just purchase 120 gallon acro tank and need help!

[cfmx]

Hi all,
I just learned about the club thru Marine Dreams today.
I need some help w/ a tank we bought used on Saturday and set up that day as well.
The tank is 120 gallon 4ft x 2ft x 2ft. It is loaded w/ small acros that we don't know what they are or really what they need.
We have a 72 gallon aquarium currently w/ a couple of acros that seemed to do well w/ little maintenance. I know some acros are really touchie so we want to do what we can to keep them alive.
I don't know if someone would be interested in either talking to me by phone, or coming out to our house or even by the forum so we can learn what is needed to keep them happy. A couple of the bright color acros are turning white.
I tested the water today and everything is great the calcium was a little high at 480 ppm.
We have a dripper running reef former from NatuReef at about 1 gallon a day. Then we use Iodine, Iron, Calcium, and the 2 part Alk & Hardness acording to the label manually (all are also NatuReef products). We have been feeding very little phyto so the water parameters don't sky rocket in case it has a little cycling process.
Light consist of 2 - 400 watt MH blue, 2 - 48 inch VHO blue, 2 - 48 inche VHO white.
Chiller runs at about 78 - 79 degrees.
Trying to get the protein skimmer working but having a little difficulty setting it to work efficently. It is a LifeReef skimmer. We have always had the hang.
Any help on this tank would be greatly appreicated.
Thanks,
Tina

 

[Ah64av8tor]

Tina,

I'm assuming that you just moved the tank, not just set up a tank and filled it with acros.

If this was just a move and every thing is the same it should be fine.

 

[myakkareef]

Welcome Tina...I am not the greatest Acros SPS person but it sounds like your setup will support them. Did you move all the original water? Are you running RODI water as your top off and water change water? Acros are very touchy for some of us, myself included. The Bright color acros turning white is not a good sign. I would be careful dosing alot of different products. ie the Iodine and Iron...The 2 part is probably OK....
Maybe one of the more experienced SPS guys will give some information.
Also visit the other forums on Reefcentral, The SPS forum might be good as well as the chemistry forum...
Keep us posted with any questions you may have, and keep reading and learning. I believe you have a pretty big challenge ahead of you but stick with it...

 

[a2fire2i]

hmm..i have no suggestions other than the ones above, but do you have any pics of the set up??

 

[cfmx]

The tank had been running for 8 years although I don't think the acros are very old because they are smaller. But we broke the tank down on Saturday and set it up at our house. It took us a total of 12 hours from start to finish w/ the acros. I will get some pictures out soon.

 

[Agu]

Watch for some cycle just from moving the tank. I'd suggest using carbon and having water ready for a water change if necessary.

The acros will certainly react to the move. The 400w mh put out a lot of light and if you've moved some of the frags higher in the tank they're subject to getting burned. You can compensate for this by shortening the photo period and gradually increasing it. . Don't hesitate to move corals lower in the tank if necessary.

At this point I wouldn't suggest dosing anything but the two part. Unless I test for an additive I won't use it.

BTW,

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Acros</b></i></big></big>

 

[cfmx]

Pictures of our tank

Pictures of our tank

Well it's been a week now and so far no fish have died and some of the corals are open. But not all.
Full view of tank & stand.

Picture of just the aquarium.

Partial picture of tank.

Thanks again for all your help & suggestions.

 

[Agu]

That's looking fine for a tank moved a week ago.

So when are you hosting a club meeting ?

 

[cfmx]

You you!
I think we will come to a couple of meetings before hosting one.

 

[stevemc]

I looks pretty good from my house! Like Agu said, dont add anything unless you test for it, and if you are adding 2 part and reef former, you may be doubling up. But with all those corals it may need it. It looks great! I am not familiar with the skimmer, I assume it is sitting in the sump, or next to it, and there should be a ball valve, before the skimmer, or after maybe. If so, you want the foam adjusted so it is dry, not runny foam with lots of water running out, but fluffy foam forming slowly, and eventually lots of color-dark stuff. Maybe the water is clean, and there is not a lot of organics to remove, but I doubt that is the case, since you have so many animals. Good luck,Steve