Lets talk about sps filtration.

[klondike4001]

#1 what size tank

90 gallon

#2 what size sump

30 gallon

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle

ATI Bubble Master 200, Rated for 250gal

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed

1" SSB in display

#5 any sponges or socks

Socks, changed every 3 days

#6 refugium, no refugium

LR + Caulerpa

#7 Media being used and how much

Carbon 500ml, changed monthly

#8 biological method if being used

none



10 gallon WC/week, sand bed vaccuumed every other wc.
PO4 0.01-.02 depending on how heavily I fed that week.
NO3 0

 

[Nanook]

Reefslugs, how come I dont see any of those nice sps in the new tank?
Nanook how come does the refugium dont do anything for the system. If properly setup it should help a bit. My friend lost all his fish with the sulphar denitrater when the power went out few hours.

It might help a "bit" and it certainly helps provide some natural food sources to the display tanks, but I didn't see any tangible evidence that it was helping in the filtration of the system.

I have a whole house generator, so I shouldn't have to deal with any power outages that could wipe out my tank. Hopefully.

 

[reefslugs]

Reefslugs, how come I dont see any of those nice sps in the new tank?


Thats my problem. Ever since I put up this larger tank I can't keep sps no matter what I do. The only thing I find wrong is that I have nitrates. This why I started this thread. Wanted to see what filtration combo everyone is using with success.

 

[reefslugs]

Have you considered that the deep sand bed in your display is possibly the source of your nutrient issues? Based on th info you provided that would be my guess. My last tank was a 55 gallon with a deep sand bed in the display... I had no nutrient issues for the first year or so but then the nitrates began to slowly creep upward.

This is something that is going through my head. Remember I'm an old reefer. I've always used a deep sand bed and have never had issues like I have now.

That picture of my old tank which was a 110 gallon. The filtration consist of a deep sand bed, A 30 gallon sump divided in half. One side was a refugium and the other side consist of a small euro reef skimmer, my return pump and phosband. Tank was awesome and wish I had it back. I never did water changes unless thing started to look bad.

 

[reefslugs]

For those who have given us information, I thank you. So far I am seeing no deep sand beds.(but me) The skimmer can handle twice the size of their tank. And not many people use socks/ sponges or refugiums. A few of you have showen their tanks and they are some awesome looking tanks to back up their info.

 

[Nanook]

Remember, no matter how good your skimmer is, or how large, they only remove about 15-20% if I remember correctly from a recent study. I am a big fan of large skimmers for the amount of air they inject into the system, but I think water changes are a BIG, BIG, BIG factor in having a successful reef tank. This is DOUBLY true if you are wanting to grow SPS.

With that being said, what is your water change routine? Percentage of water changed and frequency?? I think those answers could help shed some light on your issues.

 

[ostrow]

#1 what size tank

#2 what size sump

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed

#5 any sponges or socks

#6 refugium, no refugium

#7 Media being used and how much

#8 biological method if being used

I would also ask that you post a full tank shot to back up how good your tank is doing.

#1 -- 156 display (5-x24x25)

#2 -- 175 (I think) sump (6x2x2) -- half full

#3 -- ETSS 1000 with Panworld 200 pump. Can handle probably half again as large a system, maybe more.

#4 -- DSB in display and fuge

#5 -- nope

#6 -- 75gal fuge

#7 -- Kalk reactor converted to GFO holds maybe 2lbs, DIY purigen reactor of same size, large Rod Gizmo for carbon, holds about 4lbs. AquaUV 57W.

 

[Brian Chong]

maybe let the bacteria or whatever catch up to your bio load so ur reef becomes a self sustaining microcosm. I've seen pretty reefs without any waterchanges and I couldn't figure out how they did it. That's my conclusion. Regarding filtersocks, they're great but a pain in the butt. I'd rather clean out the sump every 3 or months

 

[chadfarmer]

#1 200 gallons

#2 30 breeder

#3 atb medium airstar 450 gallons

#4 starboard = no sand

#5 neither

#6 neither

#7 100 bio-pellets in a tlf 150 reactor

#8 biological method is suck out detritus out every week



for the full shot just stop by


do you thank the bio-pellets cleaned the water up to much and gave you more light penetration that the corals werent used to

 

[chadfarmer]

Remember, no matter how good your skimmer is, or how large, they only remove about 15-20% if I remember correctly from a recent study. I am a big fan of large skimmers for the amount of air they inject into the system, but I think water changes are a BIG, BIG, BIG factor in having a successful reef tank. This is DOUBLY true if you are wanting to grow SPS.

With that being said, what is your water change routine? Percentage of water changed and frequency?? I think those answers could help shed some light on your issues.

he doesnt do water changes -- last i talked to him

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I do a 15% waterchange every 2 weeks, I'd like to say religiously but I may go 3 weeks at same instances.

 

[allsps40]

#1 what size tank
40 gallon breeder display
#2 what size sump
20 gallon long
#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle
Octopus NW110 modded rated at 110 gallons, feel like I could step up to a NW150
#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed
shallow sand bed, was BB but could not handle the fish pop on the bottom all the time
#5 any sponges or socks
sponge on my return pump, looking into a filter sock
#6 refugium, no refugium
I was running a fuge for years and feel they work very well but I just took out my fuge, got sick of the cotton candy algae in it (not a common problem)
#7 Media being used and how much
Bightwells phos media and carbon sometimes
#8 biological method if being used
about 30lbs of live rock, MB7 and vodka method
I would also ask that you post a full tank shot to back up how good your tank is doing.
Not the greatest looking sps tank but I am pretty happy with it getting good color and growth

Your deep sand bed it most likely trapping no3 and slowly releasing it. I would remove most of the sand slowly, leave 2 inches just to cover the bottom.

 

[reefjunkie42]

if my tank is 187 gal and my sump is 55 gal. what skimmer should i get, id like to stick with Reef octo , but am open to recommendations.
SRO 3000 sss
SRO 5000 sss

 

[allsps40]

The SRO XP3000 will work great.

 

[Nanook]

I would be willing to be that regular water changes would turn things around quite nicely.

 

[hpfunk]

My tank is a young work in progress This frag was put in the tank july 2010 and the pic was taken in Jan 2011

my 180 is one year old with 1 inch of sand in the display for critters and looks

The sump/ref is a 150gal tub with 120 in it. A 30gal equipment box holds; two skimmers one rates to 250 the other 150, also holds the sock changed as needed and a small media reactor with a mix of phos/carbon sense both are change monthly, a heater, RO float valve and a drip line from the Calcium reactor. The return to the display is on the other side of the tub. Everything in between is a ref with a 4inch sand bed and a 100 pounds of live rock most of it elevated off the sand bed. Much will change in the near future but only for aesthetics and useability. There is also cheto, and I just recently added two baby mangroves.

Water change 10% once a month and 20% after flatworm exit (twice)
dose iodine when i remember, and mag. as needed.
The key to keeping SPS in my last two tanks was the VortechMP40w X2, the MH 250w, and last but not least the calcium reactor. As you can see in my system I keep it really simple, because after 8 years I still feel like a noob.

 

[reefslugs]

Lots of good info here. More please!

 

[fishez4alivin]

#1 110G

#2 43G
#3 ATB Small

#4 bare bottom with MP60 and MP40
#5 If I am around, I use socks, I have many, and rotate them every few days
#6 no

#7 GFO ~1 cup changed out anytime I notice film algae on the glass Rox Carbon~1 cup changed every 2-3 weeks

#8 Live rock
Pre insecticide induced crash

current/frag tank..lol

 

[mr. pluto]

#1 what size tank - 240 gal

#2 what size sump -180 gal/ 90 gal water volume

#3 what size skimmer by what water filtration can it handle-
reef octo xp 5000 cone 400 gal.

#4 deep sand bed, little sand bad, no sand bed - no sand

#5 any sponges or socks- sponge for return pump

#6 refugium, no refugium -no refugium

#7 Media being used and how much- 1/2 lb gfo & 2 cups carbon in separate
tlf reactors

#8 biological method if being used - vinegar 10 ml. daily

30 gal water change weekly
---------------------------

 

[klondike4001]

Looks gorgeous! Loving the stag forest you have going. What's the red tabling acro in the front lower left?