If you need SW advice - ask an expert

[UnderwaterGirl]

Well sort of.

I have been on many forums providing advice for all. Both Equiptment and fish.

I figured I'd make my donation to this community here.

I am experienced in all setups for just about anything you can Imagine up to 300gals.
I'm sure I can help with larger setups..

Anyway, ask away:

You have a lot of guts to self-proclaim yourself a saltwater expert in a fish keeping forum. There are a few of us on here that keep saltwater fish for a living.... Maybe we could learn a thing or two from you. More power to you.

 

[fw180galma]

You have a lot of guts to self-proclaim yourself a saltwater expert in a fish keeping forum. There are a few of us on here that keep saltwater fish for a living.... Maybe we could learn a thing or two from you. More power to you.

Well No one is really an expert in SW because there is no real "RIGHT" way per say. I also invite anyone to challange what I say and I'm always willing to debate things for the good of a cause. I love being proven wrong, that acutally makes my day, because i know i've learned something.

What I think makes me unique is that i understand how each method works and can adapt them to the people and thier environments.

Like I was saying about the Cycling large tanks...We think that you need to do XYZ to achieve a cycle...ie..you MUST see an amonia spike etc.etc When if you think about the end result there are always many ways from Point A to B..

SW is basically all a gray area lol...Different strokes for different folks..

I also try the "lazy mans way" because I know a lot of people including myself don't have time..

This tank for example... 1 YR no water change...I can't stop stuff from growin out of control..Oh and Filtered Tap water...

Maintence includes, scraping glass every other day or so to keep the coraline down..
Feeding...adding fresh filtered tap water..that's It! For the past year!

I'll be doing a water change soon, but still..The easier i can make it for my friends and family, the more likely they are to keep them.

 

[TankBuster]

Here is a question that I have had on my mind for a while. I keep hearing that in a refugium you should have the skimmer draw from raw water before it hits the refugium area so you are skimming unfiltered water. Then I hear that some people are saying that skimmers are not very good on refugiums because they take too many nutrients that the calurpa thrive on. Ok here is my thoughts. and my setup. I have a refugium that takes water from my tank to the top of the filter through filter pads then to a compartment then over baffles into the refugium area with lr and calurpa, no miracle mud yet. Then after the refugium area, I have a skimmer that picks up the water then dumps it back into the first area where the filter pads are and that whole process starts all over again, then I have a channel going down the outside length of the whole refugium over and under baffles to the return pump. I put the skimmer after the refugium so that the calurpa getsa all the nutrients it needs. Sound right?Here are pics but this is when i first hooked it up so some plumbing has changed.

 

[RadleyMiller]

Anyone here a brackish expert? I know somewhat about brackish but I don't consider myself an expert. I started a thread about everything that I have done in brackish but it didn't get any popularity.

 

[fw180galma]

Here is a question that I have had on my mind for a while. I keep hearing that in a refugium you should have the skimmer draw from raw water before it hits the refugium area so you are skimming unfiltered water. Then I hear that some people are saying that skimmers are not very good on refugiums because they take too many nutrients that the calurpa thrive on. Ok here is my thoughts. and my setup. I have a refugium that takes water from my tank to the top of the filter through filter pads then to a compartment then over baffles into the refugium area with lr and calurpa, no miracle mud yet. Then after the refugium area, I have a skimmer that picks up the water then dumps it back into the first area where the filter pads are and that whole process starts all over again, then I have a channel going down the outside length of the whole refugium over and under baffles to the return pump. I put the skimmer after the refugium so that the calurpa getsa all the nutrients it needs. Sound right?Here are pics but this is when i first hooked it up so some plumbing has changed.

Well here is where My adaptability comes into play...Using what you have which is great BTW.


Try different Macros....get a few different kinds...See which one grows in your fuge the best...Which ever one that is....means whatever it likes...your skimmer isn't taking out..

A lot of people say the skimmers take to much for caluerpa...i say...Why do you only have to use that? There are like 10 different types of Macros you can use...Maybe your tank would grow other stuff like crazy..Thats what I did...Chaeto didn't grow in my tank...where other types would grow outta control.

 

[AquataHolic420]

I dont mean to interupt on a thread, but i just have a few questions since i am still a rookie! i am going to have a 55 G tank with live rock/ and live sand, my main goal is to setup the tank so i can house a Dwarf lionfish very happily. I wouldnt mind having a few Dithers in there too with the lionfish.

My questions are this
-What filter would be best to use for this type of setup?
-What tankmates would be best suited for this environment? please give me a few choices!
-What lighting would be best? i was thinkin a subdued lunar light or sumthing..
-What other things should i know/do/ or have for this setup!??!
Thank you very much!!!

 

[TankBuster]

FW 180galma; I heard the chaeto requires on/ff lighting, and the reason I am using calurpa is because that is what I first started with a few years ago and worked great for me, but I was also using a low end skimmer at that time. The calurpa doesnt seem to be reducing my nitrates as much as I would like though. Does chaeto reduce them more?