First off a little update-
got out of reefing due to mega problem keeping nitrates down causing lots of corals and $$$$ lost. I decided to shut down and give it a break then regroup and apply what I learned and setup a new system.
So what I want to do-
I still have my live rock in a 50 gal drum filtered and heated no light.
i want to set up a fish only tank (until I know I have the nitrate problem under control) with rock only on the sides.The tank is visible on both front and back. I want the look of you looking through a valley with the sides the sides of the valley <--bad wording I know.
What I think the problems where-
1.The sump->some live rock and DSB but very small DSB and very little live rock(20 lbs).
2.Filtration-I was using a canister filter and finally took it down a few months before I shut the tank down. I also had just bought a octopus skimmer and about 40 mangroves. I am wanting to just use carbon and phos guard in a reactor instead along with bio-balls. Will this be enough with a sock filter in the sump.
2.b- I think the rock layout in the main tank had a lot of dead spots. That is why I picked a layout with no rock in the middle tho I have considered some stacked low in the middle for a more realistic view.
3. I had a lot of sand in the display and had used some play sand. I think this contributed to a rise in phos. fueling alga.
Can you guys help me with figuring out the project layout and maybe bettering my ideas?
Here is my layout so far-->
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=rightside.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/rightside.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=leftside.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/leftside.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=fulltankview.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/fulltankview.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
An old pick of the tank to help you get an idea of what I see.
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=DSC01988.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/DSC01988.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=DSC02038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/DSC02038.jpg" border="0" alt="tank pic"></a>
got out of reefing due to mega problem keeping nitrates down causing lots of corals and $$$$ lost. I decided to shut down and give it a break then regroup and apply what I learned and setup a new system.
So what I want to do-
I still have my live rock in a 50 gal drum filtered and heated no light.
i want to set up a fish only tank (until I know I have the nitrate problem under control) with rock only on the sides.The tank is visible on both front and back. I want the look of you looking through a valley with the sides the sides of the valley <--bad wording I know.
What I think the problems where-
1.The sump->some live rock and DSB but very small DSB and very little live rock(20 lbs).
2.Filtration-I was using a canister filter and finally took it down a few months before I shut the tank down. I also had just bought a octopus skimmer and about 40 mangroves. I am wanting to just use carbon and phos guard in a reactor instead along with bio-balls. Will this be enough with a sock filter in the sump.
2.b- I think the rock layout in the main tank had a lot of dead spots. That is why I picked a layout with no rock in the middle tho I have considered some stacked low in the middle for a more realistic view.
3. I had a lot of sand in the display and had used some play sand. I think this contributed to a rise in phos. fueling alga.
Can you guys help me with figuring out the project layout and maybe bettering my ideas?
Here is my layout so far-->
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=rightside.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/rightside.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=leftside.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/leftside.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=fulltankview.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/fulltankview.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
An old pick of the tank to help you get an idea of what I see.
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=DSC01988.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/DSC01988.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/?action=view¤t=DSC02038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/jblaylock/DSC02038.jpg" border="0" alt="tank pic"></a>