
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	dimensions 2000mm wide 800 high 600 deep- nice length and depth! started with live rock- Hopefully you have no bad hitchhickers! you say ditch the bio balls and wool pad I have a large part of the sump for these parts and a spray bar onto this part so you say remove all of this and just put the filter sock on the pipe coming out of main tank- Yup! Put a filter sock on the pipe and the skimmer next to that. Next section should be your Refugium (macroalgae and more live rock) or more live rock is better. I would reduce the live rock in you main display to increase swimming room and put those in your sump instead. I do have 2 inch of live sand siphon sand every water change and have been looking into a controller look into apex or reefkeeperbut they don't seem to do much other than tell me the ph and temp no pics yet- Controllers do so much more! And you need to have a stable pH and temperature, especially! __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.

12/10/2013, 01:52 PM	#5
stephgaryg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: london Posts: 6	thanks for reply dimensions 2000mm wide 800 high 600 deep started with live rock you say ditch the bio balls and wool pad I have a large part of the sump for these parts and a spray bar onto this part so you say remove all of this and just put the filter sock on the pipe coming out of main tank I do have 2 inch of live sand and have been looking into a controller but they don't seem to do much other than tell me the ph and temp no pics yet

12/10/2013, 02:11 PM	#8
stephgaryg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: london Posts: 6	are the bio balls not doing some good I always thought the more filters live rock live sand uv lights you can have the better the water quality I have had the tank up and running now for 2 months and have 10 fish in it and 4 corals after the cycle had gone I put these in but since then never had any of my levels go higher than 0 except my prosphate are at 0.25 and cant get them down

12/10/2013, 02:26 PM	#10
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	What kind of fish and corals? That's a lot of animals in a short period of time IMO, unless they are tiny and hardy fish like chromis. __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.

12/10/2013, 02:34 PM	#11
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	You have 286.6 pounds of live rock and probably less than 200gallons of water volume, I think you're more than good with your biological filtration. __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.

12/10/2013, 03:00 PM	#12
stephgaryg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: london Posts: 6	the skimmer in an octopus 2000 it is working good not over flowing I empty it every 10 days am doing water changes once a week but thinking of changing that to every other week because my water levels armonia nitrate and nitrite never change from 0 fish 2 clowns 1 x yeloow and blue damsel 1 x swiss guard 1 x pink queen anthias 3 grren chromis 1 x dusky wrasse 1 x chevron tang 1 x yellow tang 1 x tomini tang 1 x powder blue tang coral maze, hammerhead, cornet, leather coral, zoanthids,orange Yuma rock I thank you for advise you have given so far It does make good sence to to remove bio balls so have more swim space in tank not that its crowed in the tank the fish are smallish at the moment I know I have done to much in a short space of time and did not quarantine the fish first which im praying im not going to regret the powder blue was the last one to go in 3 days ago he is eating and out swimming around but know they can be problems with ich (went to long beach this year for holiday stayed on the beech had great time)

12/10/2013, 08:35 PM	#15
Arnel0387 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 997	FTS with minimal aquascaping Only 60lbs in the display and another 60-70lbs in the sump. __________________ Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.