The 125 process has begun... Pictures!

[Micki]

Well, did the first feeding today! It went ok. It will be interesting to see how long it takes them to go to the trough on their own. I moved it in a few different place to see where will be the lowest flow. Here are a few pictures:

 

[YoungReefer]

I love that trough such a great idea I think I may use that idea when I get my horse tank! It'll look real nice when it get covered in coraline and "blends" in

 

[Micki]

I Thanks! It was GregM779's idea. I just copied.

 

[MaximusUSG]

Micki, first let me say that I love your setup. I have just spent the last few hours reading this entire thread! I am new to the salt water industry and just can't believe how detailed every little thing needs to be. I will be checking this post daily from now on. There is so much helpful information in here. I have a question about the UV sterilizer (sp). Someone told me that the uv will also kill off good things in the water, is this true? I guess not since you have had great sucess with it. Also, I have a wet/dry filter setup up for my sump. A couple people on here say I need to deep six that and get a refugium going. Did you ever have a wet/dry or have you always had a refugium. I know in the post you said the smaller tank had a canister filter but that's all I remember. Sorry for such along question paragraph.

 

[Micki]

MaximusUSG, First let me say THANK YOU for taking the time to read the entire thread! I'm glad to hear that someone has benefited form this thread. (It doesn't' get too much daily action but hopefully that will change some. ) That is the number one goal!

When I first started out in this hobby, I didn't realize how detailed it could become either. Not every system needs to be in such detail. I just felt for the life that is involved and the money that would be spent, it only made sense to be detailed.

UV is on the fence for a lot of people. I still have plenty of pods in fact seems like an overabundance in the fuge. My system runs good and my water is very clear. I see no negative to it. I once introduced an active ich covered fish to the system (I wouldn't not advise anyone to do this ), within 24 hours the ich spots were gone and to this day have not seen any ich. I have several ich magnet kind of fish and still no ich. You will get arguments on the other side as well. I only know for me I would personally not have a large system running without a UV. Just my opinion of what works for me.

I have never had a wet/dry. When we first decided to set this system up someone tried to get me to go with a wet/dry, I did a lot of research and felt the sump/refugium would be a better option. I know a few people that had a wet/dry and switched to a sump/fuge using their existing wet/dry. I'm very pleased with the results I've gotten from the sump/fuge. I would suggest it to anyone. From what I've heard, there is a "proper" way to change over. If you decide to go that route, make sure to research prior to making that move.

Please feel free to ask any questions! I'm excited someone has taken an interest!
Thanks again!
Micki...

 

[MaximusUSG]

Micki - my tank has been up almost 15 months now. I hadn't changed out any water and never tested for anything. I bought a gonipora and it is awesome. For a week that thing was beautiful. Now it doesn't come out all the way. I bought a master test kit and found out that my nitrates were off the charts. So last night I changed out about 20 gallons of water. I am going to check the nitrates in a little bit to see if that helped. I put some of that nitrate-sorb in a bag in the wet/dry hoping that will help too. I have had the gonipora going on 4 weeks.. Some think I am going to lose it. If you click on my gallery I have a nice photo of the goni.

Reading your thread makes me wish I would of gotten into salt before I was married because I could of had an awsome set up. Now with kids and all that jazz I will have to wait to develop a system as great as yours..

 

[melev]

MaximusUSG - a wet/dry's job is to create nitrates, and they have nowhere to go from there. The only way to get rid of nitrates it to change tons of water and remove nitrate-creating zones (bioballs, biowheels, sponges, wet/dry, filter padding....).

Goniopora have a bad survival rate, but there are people out there that are showing remarkable success in their efforts not only to keep them but even to frag them or encourage them to generate babies. Jen&Kerry have website dedicated to caring for them.

 

[MaximusUSG]

Marc - Shouldn't I be able to change my wet/dry into a refug. pretty easily? I am thinking that all I would need is a piece of plex to force the water up and over the old safety over flow in the wet/dry. This would not make a very big refug. How big of a refug. should I have for my 75 gallon tank?

 

[melev]

Many try to convert their wet/dry sumps into a normal sump and or sump & refugium. The trick is doing so without 1) creating microbubbles, 2) have enough empty volume so that when the pump is off, the sump doesn't overflow. I tried it once, even adding more acrylic to enlarge it, and it was an effort in futility. Which led to my making my own sump out of acrylic years ago...

When removing bioballs, it is recommended you remove 25% each week, so the tank can adjust to the change of biological filtration.

I like a refugium that is 10% of the display size. So I'd suggest a 7.5g refugium connected to the system, along with a standard sump (a small glass tank can do it, as well as a rubbermaid bin). Keep reading and asking questions, as you'll be more successful that way.

 

[MaximusUSG]

Marc- You built your own refug? Was it expensive, was it difficult? I have thought about turning an old 20 gallon tank I have into a refuge but not sure of what is needed, other than the plex for the baffles. I have my return pump and unfortunatly my skimmer is built into the wet/dry. That's sort of why I wanted to try and use it. TO keep from buyin another skimmer. Is there a DIY refug. post that you know of?

 

[Micki]

MaximusUSG, You might want to check out Melev's web site. There is a WEALTH of information there! I've taken a lot of advice from Marc and have never been steered wrong!

I'm sure there are some DIY threads on RC, just do a search. My husband built ours as you probably saw on my thread. When you get to that point I'm sure he could help you out with some thoughts.

FWIW, when my kids were younger I couldn't have been able to have this system. They are now grown and I have a beautiful 3 year old Granddaughter and a Grandson on the way, it's fun to hear my Granddaughter name everything in the tank! You may very well get your chance some day




http://www.melevsreef.com/

 

[rdmpe]

Rubbermaid tubs are a cheap option for sump/fuge too.

 

[Micki]

Yes, our first sump was glass. We made our second one out of a 100 gallon rubbermaid. The cool thing is rubbermaid comes in all sizes! I like our rubbermaid one better than the glass!

 

[MaximusUSG]

Ok it appears that I am in need of a refug. if I rid my wet/dry I will also need a skimmer. Any suggestions? Micki I know I don't need one quite the size you have. To what do you use for baffles in the rubber made tub? The return pump I have is rated at 795 gph, is that to much flow through a refug? I am going to be asking you guys a lot of questions because I have to totaly understand something before I even begin. Plus with my living aquarium I can't be with out for to long... I would have to build it and then install at once. Anything else anyone could think of would be great... It almost sounds like I need to just start over with my tank. I would like to get the crushed coral out of my tank and go with the sand. It looks awesome..

Sounds like a lot of money is going to be spent...

 

[leeweber85]

Micki, Good Job on your tank. It's interesting because It is almost EXACTLY what I want/plan to upgrade too!(When I graduate and have my own place) The stock list and everything are exactly what I want/already have.

Hope you continue to have success and maybe someday your tank will have a clone!

-Lee

 

[Airman]

Micki question about your trough. Is there a reason for the color of the acrylic (red, yellow)? Is the purpose of the trough is for feeding so the food is not blown away in the flow? How long have you had the horses?

 

[gkarshens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7023540#post7023540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MaximusUSG
Ok it appears that I am in need of a refug. if I rid my wet/dry I will also need a skimmer. Any suggestions? Micki I know I don't need one quite the size you have.

Sounds like a lot of money is going to be spent...

Here is my .02: I am really happy with my Coralife Super Skimmer. I had a 65 on my 55g and then upgraded to a 220 for my 125g. For the money I think it is the best deal. A 125 would be plenty for your 75g. HTH

 

[Micki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7023540#post7023540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MaximusUSG
Ok it appears that I am in need of a refug. if I rid my wet/dry I will also need a skimmer. Any suggestions? Micki I know I don't need one quite the size you have. To what do you use for baffles in the rubber made tub? The return pump I have is rated at 795 gph, is that to much flow through a refug? I am going to be asking you guys a lot of questions because I have to totaly understand something before I even begin. Plus with my living aquarium I can't be with out for to long... I would have to build it and then install at once. Anything else anyone could think of would be great... It almost sounds like I need to just start over with my tank. I would like to get the crushed coral out of my tank and go with the sand. It looks awesome..

Sounds like a lot of money is going to be spent...

I am a true bbeliever in ASM skimmers. I also believe in over rating my skimmer. For your tank an ASM G1 or G1x should be fine. Do some research on them. For my baffles, we ended up using what were cutting boards. Very thick plastic. Not the kind that looks or feels like glass but the thick kind that you can't cut through. Melev might have other suggestions for you too. I agree with understanding the system and researching things before you make any moves. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you would like!!!

You also so have some time. I would think you would want to rid the wet/dry of the bio balls befoer you go with the fuge. I think Melev stated a few posts up to take 25% out every week. You can be building your fuge during that time. The only "rush" time would be the day you actually make the change over.

You could actually change your tank over to sand at the same time. I woulodn't think it would be much different than when I upgraded from my 55 system to the 125 system. I did it all in one day. Actually only took a few hours. You could do yours all in one day and use as much of your old water as possible. making it really seem like a large water change with all new sand. Rinse your rock in some of the old water before placing it in the tank.

 

[Micki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7024137#post7024137 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leeweber85
Micki, Good Job on your tank. It's interesting because It is almost EXACTLY what I want/plan to upgrade too!(When I graduate and have my own place) The stock list and everything are exactly what I want/already have.

Hope you continue to have success and maybe someday your tank will have a clone!

-Lee

Thanks!

Cool! When you set yours up, make sure to start a thread! I would love to see my clone.

 

[Micki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7024364#post7024364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Airman
Micki question about your trough. Is there a reason for the color of the acrylic (red, yellow)? Is the purpose of the trough is for feeding so the food is not blown away in the flow? How long have you had the horses?

The reason for the colors are so the horses will hopefully show some lighter colors. They tend to change to their environment so I'm trying to add lighter color to the tank. Time will tell I guess.

I've had them for almost 2 months.