In Progress: Sumpless 55g Tank

[hhoang]

Good advice. I will take a look tonight at the housing for potential danger points. This is way too cool looking to just say "you can't do that."

I actually want to put a screen on top instead of the glass, I want to get some fish but they're notorious for carpet surfing.

 

[hhoang]

Hey guys quick update, I got my refractometer and powerheads...I placed the korlias in the tank already, now all I need is rock, sand and water!!!

Here is it with daylights

Here it is with the night mode & actinic bulb in, I like the way the pink is given off from the actinic bulb )

 

[kjboggs]

I only use filter floss in my canister to catch detritus and so I can completely clean it monthly. I put carbon and gfo in my reactor and change monthly to six weeks.

 

[hhoang]

I only use filter floss in my canister to catch detritus and so I can completely clean it monthly. I put carbon and gfo in my reactor and change monthly to six weeks.

I don't have a reactor, I should be fine using carbon and gfo in the trays of my cansister right? There's 4 trays in it.

 

[AwwNuts]

U can have an amazing tank without a sump. I have a 125 gal sumpless. Reef Octopus BH2000 hang on back skimmer which is just a killer machine at filling a cup with dark gunk in days. I run rowa phosban media in a phosban reactor and it polishes the water very well. I have clear water considering the amount of fish I have in my tank.
Large Hawaiian naso tang
Large sail fin tang
Pair of male and female blue jaw triggers
Niger trigger
3 yellow tangs
Pair Oscelarus clown fish
Maroon clown fish
ORA purple dotty back
Bicolor blenny
Pajama cardinal
Bangai cardinal
Large fox face
Citron goby
Anthias
Mandarin
Huge Snails
Hermits
Shrimps
Horseshoe crab

Tons of sps, lps softies and mushrooms growing like crazy under leds

My cousin that has a 215 gal with a 55 gal sump doesn't have clear water like i do on my system and he has just a few fishes only. With my skimmer and phosban reactor it does an amazing job. When i do a water change every 2 to 3 weeks my water is not tinted yellow once so ever. I have tons of water flow and my rocks are extremely clean thanks to all my grassing fish and cleaners. No algae or detritus build up on them.

 

[AwwNuts]

Sorry for the crappy pics as their cell phone pics

 

[Pigpen17]

Sorry for the crappy pics as their cell phone pics

WOW! Amazing. One day. One day......

 

[hhoang]

Got my quarantine tank set up, cycled and ready to go! hopefully going to be putting some fish in there this weekend and have them finished in quarantine by the time my tank is done cycling and the CUC is established and doing there thing :lol2:

Sorry for the crappy pics as their cell phone pics

I'm trying to imagine how awesome it looks in person!

 

[AwwNuts]

Thanks and it looks amazing seeing that variety of fish swimming. Truly peaceful and all happy and well fed

 

[AwwNuts]

Happy guys and loving the scenery

 

[hhoang]

I've got my QT set up and cycled. I am going to go to my LFS and pick up these paired clowns that I've had my eye on. They look great, vibrant, active and good appetites. Any tips on preventative measures? A lot of people have been saying cupramine is a good idea for prevention.​

Happy guys and loving the scenery

What is your light set up? It looks amazing!

 

[AwwNuts]

In quarantine I just carefully look for signs of ich. If fish gets ich I do hypo salinity and it takes care of the problem. Been very lucky with fish not giving problems. Only had to deal with it 2 times. Also I add garlic to the fish food to enhance their immune system.
As for lighting I have euphotica full spectrum led units. Most awesome. Their like the photon that someone had recommended u at one point earlier in the thread

 

[Pigpen17]

I'm with nuts here. I am fearful of copper. Some people believe in preventive treatment of copper, and if you are weighing the health of your tank vs the risk to one fish, I guess it makes sense. Not sure if that is what I am going to do though. I think I am going to treat for disease and watch for ich. Then probably drop salinity for treatment.

 

[hhoang]

Thanks guys I planned on soaking the food with some garlic anyway, I usually do with bettas...Their water quality is questionable. I've only ever had to deal with fin rot and velvet but I feel like I will eventually get hit with ich.

 

[AwwNuts]

I say as long as u feed the fish well and provide it meals with garlic he shouldn't developed problems at all. Also I would add pcv plumbing elbows of various sizes to provide hiding places for the fish in the quarantine. They are easy to clean after use. Hypo salinity is a great natural method to treat for ich and very successful. Also once u add copper to the quarantine tank u will not be able to use it for inverts and corals as the silicone will absorb the copper making it toxic for those that shouldn't be exposed to copper.

So good feeding and garlic juice is a great preventative in my book

 

[AwwNuts]

U shouldnt. Just observe fish health before purchase. Have plenty of hiding places in quarantine. Have hiding places for fish in ur tank and u will be okay. If ur causing ur fish to get ich on a basis then ur doing something wrong and not proving them a good setup. They all have natural instincts so it's good if ur able to provide some of their needs when they feel the need of it

 

[hhoang]

Thanks! I have some minced garlic that I use on my bettas and other fish ive owned, I always got them sick... But maybe that is why I never dealt with ich

I usually just grind up and extract the juice myself though, I can never find a minced garlic without an additive of any kind. And I never thought about the copper being absorbed by the silicone, thanks for the info!

 

[AwwNuts]

yeah no problem. Nice that u juice your own garlic. I usually use Kent Marine Garlic Xtreme for easy use.

99% garlic with citric acid and ascorbic acid which is needed to preserve shelf life. I order all my supplies via online Dr. foster and Smith and get all my items shipped for free when i order a box of 200 gal reef crystals. Some stuff is just more cheaper online than LFS. Also if their are certain things i need on the spot i will go to Petco and price match as they do online and store price matching.

 

[Pigpen17]

This is the thread I read that helped me formulate a QT plan.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1846124

As well, my only experience with a HT and treatment has lead me to believe a few things.
1: Copper can kill, so use it well or not at all.
2: Filter your QT. (I am going to use a aqua clear or similar "stacked" HOB with bio rings, maybe spiked with bio spira),
3: And have air and water movement. (I hate air pumps so I'm thinking the smallest power head I can find with an air tube).
4: And I measured what the true 10 gallon mark is on the tank and marked it with a piece of tape.

 

[hhoang]

My filter has carbon & bio rings in it too, the kh and ph in my qt dropped though, but I remembered my salinity is at 1.022, so I plan on raising it soon, just trying to figure out how and if it'll affect the rest of my readings.