Order of operations help... Vets please chime in

[becon776]

Ok... So if anyone saw my post "on the verge" ubwouldnhave saw that I am in the process of bringing my tank back from an "au natural" status, mass caulerpa growth only one clown. When I started this hobby over ten years ago i was fresh out of college with no money and a load of debt. Forward to now I'm a teacher so pockets aren't crazy deep but getting by just fine. I figure I can free up $100 biweekly for a few months to get this tank where I'd like it to be and keep it there.
The only problem is a that even though I have a damn degree in aquatic bio, teach it, have run pmill hatchery I am still subject to my own second guessing, tunnel vision, and impulse buying. "If i only had this then it would take care of this." I am trying how to decide to do this in the most efficient manner.
Specs:
75 gallon RR
Two korallia big *** power heads (dunno which model)
Sump made by Millie
Reef octopus sro2000int (I am overkimming this tank)
2x175 watt @14k plus rite driven by old school magnetic ballast
2 x ?? Watt 48" sho actinic t12
80-90 #'s LR had it for years
Heaters etc..
Current livestock
Mandarin have had for almost two years
Ocellarris about a year (gentle)
Cleaner shrimp (had him forever)
Foxface (put in last week was murdered or at least harassed to death)( by the time I am dine writing this he will be dead)
Kole tang (mean bully which show no interest in the algae in live rock put in two days ago)
1 big trochus
1 big turbo
3-4 nassarius
1 scarlet reef hermit
3-4 torch/frig spawn been with me forever
1 acro (haven't been in sps loop in a bit) that seems to never die
Crazy random polyps shrooms etc on live rock Given that i have just dine a huge water change and also ran a caulerpa dominated tank (took out a 5gallon bucket full) my water parameters are probably not representative of actual values
Problems I have and am dealing with...
valonia picking little by little however I am noticing a nice crop of new tiny bubbles.
Vermetids huge pita switching to pellet food from flake. When I id a good one I try to nail it somehow.

? What comes first
I know this damn kole is going back to store. His personality sucks.
First $100 goes to red sea salt bucket and decent pellet.
Now from there?
Rodi unit? And are the eBay ones decent? Links plz
Drop cash on cu crew?
Media reactor pump for gfo (two little fishies?? 63$ on sale or no way)
New ff rabbitfish?
Just bought new bulbs so I'll get at least 6 months out of them.
I am just trying to figure out what to do first. Im too "in" the situation.
Oh yeah plus voltmeter to check tank for stray voltage

 

[becon776]

I know power head are dirty I just went on a valonia rampage

 

[MarksReef]

FIRST things first. R.O.D.I., I think Paul still has his with new cartridges on C.L. in Honeoys falls.
I think getting rid of the kole for the FoXface is an excellent choice. Hopefully he is a worker for you and are great fish. Just seen a nice one at C.F. yesterday.
Reactor= Ive only had one and its a Spectrapure (your welcome to come see how it works)
It is in my opinion the best one. Pick a good G.F.O. spend the money on H.C. or use Spectrapure's like I did and watch it work better the the H.C. B.R.S.
Your welcome to borrow my Hanna Phosphate checker, T.D.S. Meter or a slew of test kits any time.

 

[becon776]

Hc?
Foxface is rip ;-(

 

[Scorpius]

Hc?
Foxface is rip ;-(

Hanna Checker. Digital tester.

 

[MarksReef]

High capacity= H.C. G.F.O.

 

[tmz]

I'd check PO4 and NO3 and consider running GFO and GAC. and remove
as much nuisance algae and vermetids as possible.
Ro/di is a plus.
Also, keep parameters for alk and calcium steady within recommended ranges( 7to 11 dkh for alk; 400 plus for calcium) with salinity 1.026 plus or minus .001.

 

[becon776]

Which first cuc... Rodi
.. Or go reactor.. Actually salt is first

 

[Ellery]

My Opinion:
1. RO/DI System - I just use Reef Crystals since it's cheap ($35/200g box)@ HOC in Victor - You need good water with no Phosphates at a minimum.
2. Manually remove as much Bad stuff- Macro Algae (save and throw in a separate 5 gallon bucket to use as a Refugium) and eliminate all Vermatid snails.
3. Get a Biopellet Reactor and Biopellets - I've been running it for over 2 years and have reduced the need to run GFO/GAC constantly (Addresses Nitrates/Phosphates)
4. If you get any Cyano or alot of dtritus in your substrate- a cheap Ozone Generator system with ORP controller addresses all of that and gets your water crystal clear and breaks down detritus in sand (another way to substitute for using GAC weekly)
5. Pending on what you want to keep (Softies, LPS, SPS) I would then only purchase fish that address issues: Bristle tooth tang, Yellow/Sailfin Tang, Rabbit fish/Foxface, Sand sifting gobies etc. Tridacna Clams are also good water filters too.
6. Plan your tank Flow and Lighting based on your tank Plan - What I've learned through the years there's no such thing as a truly mixed Reef - Too many competing requirements to satisfy everyone so pick a niche and keep these parameters constant.
7. ATO with Kalkwasser is an excellent and cheap way of maintaining Alk and Ca and pH.
8. Invest in a Controller since automation will help with maintaining the system if you are not around the tank much like me since I travel so much for work and my wife isn't willing to understand how things suppose to work.

If you are ever interested in coming across the bay to check my system out you're more than welcome. I've done alot of DIY so I can probably give you ideas on how to doe things on the cheap too. It's all about fit, form, and function!

Ellery

 

[becon776]

Hmmm biopellets?? All my time the mantra has always been lr is ur filtration current and LR. I do have an old fluval canister from my planted discus tank that I could load with GAF and carbon.

 

[becon776]

Ellery...$35.00 for a 200 gal box of rcrystals???? For real?

 

[saltyscotsman]

where did buy the crystals $35!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ellery]

Yeah unfortunately it's probably for the Black Friday Weekend Sale at one of the LFS.

Normally I use 6 boxes/year, This year only 3 so I have reduced the amount of water changes this year and things have been much better too. I used to wait till this time of year for Free shipping on some online sites for $40-45/box. But lately a couple of LFS has had salt specials at the same price.

 

[becon776]

I am calling this place tomorrow!! For sure.
OK... So my plan is this. Presteps were new 14k bulbs just changed, clean pick clean pick.
Step 1: (I could say pay period lol) get this DAMN KOLE tang out. Bring back. Get new foxface. Buy salt. If salt can be had for under $50. Then buy red sea test kit ca. Alk. Mg. I know they are not the best but in have none right now. Water change. Get levels where they need to be.
Step 2: rodi and receptacle. Big humongous water change. Test get levels where they need to be.
Step 3: if new foxface is doing a good job then get spectrapure media reactor and ho GAF. If ff is not then get cleanup crew with 4-5 emerald crabs (valonia is coming back with a ton of tiny bubbles)
Step 4: see step 3 whatever didnt happen there happens.
Step 5: continue with daily picking if there is any left. ATO if possible. My tank is directly above my HVAC ductwork manifold.. At this point in am going to start bugging fellow club members for frags.
Step 6-20. Automate, Hannah checker po4"¦ listen to other people compliment while I point oit all the things that are driving me crazy.

 

[Spartan]

I think there's alot of answers already, but you might not have framed the question as much as you should. Where do you want to go? What type of tank are you aiming for? How much bioload? That should help you decide what you really need and what you don't. If you're seriously planning on staying on the budget you outlined, you will need to be more focused. From your existing stock it sounds like a mixed reef is where you were/are. Regardless, the ro/di is a good start. Bulk up the clean up crew and re-establish a maintainence routine.

 

[becon776]

I had a previous post where I was very disheartened. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2457126
I was ready to either fold up shop and return to my roots or acid wash and bleach my rock etc... Through everyone's encouragement and advice I decided to see what I can do With the current state of affairs first. It turns out that breaking the golden rule good things did happen exceedingly fast. While not be where I want it. After just two weeks of an hour a day, its not that far away.
I have been keeping reefs for about 15 years. And my knowledge and wisdom is much different from from where I started also tech has changed big time (ato, apex, led etc.) Sometimes I think too much information is not always a good thing. So this this thread has been a help. Yes mixed reef, a setup that is physically clean and organized, elimination/minimizing variables that will lead me to the same endpoint. And yes I have put myself on this budget swmbo is now wearing my bank account on her left hand lol. So this was the amount that I was comfortable with while still rebuilding my savings.
Sort of a sounding board for what first, what second, what models, ideas maybe I didn't think of. Etc..

 

[tmz]

I'd add a quarantine tank high on the list.

 

[becon776]

Yeah here what I figured about quarantine tanks. They never end up staying quaramtines lol.

 

[becon776]

Coming along half hour per day at a time. Valonia is a HUGE PITA. Pick a bubble snap a few vermetids repeat. Got a couple 50% w.c. out of the way. Water quality tested flawlessly.
PO4- Zero (well a red sea zero anyway)
NO3 - Zero
Ca @ 450
Alk can't remember exact but was spot on.
Rodi is on hold due to 950 on tires for truck and 900$ on veterinarian. My 14 y.o. hound is now a eunuch :-/ massively enlarged prostate. Guess thats what us guys all have to look forward to if nothing else gets us first.

I'm figuring with lake Ontario water 98% of what we remove with r.o. is the exact stuff we want in our water anyway. Ca and alk hardness. Its the 1-2% that we're worried about.
Oh yeah... Last night I look in tank with flashlight and the rock was literally moving with pods! I mean thousand or more. Tons and tons. Time to research mandarin sexing and get my old buddy a girl or guy friend.

 

[Spartan]

You're on your way. Looks much improved. It's amazing what water changes can do. I'll bet that fox face will enjoy the valonia.