Help with 440 gallon reef display

[Condiman]

This is one of my clients aquariums and I thought i would post on here to see if I can get any ideas on a few things. Info about the aquarium.

9 years old
many people tried to take care of it before me
440 Custom Glass (unknown MFG)
2 - Korilla 4
4 - korilla 3
Ozotech Ozonizer
30 gallon sump ( I know its undersized for a tank but no room under the stand for larger)
2 - Prizm Pro Skimmers (Not my first choice but its what would fit under stand)
2 - 400 watt icecap hqi 20k bulbs
1/2 hsp chiller (unknown MFG)


1 The only problem I am havin now is a small cyno outbreak. Any reasons y that could be? I am thinking from not enough circulation.

2 The top of the tank is made really stupid. The only way I can discribe it is on most acrylic tanks that I have seen have just two opening on the top and that is the way this tank is made. If it were made properly I would have been able to put another light up above the tank. The center part of the tank is a peice of glass that I can not remove. Currently the lighting goes like this. Left light on at 8am to 3pm and the Right light goes on at 12pm and off at 6pm. The client wanted the lights on for the entire time the office is open and that was the only way I could think of setting the timer. What I want to do is find a way to put PC or T5 actincs to come on in the morning and afternoon so the MH aint on for the entire day. What would you recamend? I will try to find a photo of the top of the aquarium to show you what I am talking about.


Water Speks are

PH 8.4
Alk 9.5 dkH
Calcium 440
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate .01

All test kits are Seafert except the phosphat which is D-D ROWA Merck Phosphate Test Kit


Any help would be greatly apreciated.

 

[Condiman]

IMG]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk81/bbsaquaticservice/440reef010.jpg[/IMG]

 

[Condiman]

This here is a before photo before I changed the lights. The origional lights were two 150 hqi

 

[Condiman]

 

[Untamed12]

There doesn't seem to be that many fish in there, so you aren't pushing that system too hard.

However, it wouldn't take many fish to overwhelm a couple of prism pro skimmers. Even two of those is inadequate to skim a tank of that size (I ran one on my 30 gallon and found it inadequate for that!)

So my immediate advice is to upgrade the skimmer.

You can't measure the nitrate and phosphate because they are getting used up by algae and cyano...You might also start running phosphate remover.

 

[Condiman]

Ohh I forgot to add that I have two Persision Marine Phosphate reactors on there and they are running with Rowa Phos media. Like I said the skimmers were not my choice the client is one of those persons who like to have a backup for everything. If one thing dies the other can limp along till it gets fixed. I wanted to run origionally an Aqua C EV1000 or a Persision marine Bullet XL Series Protein Skimmer. But I can recamend till Im blue in the face and he has the final say in the matter.

 

[Condiman]

Just to clearify this is the skimmer Red Sea Prizm Pro Deluxe Protein Skimmer.

 

[Condiman]

Another thing is to when I started maintaining this aquarium. These were the current readings. I keep everything on file.

PH 8.4
Alk 6.1
Calcium 650
Nitrate 100+
Nitrite 50
Phosphate 20+
SG 1.050

 

[am3gross]

lots of water changes..... more flow...... better skimmer...... if he does not want to come off the money to fix what he has you are wasting your time even going over there to try and help. maybe you could suggest a smaller tank for him?

 

[Condiman]

I do 40 gallons every two weeks.

 

[Condiman]

Now what would you suggest for flow. I was thinking of using the new Korllas that come out. But I really havnt heard much feedback on them. As for the skimmer what would you recamend

 

[mm949]

what do u have for a return pump....filter is only as good as the amount of water passed thru it....NEEDS a real skimmer...PMI XL's are probably NOT going to fit under stand would look at bullet line...i would also add more mechanical filter like a bag since they probably overfeed...what are the dimensions of tank cuz it looks barely 300gl..??

 

[Condiman]

I have filter sox that I change out weekly and an auto feeder that feeds once a day. Return pump is a Mag 12 I was lookn at the tubelle streams for flow but not sure on which ones to get

 

[mike660r]

If you are in the aquarium maintenance business and you don't already know the answer to these questions. It would seem you need to do some more home work or you will be out of business.

Just my opinion

 

[Condiman]

YOU KNOW WHAT I WILL BE HONEST I DONT KNOW EVERYTHING AND NOONE DOSE. I HAVE MAINLY DELT WITH AQUARIUM AROUND 220 SIZE BUT WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO DEAL WITH AN AQUARIUM OF THAT SIZE IT CHANGES THINGS A BIT. I THOUGHT IF A PERSON HAD A QUESTION NO MATTER WHAT THERE EXPERIENCE LEVEL THAT I SHOULDNT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING SLAMED. BUT I GUESS I WAS WRONG.

I will never consider myself an expert and what is wrong with what I asked. I have never used those types of pumps and I was asking what peoples thoughts were. So tell me what is wrong with what I have asked I would like to know.

 

[mike660r]

I apologize if my comment gave you the impression I was slamming you. These questions are asked constantly across the boards. If the majority of people would take some time and do some searching on their own. We wouldn't have to repeat the same stuff over and over and over again. I can think of several successful 400 gallon tanks in this forum. I'm just trying to inspire you to look around at all the information that is already available too you here.

 

[Condiman]

The problem I have is that I have to convince this person to purchase these pumps and if they dont work how do I explain that to him. I know I should have a larger skimmer. If it were up to me I would have it in the basement of the facility and be using a volcano style skimmer. But its not my money.

 

[Condiman]

The dimentions of the aquarium are 72 x 30 x 46

 

[Crazy One]

I would recommed in a nice way that there is certain equiptment that they need in order to obtain good water quality.
If they don't want to spend the money there is nothing you can do to help. Give them the benefit of the doubt that you do know what your talking about.
If they don't believe you just bring up some topics on here under large tanks and let them see for themselves what it takes to do it the right way.

 

[Condiman]

One thing I know if I would have setup this tank was to use a closed loop.

I noticed that seems to be the big key in larger tanks. I havnt found any 400 gallon tanks that use powerheads yet and I have been surching. I am thinking of trying the Korilla 8 series and see how they work out.