Hello everyone! New to salt.

[GageLSX]

Ok, so I am the guy that reads forums and uses the information like a grain of salt (see what i did there?)

Here's my knowledge so far. I have a 72G bowfront I took apart to redo the silicone and "glue" holding the panels together. Filled it with tap water for a few days with pee pads underneath to verify if any wet spots. Was good to go!

My intentions have completely changed from a HOB setup to now a 29G sump (free) and going with the submerged type. This will include a filter floss/poly fill mechanical filter. Bio balls/lava rock for biological filter. A 150-200G protein skimmer. Is a reactor really needed? Anything else im missing besides a heater and whatnot?

I am doing 2 1" bulk head fittings for my sump with a 600-700 GPH pump factoring in overhead loss.

My problems right now are, my live rock has green hair algae, but are filled with other great bacteria for my new tank. I have a RODI system, and if I keep my phosphates and nitrates at 0 the green hair algae should disappear over time.

I really just started this about a month ago. I catch on to things fast they say lol. I also built my stand with a total of 8 legs, top frame, and bottom frame. Birch plywood. Red Mahogany stain. Matte poly sprayed on. I have never done any wood work but im a metal fabricator so its essentially the same just maybe a bit easier lol!

Hope to learn alot. Community seems very nice here. Btw I'm 24.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Welcome to RC (Reef Central). This can be a great place to learn. My 2nd tank was a 75g with a sump and that was after 3 tears with a 30g tank. Take your time, ask questions and always remember, "Nothing good happens quickly in an aquarium."

Two comments about your plans. 1) Bio balls/ lava rock are not good filtration systems for a saltwater tank. The filter floss is OK, but I think most reefers these days who use some kind of floss (I do) use filter socks that are easy to change and to clean. And if you have room in the sump, some extra live rock is a good idea. 2) You didn't mention a skimmer which is a really useful filtration tool.

Take your LR with the green hairy algae and put it in a bucket or a garbage can (a clean Brute is very useful). Put enough saltwater in to cover the rock and a small pump if you have a spare. Cover it with the lid and leave it alone for a week or 10 days. The algae will die due to lack of light and the bacteria and any sponges will survive.

 

[ladynavyvet]

Welcome, it's sounds like you are a very mature 24yr old. I don't know beans about your chosen filtration system, I'm using a canister system with my nano tank. My best advice, ask many questions here, I've recreceived far better info here than almost anywhere else online when it comes to our passion for our saltwater tanks. Second, as said above, go slowly with your start up.
One other thing, if you can, get your quarantine tank up and running, to avoid putting sick fish in your primary tank.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[GageLSX]

I did mention a protein skimmer... a 150-200G one. I dont want to overskim. Is there any other filtration besides the 60-80% of what live rock does and the protein skimmer? I will make the chambers big enough to fit whatever in them. I guess ill buy another 10 or so lbs for the sump. maybe even throw some extra sand in there? Im getting ready to fill the display tank after drilling it. wish me luck lol

 

[JUNBUG361]

Welcome to the hobby. What are you planning on keeping in your corals fish?

 

[homer1475]

Bioballs are so 90's. Besides unless you plan on taking them out every couple weeks and rinsing the detritus off them, their useless.

Live rock is all you need for biological filtration in a reef tank. lava rock(if thats what it truly is) looks good, but offers very little surface area for biological filtration. Some do sand in their sumps, but I think its a PITA to try and clean. Have a look into marine pure blocks or plates for extra filtration in the sump.

Reactors are use as needed in my eyes. GFO is great at reducing phosphates and best run in reactor, but until you have a PO4 issue, it's pretty useless to just leave it running. Carbon again is best in a reactor, but not fully needed. It can be run passively in a media bag in a high flow area of the sump.

I don't see any mention of powerheads for flow? The returns from the sump will never give enough flow for corals. At the high end of the price, you have Ecotech and their MP series pumps, Tunze are also great pumps. On the lower end of things you have a bevy of choices on amazon, from jebao's to sun sun's. It's all on how much you want to spend.

I also don't see any mention of lights? Depending on how you want to run the tank(FOWLR = Fish Only With Live Rock, or full blown reef) will dictate what lights you want.

 

[Misled]

[welcome]

I'll leave it at that. Your head is probably already spinning!!!!

 

[neoh74]

I second that ladynavyvet. Some of the info I have received from a LFS has been insane! Just remember that everyone has developed their own method that works for them. Some things may work for you, some may not. But here is a great place to discuss them to make up your own mind.

 

[GageLSX]

Sorry guys been busy setting everything up. I have two 3000 gph powerheads. I'm thinking im on my way down the right path. Theres alot of info on the net these days. I built my 3 chamber sump today out of a 30g. First chamber is my protein skimmer at whatever height needed. After that it will get a piece of Poly Filter between the skimmer and biological filtration. After that I made a bubble trap into a 10" chamber for the return pump.

I also got reef sand and ocean direct, gonna mix the two. Sorry guys I left alot of information out. Thanks for the warm welcome everyone:fish2::fish2:

 

[GageLSX]

Also, I purchased a Seaside Aquatics ES7 skimmer. I looked it up and it seems to be a good one plus i got it for 152!!

 

[GageLSX]

Heres the tank on the stand. It does look like it but the bottom is wider overall.