So you got a new fish tank Newbie

That will help a lot Mike. It will give us a better idea of how to set things up, although it sounds like you are already forming a game plan.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15487526#post15487526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Everyones Hero
Even though it's a cold water system a refugium will still be useful. It'll help pull out nutrients that would otherwise create algae, helping reduce the size/number of water changes, saving money in the long shot (I can only imagine the cost of salt when maintaining a 1,400 gallon system.)

If you have the space to set everything up it would be beneficial to setup an entire tank as a refugium.

I work at a pet place. Ours is setup so that the tanks drain through a floss filter, then over a bio-wheel & finally into the sump. The return pump is T'd off to feed the skimmer & return water to the display tanks.

How is the skimmer fed? I'm assuming that since it's such a large skimmer it's probably an external recirculating skimmer that needs one pump to push water into it & another pump(s) to create the air bubbles.

coldwater aquarium articles

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/4
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/5
 
Thanks for the links. Well after meeting with the lead aquarist from Scripps today (he runs the Birch facility)I think that I finally have a good plan that incorporates many of the filtration methods that all of you have suggested. (Again,thanks to all who have replied to my posts.) The sump is just under 500 gallons, on top is a 60 cubic foot wet/dry full of bio balls fed by a 6' 6" tall protien skimmer that is 10" in diameter. In front of this there will be an algae scrubber/refugium, the scrubber is 4' tall and 6' long, it sits outside on a South facing patio so it will have plenty of light while providing shade for the sump. Fernando says that I will be able to grow kelp in the 'fuge as long as I keep it mowed. Feeding the barnacles will be accomplished by shutting off the fill tube and using power heads to circulate zooplankton for an hour then opening the valve again. We picked up the circular tank and are going to use it for sting rays and horned sharks. I am finally finished with the counters so now it's on to the plumbing phase. I did the math today in order to get a larger chiller ordered. (I was a bit off with my previous estimate.) The total volume of the system, including the sump is 2,499 gallons the water weighs 20.855 pounds (10.427 tons.)In other words alot of water. Thanks for all of the input, info', and ideas. I promise to get some pictures up soon. mark A. Carrick
 
:lol:
Only in my dreams have I worked on a 2500 gallon tank. I'm not too keen on the 450 gallon wet/dry but then you mainly are thinking about sharks and rays, where nitrates will not be a problem.

Keep us informed Mike as the project certainly has my attention. :thumbsup:
 
How difficult would it be to remove one side of the bio tower? If you could open it up to light, it might work as a turf algae scrubber.
 
Wow, who resurrected this?

Karl,

Sure you can grow algae in a wet/dry. The thing is that the algae do no usually uptaken nutrients as fast as they are produced. If you try it do frequent nitrate analysis.
 
Not too tough to cut bio tower; but I have plenty of other large tanks to add to the sump. I am trying to make my bio tower as large as possible plus incorporate an algae scrubber. I am also going to have an outdoor barnacle and kelp tank as a refugium. The 5hp chiller arrives next week, and all of the plumbing is done, so it won't be long. I wiil get some photos up soon. Thanks.
 
I have plenty of other large tanks to add to the sump. I am trying to make my bio tower as large as possible plus incorporate an algae scrubber. I am also going to have an outdoor barnacle and kelp tank as a refugium. The 5hp chiller arrives next week, and all of the plumbing is done, so it won't be long. I wiil get some photos up soon.

sweet
 
I am still reading the first part of this topic split. Thank you very much for making this thread. I have already learned a ton of useful info.
 
Wow Lots of great info here, i've only managed to read thru the lightning so far but vowel to read it all, just may take a year or two lol Thanks for all the time youve put into this WK
 
Resurrecting this thread again.

First post for me, just wanted to thank Waterkeeper for all the info he is sharing. I'm still on the first page of the first thread before the split. Though I am still reading and researching, I had no idea how fast time went by as I am still here at work sitting in the office. Looks like I'm bringing work home with me tonight! :(

I'm fairly new to the new hobby. Actually I started this late December of 2011, mainly freshwater though. 60g with a cross breed FW (s/he really aggressive). 30g with two Convict Cichlids which are breeding my feeders. 3g nano planted with CRS.

I decided to switch up the game plan and go saltwater so I picked up a 40B and a 29g while Petco had their $1/gallon sale. Hoping to drill holes soon for the overflow and then paint the background. Will be using the 29g as a sump. I also bought a 15g tank off the shelf at the LFS with a built in overflow and it came with a pump rated at 105g /hr. The 15g has been up and running for 2 days already.
 
Hi

I have a 22 gallon reef that is still cycling once the cycle is finished is it OK to grow SPS corals in it my light is a T5
 
Hi everybody my name is ahmad and it's my 1st post
it's my 6th week with:
Fluval edge 12g
Fluval canister filter 306
Hydor Koralia Nano 425
22lb LS
9.5lb LR
7 hermit crabs
3 red legs
15 blue legs
3 fancy snails
7 margrita snails

ammonia and nitrites are almost undetectable while nitrate is high.
there was a bloom of brown bacteria growing all over the sand and live rock for few days snails took care of it now green algae is growing over almost everything in small amounts but it looks like it's collecting day after anther. i rushed in the beginning with 2 clowns but they died once i added the canister the 3rd day. now i learned the lesson :-).
my question is : what is next and do i need to do water changes like every 2 days ?
 
Newbie... looking to purchase a tank soon

Newbie... looking to purchase a tank soon

Only have room for 24" wide tank. Deciding between Biocube 32, Red Sea 170 (Reefer or E-Series).

I know Biocube isn't as customizable.

$ is not an issue... but I'm a total noob so I want to keep it simple to start.

Only looking to have a pair of clownfish with anemone and one other fish, perhaps a small Yellow Tang. Eventually coral as well.

Will definitely get a chiller as we live in SoCal and don't always use the AC in the summer.

Thoughts on Biocube vs 170? Reefer vs E Series?

Thanks
 
Back
Top