An Impossible Dream of Mine, iqs Starting to Become Possible

[Pazzoman]

Hey Everybody,

As some/most of you may know I've been undergoing many upgrades to my 72 gallon bowfront system. Here are is the current set up:

-72 Gallon Bowfront
-2 Led Fixtures (Reef Brite, one fixture all white another all blue)
-Aqua C Remora Protein Skimmer Pro Version
-33 Gallon Sump, with dimensions of 36 x 12.5 x 17 inches
-The fuge measures 12 x 12 x 10 inches (Home to 2 inches of sand, 3 peppermint shrimps and a fist size hermit crab)
- 90-100 pounds of live rock
- 8 corals ( basically all frags except for 2)

Well here are my questions lol, thiers always a catch when adding something new to a tank:

-What are the most beneficial plants for a fuge along with feeding to my convict tang and naso?

-Best growing light for fuge plants (I'm pretty sure I asked this question and got a response, however I can't find the thread)

- How many times should I change out the filter sock? (Probably once every 3 days depending on load)

-Is their away to make the system quieter? (The over flow box makes noise along with the skimmer releasing a water fall effect at about 8 inches into first chamber)

-How should algae be removed from rocks? (Next investment would be a Phosban Reactor)

-Any suggestions, tips or other equipment to add to my sump?

Now I have to figure out what to do with my Fx5....worst investment I ever made for Marine Reef, probably would be great for Fresh.

Here are some pics: (Thier are some pics of the over flow box just incase thier is any ideas on how to stop some noise and thier is pics on algae just below the sand, and ways on removing of a blade is needed)

Last but not least, how do you guys like the placement of the rocks? Ralph the boss of Maximum Reef Aquatics has good imagination, lots of coral spots along with fish hiding spots.

 

[nonstophoops]

Hey Everybody,

As some/most of you may know I've been undergoing many upgrades to my 72 gallon bowfront system. Here are is the current set up:

-72 Gallon Bowfront
-2 Led Fixtures (Reef Brite, one fixture all white another all blue)
-Aqua C Remora Protein Skimmer Pro Version
-33 Gallon Sump, with dimensions of 36 x 12.5 x 17 inches
-The fuge measures 12 x 12 x 10 inches (Home to 2 inches of sand, 3 peppermint shrimps and a fist size hermit crab)
- 90-100 pounds of live rock
- 8 corals ( basically all frags except for 2)
Glad to see it's coming along!
Well here are my questions lol, thiers always a catch when adding something new to a tank:

-What are the most beneficial plants for a fuge along with feeding to my convict tang and naso?
I would say Chaetomorpha is best for the fuge, but your tangs most likely won't eat it. There are lots of choices that they will eat like graccilaria or caulerpa.
-Best growing light for fuge plants (I'm pretty sure I asked this question and got a response, however I can't find the thread)
You want a warm bulb(somewhere near 5000k to 6700k). The cheapest way to go is a clip on shop light from the hardware store. You can even get the bulb from the hardware store too. Cheap and easy.
- How many times should I change out the filter sock? (Probably once every 3 days depending on load)
Every 3 days, yes. I get a bit lazy and let it slide to 5 days, but I have 0 nitrates(which most people don't have without frequent water changes) so I don't have to worry about some breakdown in the sock.
-Is their away to make the system quieter? (The over flow box makes noise along with the skimmer releasing a water fall effect at about 8 inches into first chamber)
Buy a piece of acrylic or foam that you can cut to go on the top of the overflow box. It will quiet it down some. Or you can look up a DIY durso or buy something similar(i forgot the brand I am thinking of). For the skimmer, you can buy a pvc T piece that fits on the outlet of your skimmer(if it doesn't fit because it's a weird size like mine, you can file the inside of the PVC T until it fits snug. Then on either side of the T you can add PVC if needed to get one end in the water and the other end quieter(longer you go up).
-How should algae be removed from rocks? (Next investment would be a Phosban Reactor)
Manually pulling is best for removing but doesn't solve the problem. Solving the problem with something like a phosban reactor, monitoring how much you feed, water changes, filter socks, growing an algae in the sump that competes with nuisance algaes, cleaning detritus out of the sump, etc. all will help prevent it.
-Any suggestions, tips or other equipment to add to my sump?
I think a reactor is a good investment.
Now I have to figure out what to do with my Fx5....worst investment I ever made for Marine Reef, probably would be great for Fresh.
Sell it. You can usually get a good price reselling it. I got $175 and 2 koralia 4's when I sold mine a couple years ago.
Here are some pics: (Thier are some pics of the over flow box just incase thier is any ideas on how to stop some noise and thier is pics on algae just below the sand, and ways on removing of a blade is needed)

Last but not least, how do you guys like the placement of the rocks? Rockwork looks good to me. Ralph the boss of Maximum Reef Aquatics has good imagination, lots of coral spots along with fish hiding spots.
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How long have you had the Naso?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Naso is almost too big for the tank already and will be too big very very soon. I wouldn't even keep one of those long term in my 210. They get huge and they swim swim and swim some more.

 

[Wiggles92]

My response is in red.

Hey Everybody,

As some/most of you may know I've been undergoing many upgrades to my 72 gallon bowfront system. Here are is the current set up:

-72 Gallon Bowfront
-2 Led Fixtures (Reef Brite, one fixture all white another all blue)
-Aqua C Remora Protein Skimmer Pro Version
-33 Gallon Sump, with dimensions of 36 x 12.5 x 17 inches
-The fuge measures 12 x 12 x 10 inches (Home to 2 inches of sand, 3 peppermint shrimps and a fist size hermit crab)
- 90-100 pounds of live rock
- 8 corals ( basically all frags except for 2)

Well here are my questions lol, thiers always a catch when adding something new to a tank:

-What are the most beneficial plants for a fuge along with feeding to my convict tang and naso?
I would use Chaetomorpha algae (chaeto for short) in the refugium; it removes nitrates as well as phosphates. I don't know if the tangs will eat it, though. I also have some mangrove propagules in my refugium; they seem to working pretty well as they're starting to grow a little.

-Best growing light for fuge plants (I'm pretty sure I asked this question and got a response, however I can't find the thread)
I'm using a 23 watt daylight compact fluorescent (supposed to be equivalent a 100 watt incandescent; I think it's 6700k) on my little 10 gallon refugium, and it's working pretty well with the chaeto and mangroves. This page provides some other good options that work very well yet are super cheap. Be sure to run the refugium light opposite your light cycle on the main aquarium in order to keep your parameters more stable.

- How many times should I change out the filter sock? (Probably once every 3 days depending on load)
As need be, really; just watch the water flow and the build-up on it.

-Is their away to make the system quieter? (The over flow box makes noise along with the skimmer releasing a water fall effect at about 8 inches into first chamber)
Try putting a piece of foam in the overflow if you can fit it. Minimizing the free-falling water in the sump will help keep it quieter as well.

-How should algae be removed from rocks? (Next investment would be a Phosban Reactor)
You can manually remove or use something such as AlgaeFix (or a combination of both). Either way, the plants/algae in your refugium will help to starve the bad algae in the main aquarium.

-Any suggestions, tips or other equipment to add to my sump?
It looks pretty good to me. This article might give you a few ideas and tips, though.

Now I have to figure out what to do with my Fx5....worst investment I ever made for Marine Reef, probably would be great for Fresh.

Last but not least, how do you guys like the placement of the rocks? Ralph the boss of Maximum Reef Aquatics has good imagination, lots of coral spots along with fish hiding spots.
I really like the rock placement; it's designed very well with the fishes and the corals in mind.

EDIT: Haha, it looks like Dustin beat me to it by a minute.

 

[nonstophoops]

Ha that is funny. Same idea and color, a minute apart.

 

[Pazzoman]

How long have you had the Naso?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Naso is almost too big for the tank already and will be too big very very soon. I wouldn't even keep one of those long term in my 210. They get huge and they swim swim and swim some more.

Yeah nonstop I understand, most likely he'll be a christmas president to a cousin's take or back to the lfs. The Naso was something my mom wanted a few months ago, however he will have to go.

Do you think the convict would be fine in this system? Hope so as I had him the longest...and he is a slow grower lol

Thanks for the info for the sump...I will make an updated post after I check with Wiggles reply lol

 

[Pazzoman]

My response is in red.



EDIT: Haha, it looks like Dustin beat me to it by a minute.

Ok thanks for the info and complements between you and nonstop.

For the fuge like you guys have said, chateo, mangroves, gracilleria, caulerpa..I like the prices of reef cleaners

The light fixture for the fuge will most likely pick it up this weekend at home depot along with the bulb. And I'll remember to alternate the lighting compared to the main tank.

I'll see what I can do with the sump noise and skimmer noise... defiantly will pick up foam boards..and I'll see what I can do about the skimmer..most likely pipping will be in order.

I've never heard of algaefix I'll look into it.

 

[nonstophoops]

Yeah nonstop I understand, most likely he'll be a christmas president to a cousin's take or back to the lfs. The Naso was something my mom wanted a few months ago, however he will have to go.

Do you think the convict would be fine in this system? Hope so as I had him the longest...and he is a slow grower lol

Thanks for the info for the sump...I will make an updated post after I check with Wiggles reply lol

I understand. The Convict should be just fine.

 

[cdc]

I picked up a fixture for my fuge at home depot but they don't have any bulbs around 6500k, the closest they have was 5000k. I was told lowes was best for bulbs. But it maybe different where you live.

 

[Otherone]

Your tank looks terriffic! Biggest noticable difference being the lose of that Mag Drive hangin' in the DT. Alot if not all of your Q's have been answered, so i have little to add.

I had alil' trouble with phosphates - prior to organic carbon dosing Po4 was 5+, chased it unsuccesfully with Vodka and overdosed the system causing a build up of dirt lookin' loose algae all over and bleaching of all coraline + sps/lps. Fortunately the CUC was able to get it out - Po4 was then up and down 2-4. Got a phosban reactor with a trickle pump (approx 100 gal. a day like R/O specs) - it worked for a week or 2 Po4 - .04 then back up as the resin solidified in the chamber(not good) - Po4 @ 3-4 ppm. Switched to 100 gph pump in a week po4 + silicates Zero. Also I'm finding out small frags and fish are a terrible combo. I glue'em down they find ways to knock them down even when attached to holes in the rock.

 

[Pazzoman]

So far non of the corals have fallen since the removal of the big hermit crab, however my tiger cowrie may end up knocking some down in the near future. Also I've notice my pepperment shrimps in the return chamber of my sump, guess they climb the wall into the return side...would this cause problems?

Yeah a phosban reactor is defintly on my list, as for the lights mention by cdc, I'm assuming that 6500k is best k for growing macro? Will defintly try to pick it up this weekend hopefully home depot has them along with Styrofoam, eggcrates and pvc pipping.

Will update with pics, this weekend when other things are purchased-equipment and plants