Newbie Corner Feedback-Reefkeeping 101

[Cozwey]

Starting the cycle

Starting the cycle

It has been a week and still nothing happening with our water. 46g tank 20g sump, 3" live sand 45 lbs LR, RODI water and zero ammonia. Can I really just drop a frozen shrimp in the DT?

 

[Kona26]

temp

temp

so i have looked alittle for some info on how to keep temp down. I have not seen much other then getting a chiller...I am alittle ways from that at this time. I have a 120g x2 250w with blue wave, 55g sump, bubble max 2500. my temps have been around 85 on a hot day. Not to sure how to cool it down other then fans. any tips would be nice. thanks

kona

 

[Br0k3nMachin3]

so i have looked alittle for some info on how to keep temp down. I have not seen much other then getting a chiller...I am alittle ways from that at this time. I have a 120g x2 250w with blue wave, 55g sump, bubble max 2500. my temps have been around 85 on a hot day. Not to sure how to cool it down other then fans. any tips would be nice. thanks

kona

I use 2 fans on my 92 gallon bowfront (1 blowing across the top of the tank and 1 blowing into my sump). My temp was about where yours is (85-87). After about 2 days or so, my temp is now 79-80 and all I use are 2 small desk fans with one speed. Hope this helps

 

[Kona26]

Temp

Temp

I use 2 fans on my 92 gallon bowfront (1 blowing across the top of the tank and 1 blowing into my sump). My temp was about where yours is (85-87). After about 2 days or so, my temp is now 79-80 and all I use are 2 small desk fans with one speed. Hope this helps

Thanks..i put 2 desk fans across the top of my tank and 1 in the sump now 78. Thinking i might just use 1 across the top...thanks again for the info

 

[Br0k3nMachin3]

Thanks..i put 2 desk fans across the top of my tank and 1 in the sump now 78. Thinking i might just use 1 across the top...thanks again for the info

No problem

 

[Kona26]

water changes

water changes

so i wanted to know it is better to do water changes from your sump or from main tank..? I have been doing both...want to know if one is better then the other..
thanks

 

[Kona26]

What is it..?

What is it..?

these are a few backpackers that I have found on my new rock...are any of them bad..?

There are 2 pics of soft coral....just not sure what kind

 

[Kona26]

auto top off...Do I need..?

auto top off...Do I need..?

So I am new having a 120g with a 55g sump. I have been hearing alot about an auto top off system. So I am not sure what it dose or used for. Dose it put salt in the system to keep the sal. up..? or dose it take water from another sorce and keep your sump filled..?

thanks

 

[MikeL1987]

coral suggestions, 65 hex

coral suggestions, 65 hex

Hey, Im new to this and ive been getting most of my information from a friend and this site. RC makes my life much easier!

I have a 65 hex with 24, 3watt LEDS (12white12blue).

My rock work doesn't go very high in my tank, a little more than a third of the way up. My tank is deep. considering the distance between the lights and the top most rock, what corals would be good for a beginner/require lower light?

I also want to put an anemone in, what are some things I should know when having anemone and coral in a relatively small space?

 

[wbrinker]

It's been my experience that any frags I've added has not impacted my tank at , but I would defer so the 'experts' here fora more definitive answer

 

[Kona26]

Starter corals..?

Starter corals..?

What are a few good starter corals..?

 

[SUMIXAM]

So I am new having a 120g with a 55g sump. I have been hearing alot about an auto top off system. So I am not sure what it dose or used for. Dose it put salt in the system to keep the sal. up..? or dose it take water from another sorce and keep your sump filled..?

thanks

The auto top off system does not put salt into the tank. Water evaporates, salt stays in the tank, so you have to replace the evaporated water with FRESH water (no salt) to keep your salinity levels stable. Some people add Kalkwasser (to add calcium and alkalinity) to the auto top off system.

 

[edensvision]

Newbie troller: I am not set up but have a 90 gallon aquarium set in a cabinet. I have no fans and saw a post about that above. Is this a need, because I saw some on ebay and wondered if I should grab them up.

Also I too would like to know about critters attaching onto things like rock and what to ask or watch out for in buying things that could potentially be harmful to my tank.

Also I see where someone answered what the auto top off system doesn't do, but I too would like to know what it does do.....

 

[Kona26]

The auto top off system does not put salt into the tank. Water evaporates, salt stays in the tank, so you have to replace the evaporated water with FRESH water (no salt) to keep your salinity levels stable. Some people add Kalkwasser (to add calcium and alkalinity) to the auto top off system.

Yeah i have been looking into it...at my lfs i found one for 100 with 2 stages

 

[myaddress2020]

refugeum

refugeum

hello all
so i have kept a 92 gal corner, all fish, tank, for 8 or so years. i have used an eheim cannister filter thus far and recently wanted to switch to a reef tank. the way the tank is situated is, its built into a corner of a room and then there is a hallway behind it. so this quarter pie tank can be walked around all three sides with 2 corners blocked by the width of a 2x4 ea.
i am learning that normaly a hangon reservoir is on one side of typical tanks so my question finally is.. can i make a sump work in this situation? i have a 3/4'' tube in the wall at these 2 corners.

thank you
---------------

 

[camblonie]

Random question, why not dip live rock like you dip new corals? This would be as opposed to curing though I guess it would still need a significant cycle...?

 

[Heavilytat2ed]

Biocube Cycling

Biocube Cycling

Good morning all. I have a few questions, and was hoping to get some help. Long story short, I bought a used 34g Solana tank a month or so ago, and have had 3-4 leak issues (different spot every time) since owning it. I decided that I couldn't live with e fear of it leaking and ruining my floors or some other portion of my house. Since I needed an all in one type tank for the spot I have in my house for this tank, I decided to buy a new Coralife 29g biocube. I love the look...and most importantly, not many seams to worry about! I already have a tunze 9002 skimmer with InTank cup upgrade, ecotech mp10 and chemi pure elite from the old tank. I also have 20 pounds of sand and 24 pounds of live man made rock. From everything I read, it looks as if the skimmer and media should go in chamber 2. I've also read mixed reviews on bioballs as well. My question is, I'm starting a cycle now...left the balls in there and didn't add the skimmer of chemi pure yet. Should I get rid of the balls? I'll have to ditch them if I use the skimmer anyway, right? My salinity levels are around .025-.026. Btw, I'm new to the hobby, if you couldn't tell.

Thanks!

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yes, the bioballs aren't necessary in a salt set up. They trap detritus which can lead to elevated levels of nitrate. Since you are just starting to cycle you can pull them all at once.

 

[Heavilytat2ed]

So, next question. If the Bioballs are unnecessary, How should I place the media? the Tunze HAS to go in chamber 2, from what I can see. How/where do I put the chemi-pure elite? Do I need any kind of media, or is that what the live rock actually does?

 

[edensvision]

Water system
I have a 90 gallon tank. How much water reserve should I have on hand? I really would like to have a water system built next to my tank, I am trying to find out how big should the drum's I need to buy should be?