The whole system was set up and running last week. It already has a top off installed. I have a huge wet/dry I will use as a sump, A tidepool I will use mainly for the Bio wheel, and I have a 50 gal. I will be setting up as a fuge. I just found out the tank is a 240 not a 220 so the whole system will be around 300 gal. I dont think I have nearly enough skimming, I have 2 HOB read sea pro skimmers rated at 300 each. From what I have read since I started doing research I will be saving for a much better skimmer. the filters are cycled and have ben running on the quartiene tank that the few fish and 2 corals that came with the tank are in. I would like to ditch the fish and corals but I prommised the person who gave me the tank I would keep them if I can. iwould rather set up the tank and let the live rock re cure but then I could not keep my promise. So this Sundat after the game I will be finishing the tank and it will have fish and a huge leather coral and a nice size rock of green polyps. There is some blue/green hard alge stuff she said she bought when she first set up the tank 2 years ago but had thought it had died also. I am nervous about using the 70 or so gallons of water and the media form the filters as she neglected the tank for the last few months, but she is insitant that it is good. I will humor her for a wile then do things how I see fit after she backs off. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appericated. I have no I dea how to set up the fuge yet. I am also worried about using her media.
220 gal. reef help needed
- Thread starter jeffG
- Start date
I like to use a separate pump. Pump from the sump into the fuge, then tie a drain from the top of the fuge to the main filter. I use Chaeto but you can use mangrove and other things as well. The cool thing about mangrove is that you can move the fuge outside of the tank/stand and put it in a window for natural light, plus you get to see the mangrove. If you do this make sure that the fuge is opaque so it doesn't get any light. Since I use Chaeto, I have a separate light that turns on when the display lights turn off.
At this point all I can say is WOW...this is harder than i ever thought. I knew I was going to have a rought time with no experience but WOW, the tank is full, basic parameters are good, I put all the live rock and sand in last night and I hate the way it looks. I have to re do the setup. I cant get the overflow started, I have no clue on the skimmers, the lights blew the circuit in my basement, and I am sure this is just the begining. All that said I spent 2 hours just looking at the liver rock alone. It has pretty good coraline algae growth. I put the live rock in a 90 with a buch of powerheads a heater and a airstone for 2 weeks in an attempt to cure it. The live sand was stored in an airtight container with water for 2 weeks, when I opened it it smelled. Not knock you over bad but smelled none the less. I rinsed it good with the water I had cured the liver rock in and only put enough in the tank to just cover the bottom. Now I am going to use the HOB skimmers I got with the tank for a wile as I dont have the cash for the one I would like. IO have on piece of Leather coral that is in pretty bad shape and a few fish that are in Ok shaper. I s there any hope of them living through the cycle or should I just write them off now?
The leather could make it. I would try to recover it, if only for the experience. The coralline might die and turn white from air exposure, but could recover as well.
What kind of overflow are you using? Is the tank reed ready? If it is, filling the tank should start the overflow.
If not, get a piece of airline tubing and shove it up the U pipe so you can suck all of the air out of it.
What kind of overflow are you using? Is the tank reed ready? If it is, filling the tank should start the overflow.
If not, get a piece of airline tubing and shove it up the U pipe so you can suck all of the air out of it.
A HOB refugium in a mature tank is the best way to go about it.
Since you don,t have that option then a cycled HOB, 10 gallon, lights, heater, and RO/DI water should work just fine. Nothing fancy or expensive. You just need to observe and adjust water parameters daily.
Since you don,t have that option then a cycled HOB, 10 gallon, lights, heater, and RO/DI water should work just fine. Nothing fancy or expensive. You just need to observe and adjust water parameters daily.
A few more pics. All these came with the tank. I promised to try to keep them as part of the deal for the free tank.
my poor leather. This is the focus right now. Get it healthy agian so any tips are welcome.
happy to report it is starting to open up today.
good or bad?
possible sponge?
good or bad?
my poor leather. This is the focus right now. Get it healthy agian so any tips are welcome.
happy to report it is starting to open up today.
good or bad?
possible sponge?
good or bad?
What Is the thing in the center of the tank?? The first one (good or bad)from what I can make of it (if plant like) looks to be some type of macro alge they are good but I try to keep them out of the main tank .They can also be bad if they go sexual they can wreak havoc on the tanks inhabatants. If it is tubeular and has a feather duster like end it is a yube worm or feather duster they are harmless and good .The second one is good it it a mushroom very hardy can be cut in to pieces to make more or if params are good they will multiply like wild fire.
