Starting Reef any Corals

A

addiosoms

New member
Hello all

i am getting ready to start a reef tank and was wondering if any one had any coral around my area for pick up. i live in mokena which is next to orland park. right now i have a 10 gal refug and a 75 gal rated wet dry. The skimmer i have comes witht the wet dry. i know whis is not a very good skimmer that is why i am also in the look out to spend 150 on a pump and skimmer mabey a aqua c or etss if i am lucky. i will have pic of my set up in my galllery for all to see. ill just let you know that i am 21 and i just started so take it easy on me. the tank i got off a guy was 2 years established and was very well maintaned.

well if anyone can help me out in any of these i would be very thankfull thanks

Jeremy
 
Jeremy....tell us about the tank....what size? lighting? you said it was established.....is everything still the same...as in just a tank move? What type of corals (frags) are you looking to get? We're here to help, but we need the info....and many of us like to donate a frag or two to newbies....

Jeff;)
 
the tank is a 75 gal. the lighting i have now is 4 65 watt pc 10k and 2 65 watt atinic and a 96 watt pc atinic. i am ready to get 2 250 MH and use the other 3 atinic that is in like a weak or so. yeas the tanks was just a move but then i added the refug my self. there are pods so i know it is estabkished. as far as the corals i dont know what i can really get into. i mean do i have to get any kind of reactor for any of these corals or should i get one anyway?? also how much water should i be eva every day i think i am going threw 2 gallons is that a lot?? thanks
Jeremy
 
Reactors are a matter of choice....and for some of us, convenience. You'll want to keep your calcium levels up...especially if you're going to go sps eventually. 2 gallons/day is not alot for evaporation...and if you add MH, it'll probably go up. You should keep an eye on temp. Stability is key here, too. It would be easy for your tank to heat up into the 80's....and too high into the 80's can be deadly. You didn't mention if the tank was full of live rock or not....I hope you have quite a bit. If it were me, I'd lose the bioballs and just use the wet/dry as a sump and a place to hold the skimmer. If you think your skimmer is crappy, good time to upgrade that as well.

Most of all, be patient. Reefs weren't created overnight, and neither should yours. Once you have everything stable...I mean REALLY stable, I'd be more than happy to donate a few beginner frags...some shrooms, button polyps...whatever I can dig out of my frag tank.

Jeff
 
I have a bunch of stuff I could frag for ya but don't know if its worth the trip to St. Charles. Pm me if your intrested.
 
i just added some pic here http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=128750&cat=500&thumb=1

and yes i have a lot of live rock.

does anyone have a skimmer that they would recomend me having for a 75 with 10 gal refug and 10 gal wet/Dry for sump

jeff and Edward thanks a lot for the help and donations ill let you know.

is there anything els i should check??? all my chemical levels are good what should temp be at and salinity for a reef and some fish??

Thanks Jeremy
 
yes and thanks Pufferpunk for offering also ill have to let you know what i am going to do. what is your name??? for the future
Jeremy
 
Jeremy,

I live in Lisle and could be of service down the road with corals. Jeff is right...start slow and work on stability. A good skimmer is key, as well a stronger lights and added flow to the tank. The combination of these three things will allow your reef to grow quicker.
 
Evolley1 what skimmer do you recomend and is there anything els other then lights water flow and skimmer to have great conditions? what should my selinity be at for reef mine right now os .023 and the rest of my levels are 0 ppm and cal is 400. should i get a ph prob o yea ph is 8.2. and what are the reasons for having all the diff tipes of reactors they coast a lot that is all i know and if i needed one i prob build one i am good friends with a comp that builds conveyors http://www.bendamanufacturing.com/

is there anythig els i would need to know you have all been a great help. thanks

Jeni thanks for letting me know and ill pm when i am ready to put the corals in i think i am going to look for a used skimmer first since mine is junk so ill let you know. i got to school up in the city mabey ill have to swing buy on one of my breaks later in the day

Jeremy
 
I am in Orland Park If you want to come by I will show you my set up(no reactors just drip kalk) and send you home with an easy to take care of frag or two
 
There are all kinds of skimmers out there. Rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. I would first look into buying used. I personally use an MRC MR-2 beckett skimmer. I've heard of a lot sucess using ASGM's, Euroreef and Etss skimmers. I would keep the salinity between 1.023-25 as a rule of thumb, if it varies + or - just make your adjustment and don't freak out. Get a ph meter as a security blanket. Do what Whiirly has suggested...drip kalk or any other calcium supplements until you have the money for a reactor. A reactor is only needed if you want to take the guess work out and make it easier for you to supplement because it's always constant.
 
ok thanks a lot for the info i was adding a 2 part system from go fish with an iv bag and mixing it with ro di water into the sump would that be fine??? and how much should i be dripping into the tank i was doing 25 ml at first and then have moved down from there. to like 10 to 5 ml but have not be consisten everyday. how are aqua c skimmers you didnt mention any thing about them. and thanks whiirly thanks for the offer ill have to stop by mabey tom. let me know thanks jeremy.
 
I think i am going to go with a Aqua C 120 or 180 or any etss. do you thnk any of these are a good idea. i really want one that can work out of sump.
Jeremy
 
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