My new 600 gallon reef
- Thread starter Goodwin9
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Most books don't have the common names in the index, and there are so many variations it really takes a lot of knowledge, resources, and sometimes a microscope to ID corals.
Goodwin9
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I hope they won't fight...my first worry was about them jumping out of the tank. My redhead fairy wrasse jumped on top of the euro bracing and was cooked before I found him......<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9954372#post9954372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
sweet wrasses and they aren't tryig to kill each other...that's a bonus!
jnarowe
New member
my Rhomboid "pair" was not, and one tried to kill the other one in QT. I had to move the agressive one to the display immediately, and unfortunately the other one did a "fish-stick" while I was away on a fishing trip. Perhaps it was kharma?? Make sure you net the top of the QT.
I am always in awe when I look at your display wether it is on your web site, or the pics that you post. I notice that you have a mixed substrate, do you have a DSB, do you use a plenum ?
I am about to start up my new acrylic (50 gal.) I was considering a CPW (drainable) plenum. I read on RC of people using them to help eleaveate the H2S tha can build up in the SB. My plan was to use a coarse aragonite gravel (2~4 mm.) with a fine sand layer on top. I do not know what mm. sand I should use for the top layer. The diversity of the mixed SB for the top layer is very appealing & pleasing as in your display. I was hopeing to use a gravel washer on portions of the sand at times to help in the husbandry / maintenance of it.
I would appreciate your opinion.
Thanks for a reply & the inspiration to dream of a larger display in the future.
Steve (@^926
I am about to start up my new acrylic (50 gal.) I was considering a CPW (drainable) plenum. I read on RC of people using them to help eleaveate the H2S tha can build up in the SB. My plan was to use a coarse aragonite gravel (2~4 mm.) with a fine sand layer on top. I do not know what mm. sand I should use for the top layer. The diversity of the mixed SB for the top layer is very appealing & pleasing as in your display. I was hopeing to use a gravel washer on portions of the sand at times to help in the husbandry / maintenance of it.
I would appreciate your opinion.
Thanks for a reply & the inspiration to dream of a larger display in the future.
Steve (@^926
jnarowe
New member
Steve 926: I hope it's OK to chime in here...unless I am misunderstanding your post, it seems you are planning to use coarse substrate under a fine substrate. Correct?
If so, what you will find is that the fine substrate will filter down through the coarse substrate, never to be seen again.
It won't stay on top.
If so, what you will find is that the fine substrate will filter down through the coarse substrate, never to be seen again.
It won't stay on top.Thanks for the reply jnarowe
My plan was to use a plenum & the coarse layer covered with a drainage cloth to prevent the fine top layer from dissapearing.
I have been interested in a thread about a CPW plenum, and it sounds reasonable.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=289910&perpage=&pagenumber=1
At worst, I would just leave it be a normal plenum.
What's your opinion ?
Steve (@^ 926
:smokin:
My plan was to use a plenum & the coarse layer covered with a drainage cloth to prevent the fine top layer from dissapearing.
I have been interested in a thread about a CPW plenum, and it sounds reasonable.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=289910&perpage=&pagenumber=1
At worst, I would just leave it be a normal plenum.
What's your opinion ?
Steve (@^ 926
:smokin:
jnarowe
New member
I don't really know enough about it or have the practical backround to comment intelligently. I really do not believe that any sand in a reef tank is desirable. I think a properly maintained RDSB has value, as do dedicated sand filters, but if the sand isn't cycled out periodically, trouble will loom on the horizon.
I know there are many successful reefs with DSBs, plenums, etc. but IME the sand bed adds risk. I use just enough sand for visual effect, and vacuum it (supposedly regularly) and replace sand as needed. Unfortunately, sand beds are too easy to ignore for long periods, because it is just a total PITA to maintain them.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard reefers and LFS staff talking about DSBs and how in a reef they never need to be maintained. "They are a natural filter"...I always try to contain myself (ignore, ignore) because AFAIAC, that's just plain rubbish. Then on top of it, sand "sifting" animals are sold to keep the sand bed "clean". IMO, another farse. Sand is a great filter media, but like all media, it will reach capacity in a captive system.
This is a long and storied discussion that often builds into serious arguments, as I imagine that's why ldrhawke is "Moved On". Even with a mostly BB tank, I still do not get enough flow under my rocks to dissipate detritus. I can't imagine how foul it would be with a DSB. The fact that BigDaddy states, "The waste water also has a faint hydrogen sulfide smell." tells me that the sand is essentially creating a toxic region which he is draining off. But would there be this toxicity if there was no sand bed?
I am always interested in new ideas and seeing how reefers create water quality solutions. I would love to see what you do and how it fares over the life of your reef!
I know there are many successful reefs with DSBs, plenums, etc. but IME the sand bed adds risk. I use just enough sand for visual effect, and vacuum it (supposedly regularly) and replace sand as needed. Unfortunately, sand beds are too easy to ignore for long periods, because it is just a total PITA to maintain them.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard reefers and LFS staff talking about DSBs and how in a reef they never need to be maintained. "They are a natural filter"...I always try to contain myself (ignore, ignore) because AFAIAC, that's just plain rubbish. Then on top of it, sand "sifting" animals are sold to keep the sand bed "clean". IMO, another farse. Sand is a great filter media, but like all media, it will reach capacity in a captive system.
This is a long and storied discussion that often builds into serious arguments, as I imagine that's why ldrhawke is "Moved On". Even with a mostly BB tank, I still do not get enough flow under my rocks to dissipate detritus. I can't imagine how foul it would be with a DSB. The fact that BigDaddy states, "The waste water also has a faint hydrogen sulfide smell." tells me that the sand is essentially creating a toxic region which he is draining off. But would there be this toxicity if there was no sand bed?
I am always interested in new ideas and seeing how reefers create water quality solutions. I would love to see what you do and how it fares over the life of your reef!
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