Just a few tips and tricks for those new to SPS and reefing....

[fishypets]

Sunny,

Great thread idea, I'm glad you thought of it. You mention you supplement two part. Is this done via dosser or el manual labor?

Mark what do you recommend about detritus build up on the sand bed? I have tank that is currently dominated with sps frags and it seems I'm always getting a thin build up of detritus on the sand bed. I do feed a ton (about 8 cubes a day) so that may be playing a part.

I am a big fan of sucking the water from the sump. I even use a shop vac and then soak up what's left with a sponge. I'm always amazed at what's in the bottom of the water change bucket afterward. YUCK!

 

[abaran]

Long over-do thread. Lots of great ideas. Some help me out. How do you guys siphon the water out of your sump? I know it's a stupid question but I need an answer.
Thanks in advance,
Andre

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734683#post14734683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishypets

Mark what do you recommend about detritus build up on the sand bed? I have tank that is currently dominated with sps frags and it seems I'm always getting a thin build up of detritus on the sand bed. I do feed a ton (about 8 cubes a day) so that may be playing a part.

I am a big fan of sucking the water from the sump. I even use a shop vac and then soak up what's left with a sponge. I'm always amazed at what's in the bottom of the water change bucket afterward. YUCK!

I vacumm my sand bed once every 8-10 weeks or at least I take a baster and break up the detritus and get it back into the water column. I use heavier reactor media mixed in my sand that allows me also to point my tunzes down to stir things up.

I've been known to bust out the shop vac before

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734765#post14734765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abaran
Long over-do thread. Lots of great ideas. Some help me out. How do you guys siphon the water out of your sump? I know it's a stupid question but I need an answer.
Thanks in advance,
Andre

It all depends on your situation. My living room is on a raised foundation so it allows gravity to be my friend. I also know people that use the same pump to pump the water into the tank, pump the water out of the tank. And like it was said before, there is always a shop vac for the left overs.

 

[eggiel]

Things that work for Me
-T5 Lighting 10 hrs
-Temp 80
-Clean the sump and water changes every week
- I clean everything I feed the fishes with RO water
- In Water changes check TDS every time
- The day after a water change check some parameters just in case
- Clean Power heads,overflow, weekly
- Clean the glass twice a week
- Have a good water movement
- Feed once a day
- Dose in the morning with lights off
- Dip every coral I get with Revive
- Change filter sock every 3 days
- visual inspection on every coral

Basicly I take more care of my tank then my self jajajajaj

-

 

[shelburn61]

- Great skimmer
- consistent alkalinity
- MORE water movement than you think you need
- failsafes to avoid temperature spikes
(fans, temp controllers for heaters, auto light shutoffs )

 

[DFason]

This is some great stuff!

Thanks for posting guys. This morning I did a water change and took the water from the sump. I plan on getting a tunze in my sump!

Thanks Sonny!

-Dave

 

[SunnyX]

Oh wow, you guys just keep coming up with the good stuff! I'm gonna compile all the info together into one post as soon as we get enough ideas and suggestions.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14734683#post14734683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wreathypets
Sunny,

Great thread idea, I'm glad you thought of it. You mention you supplement two part. Is this done via dosser or el manual labor?

I use Randy's Two Part and dose it manually daily. This has worked much better for me then a CA reactor and Kalk Stirrer. :thumbsup:

 

[ShareReef]

Good Information! I think I'll try some of these ideas in place of what I'm doing. Just to see if I get better results.

 

[slow_leak]

I've found that less is more with rock layout. I need to be able to maintain move water and siphon from anywhere for long term success. I never put rock against glass or back wall.

 

[snapperface]

whats a Christmas Tree stand ?

 

[goslugsgo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14739361#post14739361 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snapperface
whats a Christmas Tree stand ?

Generally, an apparatus used to hold a tree upright. Specifically, an April Fools joke programmed by your friendly RC mods.

 

[eggiel]

- Carbon in filter bags clean daily so it filters better
- Have good ventilation

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14739361#post14739361 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snapperface
whats a Christmas Tree stand ?

Today, April 1st's translation is "sump"

 

[Rodrigo_BG]

how often do you guys change your T5 bulbs?

 

[Jay Fortay]

sump

 

[Jay Fortay]

sump pod copepod

 

[Dejavu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14740232#post14740232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rodrigo_BG
how often do you guys change your T5 bulbs?

It depends on if the ballast is over driving them ie icecap or not.The norm seemsto be a 8 months to 1 year.

 

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14733777#post14733777 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
The power head trick works for some, I also not some people that have their sumps so dialed in that they can just syphon their baffles once a week and the excess detritus is easily removed instead of being refeed to the tank through the return pump. I wish I had it that way.

I wish I could say that excellent planning lead to this on my sump, but perhaps just dumb luck played a role. Either way, this is what I do. I siphon about 3 gallons of water every week out of the drain section and baffle section and catch all of the detritus that has gathered.

 

[J.R.L.]

i have 4 powerheads in my sump, one in the skimmer compartment, 2 in the fuge, and one in the return section and i get 0 detritus build up