Mr. Peanut's paradise (40Breeder)

[gonzalez78]

Thanks, while I do still have my skimmer I will try this run without it. As you can see my right (refugium) drain goes through a filter sock while my left goes through a media rack that currently hold filter floss and carbon with space for one more, I'm thinking chemipure.

 

[zeroinverse]

Unless you are using GFO (phosphate removal) and some type of nitrate remover, all your food waste (ammonia, nitrites) will get converted into nitrates and phosphates.

And without skimmer or ATS or fast growing macro (mangroves are too slow for nitrate uptake)...

You will have to rely on weekly water changes or feed less.

 

[gonzalez78]

I agree with you on that Ron.... Being that now I only will have my clown pair, 3 hermits and a coral banded shrimp I doubt I will be heavily feeding everyday.... Before I would only feed every 2 days and one heavy feeding right before my weekly water change.... Unfortunately I am getting lots of micro bubbles in my display so I will create a bubble trap attachment for the return I can just slide into place.... Already have the idea on my mind and the weld-on just need some acrylic. With this attachment it will divide the return chamber in 2 with just enough room for the skimmer if I need to put it back online.

 

[gonzalez78]

btw i should not be expecting a cycle should i? i used the same live rock i had and live sand i bought yesterday at Jofish.

 

[Grant W]

Luis, you cannot assume that. You need to test for it for a few weeks to see what the tank is doing. You have stripped your biological filter in the restart of the tank. Your fish will start a cycle and you will have a series of small ones until you system catches up and stabilizes. Be patient Bud.

 

[gonzalez78]

Yeah I was thinking that would be a better option.... Ill test today see how it's doing.... I thought maybe I would not have a cycle since the rocks were always wet except for maybe 2 hours.... While I'm at it I'll also do a water change on their temporary home.... I'm also still debating about going bare bottom but I did spray paint the top of my stand black so you can't see the wood.

 

[kodiak23]

I'm sure you've said this before, but why does it seem you are so against a skimmer? I wouldn't ever run a tank without a skimmer.
And barebottom is great, but it actually was more work than a very shallow sand bed. You can see everything with barebottom, even with tons of flow.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Think of your tank simmilar to a country's economy. The import and export has to be balanced ... if you don't use a skimmer then use something else to export (algea scrubber, frequent water change, GFO, Bio pellets, refugium, ETC.) I see you got some plants, sock, and water change for for doing the export. You will have to monitor your water param to see if its sufficient enough to keep corals. From my experience, your current type of exports are only enough for keeping softies, if you want hard corals then you will need to do more exporting.

 

[gonzalez78]

I'm not against skimmers I just want to try and keep my system as simple as possible.... As far as corals I don't really want to do many sps maybe just 1 or 3.... I want to try and stick mostly with zoas, palys, acans and things like that.... In the future I would not mind doing a reactor or some sort.... As I said also I'm still debating between bare bottom and a shallow sand bed since I would need to buy new sand because my old one has chemicals....

Oh I also do still have my ATS sitting here I just need a stronger pump to power it.

 

[gonzalez78]

wow, so all the coraline has completely banished from my rocks and overflow. I also have noticed that the rocks are starting to get green coraline growth so the purply stuff is gone and is being replaced in some areas by green coraline algae still waiting for another week to do another water test and see how its doing.

 

[zeroinverse]

Usually green coralline algae grows from from what I read and the purple stuff comes in later.

You will need some "seed" spores for algae diversity. Just ask someone for some scrapings of coralline algae from their tank. Break it up and toss into your tank.

 

[gonzalez78]

I know it starts green then eventually turns purple. Did you forget i still have another tank i can get that purple Coraline from? I will scrape the back wall later and seed it.

 

[gonzalez78]

Since i was not able to sell my aquarium i will be running it again.... need some funds to buy another 20 long for a new sump as well as a new return pump and heater ( will buy pump and heater at work since i get a discount ) i am also going to wait for Petco to have their tank sale again to buy the 20 long.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Petco is currently doing the sale. Ends 7/27.

 

[gonzalez78]

Cool thanks John that gives me plenty of time to buy it.... Too bad my work does not carry that brand of 20 long i could have them price match it then get my discount.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Where you working now, Luis?

 

[gonzalez78]

I started working at the petsmart in rohnert park thursday

 

[Grant W]

Congrats Luis

 

[woodnaquanut]

Good for you!

 

[gonzalez78]

Thanks guys... after talking to the manager she said she will price match one of their 20 long tanks to the petco sale price for me and i will also use my employee discount