What to do?

[K3nnyG]

Hi everyone!

Hope everyones week has been going well. I was wondering what is the best to do. Should I in my 60 gallon flat 48X12X12 inch put multiple 500 gph pumps for corculation or should I do 2 1150 gph? Also I am mainly going to be growing zoas and lps. What should I doce my tank with? I have calcium, alk, mgn, iodine, and potassium.

Also if anybody has zoas/ lps or even old equipment that they would like to donate toward my senior project (which is making a small business and donating part of the profits to help rebuild the reefs) *especially after the molasses spill in hawaii*

Any thoughts or comments approciated!


Thanks,
KennyG

 

[coralfarmer]

Use a two part additive like ESV bionic or Brightwell Code A&B. these products will give you everything you will need to maintain your system along with water changes. And they are easy to use.

 

[K3nnyG]

Thank you!

Also if anyone is part of the petaluma rotary club I will be presenting this friday!

 

[Dapg8gt]

Remember to test before you dose =).. Just water changes and keeping alk/cal and mag stable will yield you great results.. How you choose to do it is up to you..

. Zoas aren't known for being cal/alk hogs so water changes alone will prob do it, and maybe a little kalk should do the trick if your heavily stocked. Mrs wages picking lime is super cheap for lime water fwiw..

 

[lokii_37]

If you do decide to use kalk I have a container of it you can have. I got it from a member but I already had one so it is just sitting around

 

[Dragonvale]

Hi everyone!

Hope everyones week has been going well. I was wondering what is the best to do. Should I in my 60 gallon flat 48X12X12 inch put multiple 500 gph pumps for corculation or should I do 2 1150 gph? Also I am mainly going to be growing zoas and lps. What should I doce my tank with? I have calcium, alk, mgn, iodine, and potassium.

Also if anybody has zoas/ lps or even old equipment that they would like to donate toward my senior project (which is making a small business and donating part of the profits to help rebuild the reefs) *especially after the molasses spill in hawaii*

Any thoughts or comments approciated!


Thanks,
KennyG

Are you running a sump and skimmer?

 

[K3nnyG]

I have a sump but no skimmer at the current time. It is on my list to purchase.

 

[coralfarmer]

The flat is very shallow so too much water flow can blast the corals and if you put sand in it blow the sand every where. With coral flats I tend to try to adjust the water flow to break the surface of the water and really get it agitated. This increases the O2 levels in the water and gases off CO2. Which in turn helps to maintain you pH at a steady level and gassing off the CO2 reduces the amount that algae can use. I that's a simplified explanation . I hope it made sense . Less algae is always a good thing.
I also usually run my coral flats with a tiny bit of sand an inch or less. This helps reflect back the light to the undersides of the corals. Getting the most from your light . And when it gets dirty it's easy to siphon it out and put fresh stuff in.
It's good to get a return pump that is Adjustable or put a ball valve in the return line. Then you can really dial it in and get the flow the way you want it.

 

[Dragonvale]

Well... Your flat is only 30 gal and I want to say your sump is 30 also since you state 60 gallons. With live rock and sand, also a sump only half filled if even that your looking at water being at 40 gallons. Also if your only having zoas, a water change at 10 gallons a week is more than sufficient.

 

[K3nnyG]

It is a 90 gallon system. 60 gallon flat 48X12X12 and a 30 gallon refugium

 

[Dragonvale]

It is a 90 gallon system. 60 gallon flat 48X12X12 and a 30 gallon refugium

I put 48x12x12 in a vol calculator and its 29.9 gal. Let me try another calculator.... Got the same gallons. Maybe your flats a 48x24x12? That's 59.9...

Unless you feel you want to dose for zoas I see no reason to. Water changes are fine. Plus zoas/palys don't need pristine water quality anyways.

 

[K3nnyG]

Wow... I feel dumb... Yes it is 24 lol...

 

[Dragonvale]

I'd still d0 water changes. Let me re-phrase this. If "ONLY" doing a grow out tank with 1-2 fish. I'd still do only 10-20% water changes weekly. If your going to treat it as a display tank then I'd still do the same but get a descent skimmer rated above and beyond your gallons of both tank & sump. "IF" (which generally turns to yes) your going to trickle into sps then get dosing pumps.