Our Mini 425 Ocean
- Thread starter erics3000
- Start date
erics3000
Active member
Hi everyone,
I have a couple questions. I am looking for any advice or input. I want to get my reactors all setup. Any recommendations and input is always appreciated. Now that said.
I have 1 phosban a 1 bed fluid filter. I am going to be also a Geo 624 calcium reactor soon. And down the line I want to put a kalk reactor and setup my auto top off. I also want to get a 40 watt UV.
A quick update on what I have going so far. 300 display 150 sump and a 75 fuge. Down the road I will add another 40 or 50 frag tank next too or below my display. So I would say maybe 425- 500 total water volume. I am going to shoot for a mixed reef.
Questions on my Reactors.
1. Do I need another phosban?
2. Should I get another and have it set for carbon?
3. How should I hook them up? Does it matter if they are all in line or in a specific order?
4. Any ideas on hooking up the kalk reactor. Should it go in series with certain equipment? Any thoughts on running 24/7 or just at night.
I also have some Fuge Questions?
I already bought a couple bags of pods and put them in my fuge. I put about 300lbs play sand and 40lbs live. I dropped in some left over rock. I got a little ball of algae in there too. I also have 2 little crabs. It is set with 2 75 watt bulbs reverse lighting to come on at night for 12 hours a day when my lights are off. I really want to get a mangrove to grow in there too.
1. What else should I put in there?
2. Anything special to feed the pods?
3. Should I put some more sand?
4. What other good filter feeders can I put in it?
5. What other types of algae should I put in there.
Thanks in advance for all the input.
I have a couple questions. I am looking for any advice or input. I want to get my reactors all setup. Any recommendations and input is always appreciated. Now that said.
I have 1 phosban a 1 bed fluid filter. I am going to be also a Geo 624 calcium reactor soon. And down the line I want to put a kalk reactor and setup my auto top off. I also want to get a 40 watt UV.
A quick update on what I have going so far. 300 display 150 sump and a 75 fuge. Down the road I will add another 40 or 50 frag tank next too or below my display. So I would say maybe 425- 500 total water volume. I am going to shoot for a mixed reef.
Questions on my Reactors.
1. Do I need another phosban?
2. Should I get another and have it set for carbon?
3. How should I hook them up? Does it matter if they are all in line or in a specific order?
4. Any ideas on hooking up the kalk reactor. Should it go in series with certain equipment? Any thoughts on running 24/7 or just at night.
I also have some Fuge Questions?
I already bought a couple bags of pods and put them in my fuge. I put about 300lbs play sand and 40lbs live. I dropped in some left over rock. I got a little ball of algae in there too. I also have 2 little crabs. It is set with 2 75 watt bulbs reverse lighting to come on at night for 12 hours a day when my lights are off. I really want to get a mangrove to grow in there too.
1. What else should I put in there?
2. Anything special to feed the pods?
3. Should I put some more sand?
4. What other good filter feeders can I put in it?
5. What other types of algae should I put in there.
Thanks in advance for all the input.
erics3000
Active member
Not much to update on the tank. I did finally hook up my flow from the bottom and change some framing on the top and moved around some plumbing. I am happy now and ready to move onto the lights. I just want to get all my reactors done.
I did get side tracked this weekend. The wife wanted a nano in the kitchen. I got a tank for free that was for water testing. It has an engraved line at the top with an emblem. DAmm So I couldn't do a rimmless. I will just make a little canopy. I had a bunch of spare parts and decide to put it in the island and hook up wet dry underneath it. Here are a few pics.
Everything fitted below the island. And it has electric too.
I bought a couple bags of live sand. It is suppose to be black.
I did get side tracked this weekend. The wife wanted a nano in the kitchen. I got a tank for free that was for water testing. It has an engraved line at the top with an emblem. DAmm So I couldn't do a rimmless. I will just make a little canopy. I had a bunch of spare parts and decide to put it in the island and hook up wet dry underneath it. Here are a few pics.
Everything fitted below the island. And it has electric too.
I bought a couple bags of live sand. It is suppose to be black.
bleedingthought
New member
Cool! 
chrismhaase
Active member
You have a few projects going. Just make sure you stay focused on the ultimate goal. Great job by the way!
jnarowe
New member
I like your wife! 
Having a reactor for carbon is a great idea and for that sized system, a phosban should be OK. You just want to make sure it is really easy to change out. I would also install the GFO reactor so that when you do set up a Ca reactor, the effluent from it will go through the phosban reactor. This will help reduce the amount of PO4 going into the system from the Ca reactor.
That nano sump will be a nightmare to clean. I would lose the bio-balls and install a small refugium or just a LOT of floss.
Having a reactor for carbon is a great idea and for that sized system, a phosban should be OK. You just want to make sure it is really easy to change out. I would also install the GFO reactor so that when you do set up a Ca reactor, the effluent from it will go through the phosban reactor. This will help reduce the amount of PO4 going into the system from the Ca reactor.
That nano sump will be a nightmare to clean. I would lose the bio-balls and install a small refugium or just a LOT of floss.
erics3000
Active member
Thiago - thanks
Chrishmaase - Way too many projects..I love your stand. I am going to see if I can get doors like that for my office side. Do you still have the word doc wit your info?
John - Thanks. So I should have the Calcium go to the phosban with phosban in it. Then should I have it go to the sump or the fuge? I can just t a maxi jet to go the calcium reactor and to the sand filter. Later i will figure somethin for the carbon.
Any thoughts on kalk?
I did alos get to do a little foam work. I have the overflow inthe center of the nano and a pipe to run some wires. here is a start to the pillar. I am going to do this to the 300 display too. here are a couple pics.
Chrishmaase - Way too many projects..I love your stand. I am going to see if I can get doors like that for my office side. Do you still have the word doc wit your info?
John - Thanks. So I should have the Calcium go to the phosban with phosban in it. Then should I have it go to the sump or the fuge? I can just t a maxi jet to go the calcium reactor and to the sand filter. Later i will figure somethin for the carbon.
Any thoughts on kalk?
I did alos get to do a little foam work. I have the overflow inthe center of the nano and a pipe to run some wires. here is a start to the pillar. I am going to do this to the 300 display too. here are a couple pics.
jnarowe
New member
that looks good but I am sure you realize that thing would hold a dock up right?
I run mine to the sump becuase I like to have my effluent with GFO to go into a double set of fine socks, but some people do run them to the fuge. Personally, I don't like that idea, but there are many that do to try and use up any escaping CO2.
There really is only one kalk stirrer I like and that is the Deltec. It is a slow stir that leaves the water column crystal clear. With mine, even with the magnetic stirrer, I have to shut my top-off down during and for an hour after a stir, to make sure no kalk goes into my display. This is a lesson learned the hard way, and you should make note of that.
BTW, Handi-Foam can be broken down by UV over time, so make sure you have it sealed.
I run mine to the sump becuase I like to have my effluent with GFO to go into a double set of fine socks, but some people do run them to the fuge. Personally, I don't like that idea, but there are many that do to try and use up any escaping CO2.
There really is only one kalk stirrer I like and that is the Deltec. It is a slow stir that leaves the water column crystal clear. With mine, even with the magnetic stirrer, I have to shut my top-off down during and for an hour after a stir, to make sure no kalk goes into my display. This is a lesson learned the hard way, and you should make note of that.
BTW, Handi-Foam can be broken down by UV over time, so make sure you have it sealed.
erics3000
Active member
To seal the foam I have about 4 coats of resin on it. I had some base rock with a few live rock pieces. I acccidently got a little resin on the live rock. I hope it doesnt die off to much. They have been out of the tank for a couple days already. I am going to put the last coat on right now. Tomorrow I will drop it in the tank and see how it looks.
erics3000
Active member
To seal the foam I have about 4 coats of resin on it. I had some base rock with a few live rock pieces. I acccidently got a little resin on the live rock. I hope it doesnt die off to much. They have been out of the tank for a couple days already. I am going to put the last coat on right now. Tomorrow I will drop it in the tank and see how it looks.
chris wright
In Memoriam
G'day Eric,
I'd let the fuge go, without adding anything for now. I wouldn't try to feed the pods anything, when the system is cycling there should be enough food for them. Trying to feed them might only pollute your fuge
How deep is the sand bed? I would use this as a guide to how much sand you need. I would have it at 5-6 inches deep. This will help support the pods and give you good de-nitrification.
If you put in some cured, but uncooked live rock, you'll naturally grow filter feeders that will be naturally suited to the fuges conditions/parameters. I would hesitate to add anything untill your system is fully cycled and established. Even then you won't need to add anything
The ball of algae that you have now, what type of algae is it? How quick does it grow? Do you really need that much macros?
Up to you to decide
Cheers
Chris
ReefArtist
In Memoriam
Eric - you are going like a mad man - LOL! This is looking great and I love the tank in the kitchen - just watch the heat .
"Questions on my Reactors.
1. Do I need another phosban?
IMO - I wouldn't worry about it right now. Check out my thread in about two weeks - I'll have a great way to set it up. Very cheap and easy.
2. Should I get another and have it set for carbon?
Yes and I would get the carbon going before the Phosban (unless you don't rinse your food) - hint, hint!
3. How should I hook them up? Does it matter if they are all in line or in a specific order?
Yes, but it depends where you are putting the outputs. If the phosban is the last I would put the output going into a filter sock.
4. Any ideas on hooking up the kalk reactor. Should it go in series with certain equipment? Any thoughts on running 24/7 or just at night."
Just depends on your parameters. Are you having problems with your pH. If you are I'd have it part of my ATO to help keep the pH more even day and night. Most run it at night to keep the level up when the pH is at it's lowest and that is most likely what I'll be doing unless I have problems keeping my pH up doing the day and night.
A note on the UV - a 40w on a system that large isn't going to do much if anything - mostly nothing. I really wanted to put one on my system but I know I'd have to get one that was rated for about 500g or so. That put my in the 120+Watt UV and I couldn't justify it.
I added 4 containers of pods to my grasses/refuge area when I was getting it ready and it hardly went through a cycle. I wanted to get it jump started and provide food for some of my harder to feed livestock. After only two months I have a great pod reserve and was able to break down all my other tanks a little early without fear if them starving. BTW - microalgae is good, just make good choices and stay away from the blooming type.
Have a great day!
. "Questions on my Reactors.
1. Do I need another phosban?
IMO - I wouldn't worry about it right now. Check out my thread in about two weeks - I'll have a great way to set it up
. Very cheap and easy.2. Should I get another and have it set for carbon?
Yes and I would get the carbon going before the Phosban (unless you don't rinse your food) - hint, hint!
3. How should I hook them up? Does it matter if they are all in line or in a specific order?
Yes, but it depends where you are putting the outputs. If the phosban is the last I would put the output going into a filter sock.
4. Any ideas on hooking up the kalk reactor. Should it go in series with certain equipment? Any thoughts on running 24/7 or just at night."
Just depends on your parameters. Are you having problems with your pH. If you are I'd have it part of my ATO to help keep the pH more even day and night. Most run it at night to keep the level up when the pH is at it's lowest and that is most likely what I'll be doing unless I have problems keeping my pH up doing the day and night.
A note on the UV - a 40w on a system that large isn't going to do much if anything - mostly nothing. I really wanted to put one on my system but I know I'd have to get one that was rated for about 500g or so. That put my in the 120+Watt UV and I couldn't justify it.
I added 4 containers of pods to my grasses/refuge area when I was getting it ready and it hardly went through a cycle. I wanted to get it jump started and provide food for some of my harder to feed livestock. After only two months I have a great pod reserve and was able to break down all my other tanks a little early without fear if them starving. BTW - microalgae is good
, just make good choices and stay away from the blooming type.Have a great day!
hawaiianwargod
Active member
Looks great Eric man! Your creativity is going to pay off soon! Awesome thread btw....
michika
red headed step child
. Any ideas on hooking up the kalk reactor. Should it go in series with certain equipment? Any thoughts on running 24/7 or just at night.
In regards to this I'll tell you what I do with mine. My reactor is DIY just so you know. Its comprised of a stirring pump, and a top off pump. The reactor sits in a bucket of RO/DI top-off (I'm paranoid). I have a cheap digital timer from the hardware store that stirs the kalk powder (about 1 heaping tablespoon per week) for 5 minutes every hour. It doesn't need to go in sequence, or at least I've never had it in one. I run the stirrer pump 24 hours a day, and it tops off as I require water.
As an FYI kalk powder is caustic, so make sure you use gloves while handling it. Get an old spoon and keep it away from everything else. Cut off the top of a small pop bottle to make a funnel, and try to keep it out of the air as much as possible.
Let me know if you want photos or more details.
In regards to this I'll tell you what I do with mine. My reactor is DIY just so you know. Its comprised of a stirring pump, and a top off pump. The reactor sits in a bucket of RO/DI top-off (I'm paranoid). I have a cheap digital timer from the hardware store that stirs the kalk powder (about 1 heaping tablespoon per week) for 5 minutes every hour. It doesn't need to go in sequence, or at least I've never had it in one. I run the stirrer pump 24 hours a day, and it tops off as I require water.
As an FYI kalk powder is caustic, so make sure you use gloves while handling it. Get an old spoon and keep it away from everything else. Cut off the top of a small pop bottle to make a funnel, and try to keep it out of the air as much as possible.
Let me know if you want photos or more details.
pookstreet
Registered Stick Killer
Wow Eric, everything is looking great. Adding another tank already? LOL. I am doing the exact opposite. Already took down 2 and have another one to go. Only have time for the 300, the kids, and everything else
erics3000
Active member
Chris â€"œ
I had a little cycle at the end of November. My nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites are 0. I need to get a new ph kit, mine is real old. I think the little ball I have is cheato algae, I have had it for a few weeks. I don’t have a lot of fish in my tank. I just broke down 3 tanks and put everything in the 300. I kept my puffer and angel in the fuge till I got the nano. So I guess I don’t have too big of a load. I am not sure about the growth of the little ball. I just know down the line I want to add a lot more fish so I want to keep the nitrates down.
Carol â€"œ
Thanks. I look forward to your updates with your reactors. I really love all of your DIY. I really like your ozone. That one is on my list I am just spread think. I think I will see if I can make something for the carbon. Once I get my calcium reactor up and going than I will see how I need to set up the kalk. That is another DIY I want to try.
I think down the road I will suck it up and get the recommended uv. I want to keep the fish healthy. I will see if I can get some micro to throw in the fuge also with some more live rock and a couple other bags of pods.
Jervis â€"œ Thanks. I mixed some in with my fuge and the wife loved it. So it was a shoe in for the nano.
Hawaiianwargod â€"œ
Thanks. It has been an enormous amount of work and time. Hopefully in the next couple months I can get some corals. Evan with breaking down all my tanks with live sand, some live rock, about 300 gallons of my old saltwater I am still taking it slow. Or slacking either way you look at it
Michika-
Not sure yet how exactly I will do my Kalk. Thanks for the info. I will hit everyone up when I get closer,
Pookstreet â€"œ
I hear you, that’s it for me, I put the pillar in today to hide the pipes and noticed a drip from one of them. I used a short thread pvc and a little tugging popped a leak. So I had to drain fix it fill it hook up electric in the island so no wire were coming out. So I didn’t get anything done on my big tank.
Ssbreef â€"œ
Thanks. I am going to use the black foam for the overflows in my big tank. I got it in the nano and it doesn’t look to bad. I’ll get some pics up. I am off to change another diaper.hehehehe
Thanks again everyone fur your thoughts and ideas.
I had a little cycle at the end of November. My nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites are 0. I need to get a new ph kit, mine is real old. I think the little ball I have is cheato algae, I have had it for a few weeks. I don’t have a lot of fish in my tank. I just broke down 3 tanks and put everything in the 300. I kept my puffer and angel in the fuge till I got the nano. So I guess I don’t have too big of a load. I am not sure about the growth of the little ball. I just know down the line I want to add a lot more fish so I want to keep the nitrates down.
Carol â€"œ
Thanks. I look forward to your updates with your reactors. I really love all of your DIY. I really like your ozone. That one is on my list I am just spread think. I think I will see if I can make something for the carbon. Once I get my calcium reactor up and going than I will see how I need to set up the kalk. That is another DIY I want to try.
I think down the road I will suck it up and get the recommended uv. I want to keep the fish healthy. I will see if I can get some micro to throw in the fuge also with some more live rock and a couple other bags of pods.
Jervis â€"œ Thanks. I mixed some in with my fuge and the wife loved it. So it was a shoe in for the nano.
Hawaiianwargod â€"œ
Thanks. It has been an enormous amount of work and time. Hopefully in the next couple months I can get some corals. Evan with breaking down all my tanks with live sand, some live rock, about 300 gallons of my old saltwater I am still taking it slow. Or slacking either way you look at it
Michika-
Not sure yet how exactly I will do my Kalk. Thanks for the info. I will hit everyone up when I get closer,
Pookstreet â€"œ
I hear you, that’s it for me, I put the pillar in today to hide the pipes and noticed a drip from one of them. I used a short thread pvc and a little tugging popped a leak. So I had to drain fix it fill it hook up electric in the island so no wire were coming out. So I didn’t get anything done on my big tank.
Ssbreef â€"œ
Thanks. I am going to use the black foam for the overflows in my big tank. I got it in the nano and it doesn’t look to bad. I’ll get some pics up. I am off to change another diaper.hehehehe
Thanks again everyone fur your thoughts and ideas.
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