Newbie Corner Feedback Thread

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13656033#post13656033 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Happy Halloween!

is this the day we finally see real pictures of you:lol:

I think you should be hammering the candidates for universal dental plans:lol:

 

[WaterKeeper]

Anyone keep one of those? It is the ugliest fish in the ocean. I guess one needs a really deep tank to have one, like about as deep as Mt. Everest, but it would scare off just about everybody at a party. I wonder if there is a giant varity, as they don't grow that big?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13657673#post13657673 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Anyone keep one of those? It is the ugliest fish in the ocean. I guess one needs a really deep tank to have one, like about as deep as Mt. Everest, but it would scare off just about everybody at a party. I wonder if there is a giant varity, as they don't grow that big?

what is that--an eel?

I think I read some where that this is the largest fish known to man--and the deepest running:

 

[WaterKeeper]

No a hump-back, black angler. Only grows to a foot of so. At least those that have been observed.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13658138#post13658138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
No a hump-back, black angler. Only grows to a foot of so. At least those that have been observed.

are they reef safe :mixed:

 

[WaterKeeper]

Not on Halloween night they're not.

 

[EnglishRebel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13655779#post13655779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
IMO there is a little confusion here. The ideal range of flow through your tank is 20-40 times its vol in gph and that is for lps and softies. SPs corals have even greater flows then that
but
the flow through your sump should only be 5-10 times the volume of your water column in gph
Ideally it should match the flow rate of your protein skimmer. That ensures that unskimmed water is not being returned to the display tank. BTW if you don't have a closed loop in the 250 then two of the new Koralia 8's each deliver a turbulant flow of 3200 gph each and at 160 bucks a piece --that's a deal.

Capn
Thanks for the clarification and advice on flow rates. My gravity feed from the DT will be split (via ball valves) between the sump (for skimming) and the refugium (which will then gravity drain to the sump).
If I have to match the flow rate with the skimmer and the refugium flows into the sump, should the flow rate through the sump only be the rate of the skimmer or the combined flow rate of the sump and refugium? I guess what I'm getting at is should the gravity flow from the refugium be skimmed or fed directly to the return pump section of the sump?
Thanks in advance.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Alan,

I'd run it toothe return pump as the skimmer tends to trap pods and such in the bubble train and remove them from the system. You want them to migrate to the display.

 

[Blown76mav]

Well I am HAPPY to report that my first overflow box works with only two little leaks. :dance: A little Weld 16 and all will be fine. I followed Marc's (melevsreef.com) directions and they worked excellent. Not only that but the wife even seemed intrested in what it was and how it works, she's starting to get hooked which means good things. Next on my list is a sump tank.....

Lonnie

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13661738#post13661738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Blown76mav
Well I am HAPPY to report that my first overflow box works with only two little leaks. :dance: A little Weld 16 and all will be fine. I followed Marc's (melevsreef.com) directions and they worked excellent. Not only that but the wife even seemed intrested in what it was and how it works, she's starting to get hooked which means good things. Next on my list is a sump tank.....

Lonnie

good news Lonnie--good luck and keep posting. Be sure and check this thread for information on sumps and fuges:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1349443


Good news about your wife too---this early in the hobby it means less time of perptuating the myth that everything you buy "costs 20 bucks--thats all":lol: :rollface: :lol:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13661055#post13661055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Alan,

I'd run it toothe return pump as the skimmer tends to trap pods and such in the bubble train and remove them from the system. You want them to migrate to the display.

agree 100 per cent also:

With the two ball valves you will be able to control the flow quite well. Number for flow rates have been discussed and discussed on here before
IMO--I would judge the flow rate by observing the refugium for awhile---if the flow rate is too much then it will be picking up too much nutrients from the tank--look for signs of cyano and the red stringy algae caught up in the chaeto.
In that case I would have less flow going to the refugium(s) and more going to the skimmer part of the sump.

 

[Blown76mav]

Well how do you know when you've been bitten by the saltwater bug? When you go to buy a Mag 7 and come home with a 65 gallon pre-drilled tank, stand, heater, Mag 7, 30 gallon sump and a power head for the price of the Mag 7 new. I no sooner checked my sump for leaks (none) and was looking on craigslist for a Mag 7 trying to save some coin when I found the above for 125. I think I did ok, it needs cleand up.

Lonnie

 

[WaterKeeper]

Sounds like a good deal to me Lonnie. Probably being sold by some Newbie Reefer who took my advise.

 

[EnglishRebel]

WaterKeeper
Back on the QT trail When QTing live rock is it okay to run DT water through the QT tank and back to the sump with suitable traps for any bad hithchikers or do we need to QT the rock as we would fish?
Thanks

 

[WaterKeeper]

Darn Alan you come up with some good questions.

In theory, yes you can. If you have a 1 micron or less filter installed between the two it will trap most all pathogens; save some very small bacteria and almost all viruses. A good UV will also eliminate most, if not all, from the reticulating water.

I've always promoted using a canister filter with micron cartridge for freeing a tank of microbial pests as it is cheaper and processes more water volume than a UV. When hooking tanks together a UV is a good solution as it can rid the tank of things too small for most filters to eliminate.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13705877#post13705877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EnglishRebel
WaterKeeper
Back on the QT trail When QTing live rock is it okay to run DT water through the QT tank and back to the sump with suitable traps for any bad hithchikers or do we need to QT the rock as we would fish?
Thanks

I am interpreting this question a little different then WaterKeeper here so to be on the safe side:

If you are asking if you qt tank should be connected to the same water column as your display tank the answer IMO would be

never:eek2:

The whole idea of the qt tank is to isolate possible bacteria, personna non gratia hitchikers and diseases from the display tank water column.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Ah! What I was thinking is if there was a way to connect the two. Can be done but some sort of disease barrier, UV, micron filter, must be between the two systems.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Update-

Water
Tank Selection
Lighting
Sumps
Completing The Set-up
Natural Filtration I
Natural Filtration II
Natural Filtration III
Water Testing

Hey folks! If you have any ideas for an article for Reefkeeping then post them here or, if you have an article of your own, PM Melev, our editor. After all, I'm not

Mr. Know-It-All

Althought some would disagree.

 

[Phillybean]

Hey Tom,

I'm curious to know the math on how to "determine magnesium by subtracting out the calcium determined in the calcium test"

Does this tell you the magnesium in the tank with-out using a magnesium test?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13706438#post13706438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Ah! What I was thinking is if there was a way to connect the two. Can be done but some sort of disease barrier, UV, micron filter, must be between the two systems.

I would think that would be reserved for a very experienced reefer, not for someone new to reef keeping.