New to the hobbie

[menzies2901]

Hi, i have read quite a lot recently on keeping a reef system and i am needing some set-up advice. First i will start by saying this is one of the most informative forums i have seen and i hope i can pick you brains so i can enjoy my reef system and share my progress with you all.

Tank - 5' x 19" 19" positioned in a wall (you can see through into the next room)

Sump - 4' x 19" x 19" - two water spinners over bio balls suspended over the main sump

Pump - 9000lt/h pump because i require 9' head pressure

protien skimmer - can't quite remember but apparently it will do what is required

My questions are:
1. the return id positioned at one end do i require to have a sprayer bar or power heads?
2.How full should i keep the sump level, does it matter if the water is half way up the bio balls
3.can you drill into live rock to tie it onto other pieces of rock.

I know these questions might be novice to some, i just want to get it right from the beginning

regards,
Menzies2901

 

[crustin]

[welcome]

 

[crustin]

dam you got alot to learn, but it will be fun

 

[crustin]

someone help this person im going to bed

 

[castor]

I'm not sure what you are asking for your first question but I can answer the next two.

My sump level I keep as full as possible. HOw I determine how full is I turn everything off (pumps) and let things settle, and the sump fill with the water from the overflow and everything. I then fill the sump close to the top, turn everything on again and you have your level you will keep in your sump. To make things easy I draw a line on the sump where the water line is so I know where to fill to with top off.

Yes you can drill into live rock pretty easily. Where goggles though. Plastic zip ties work great to hold things together.

A couple things about your sump. Most will tell you to nix the bioballs as they just produce a lot of nitrates. A much better way to go about nutrient exportation is to fill up part of your sump with macro algea and light it on a reverse photoperiod. This method will usually keep your nitrates very low to nill.

Hope that helps.