What am I missing?

alexkharden

alexkharden

New member
I'm getting very close to set up time, and I'm trying to figure out if I have everything I need. Please help fill in any blanks. System is a 190g DT, 75g fuge, and 55g sump.

I have:

2 500w Finnex titanium heaters
1 Jebao RW-8 powerhead
1 Jebao RW-15 powerhead
1 box 200 gallon Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
1 bag 200 gallon Red Sea Coral Pro
80 pounds coarse aragonite
1 Waveline DC6000 return pump
2 reef breeders photon 24"
1 Apex gold system with ph, salinity, orp, two temp probes, two break out boxes, leak detection system
Salifert test kits for ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and phosphate
A couple of float switches for an ato setup I'll build


I only got 80 pounds of aragonite because I just want it for my initial cycle. I plan on taking a ride to Florida to Tampa Bay saltwater to get my rock and sand after everything is cycle and ready for it.

I got two different salts because the RSCP actually ended up being free.

I'm having a VERY difficult time selecting a decent, properly-sized skimmer. I posted this in the reef forum, and someone told me I needed 2x my system volume. Is this accurate? That would mean a skimmer for 640 gallons or more! I'm having trouble finding skimmers that big. Any help would be appreciated.

I think that's everything I've gotten so far. Any and all input is welcome and wanted!

Thanks!
 
refractometer, rodi system, brute container for mixing salt-heater and powerhead for this, fuge light if growing macroalgae.
 
I do have a rodi system, I forgot to list it. Is a Refractometer better than the salinity probe on the apex? I do need a light for the fuge, I forgot all about that. Not LED though, right? I thought I read somewhere I need a normal incandescent for that. I have a couple a small, no name, powerheads I picked up for my ht and qt, I wonder if they'd work. I'd still need another heater though.

Thank you!
 
If you're thinking of taking sand and rock from the wild you'd better check your state's laws first. This is usually illegal in most states.

If you can get away with it your second concern will be getting the sand and rock from far enough off-shore so as not to be full of man made pollutants. And even then, you will have to quarantine the sand and rock in kiddie pools for at least six to eight weeks to ensure you don't introduce any harmful lifeforms (crabs, stomatopods, fire worms, etc.) to your display tank.

There are good reasons why most reef owners buy this stuff instead of taking it from the wild.

Dave.M
 
To answer your other question, a refractometer is much better than relying on a salinity probe alone. The probes are infamous for needing to be recalibrated constantly, and the refractometer is a good tool to double-check it.

Dave.M
 
alexkharden said:
I do have a rodi system, I forgot to list it. Is a Refractometer better than the salinity probe on the apex? I do need a light for the fuge, I forgot all about that. Not LED though, right? I thought I read somewhere I need a normal incandescent for that. I have a couple a small, no name, powerheads I picked up for my ht and qt, I wonder if they'd work. I'd still need another heater though.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

The salinity probe is going to measure salt level in the tank. You need a refractometer to measure that salt you are making for waterchanges. For your skimmer.... you really want to shoot for as big as you can fit in the sump. The 600+ gallon rated skimmers may not fit under your tank. So first figure out the space you have then go from there. I do not think you need a skimmer that big though. Just make sure you get a good one, something rated around 300 or so gallons would work fine. My tank is a 140 display with 30 gallon sump and the skimmer is rated for around 200 or 250 gallons I believe and it pulls out tons of crap just fine and I have no issues. But I think the key with this is going to be what can you fit under the tank
 
Well I'm glad I don't need one that big. The sump won't be under my tank, so I'm only limited by my 9 ft ceilings, lol.
 
Quarantine tank(s) along with their needed equip, heater/power head/HOB filter.
Plumbing for everything. I should've bought Lowe's stock before I started my tank...
Extra EB8 unless you are planning to plug some things into regular power strips.

Remember that skimmers are rated by the size of the display tank, not the entire system, so 190g rating. Double rating isn't always correct. I suggest deciding what brand you are wanting, then see what people suggest for that brand. Contact a few shops who sell the brand and get their suggestion for your 190g display. Example: if you choose to look at Reef Octopus then head over to the Reef Central -> Coralvue -> Reef Octopus forum and ask for a recommended skimmer for your tank size. Jeremy was responsive. Also contact Premium Aquatics since they appear to have quite a few RO models.

I'm not pushing RO skimmers, just using them as an example. If you were looking at Vertex or Skimz I'd ask Bulk Reef Supply etc.
 
I actually have two 20 gallon tanks with little heaters, little pumps, and hob filters already, I just didn't think to mention them. No, I have none of the plumbing, lol. I've already put some home depot executives kids through college with the build material, might as well add on med school for the plumbing, lol! I will definitely find and buy a Refractometer today, thank you for the advice.

Thank you for the skimmer guidance too. I've actually thought about making my own, but with everything else I have going on it would just be too much of a headache. The prices are just so prohibitive though! Doing like you said will be helpful, narrow to a brand and then size accordingly. I've actually already looked at RO several times, but they have so many variations it confuses me and my add kicks in and I just start looking at other things. Need to get focused and get one ordered I guess.
 
Ya what Kaidman said and I really didn't mention. You need one rated for your total water volume not just the display. So try to determine about how much total water you will have and that will get you on track. I also 2nd asking some of those places then also checking the for sale area, may scoop one for a steal
 
Not with the diversity of life I want. I can get LR and LS here, sure, but it's only as diverse as the original material that seeded it. Not much seeding going on here.
 
how do you plan to transport it? depending on how you transport it there could be die off. Are you planning on doing all live rock? Much cheaper and easier to do more dry rock and seed the tank with a few pieces of live rock. Bulk reef supply sells nice looking dry rock that will become live rock in no time and be a lot cheaper. The other big advantage is NO hitchhikers. I have had to many bad hitchhikers in the past in live rock to ever buy a ton of it again............................
Imagine having tank up a few months and start to notice all the fish vanishing and clean up crew seems to go over night..... then one day you see a big mantis shrimp walking around the rocks. I had to break the whole tank down for that one.
 
Well, honestly, that's what I want. It'll be a learning and teaching experience for me. Bad ones, good ones, I'm excited about the prospect :-)
 
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