yote
In Memoriam
Thats a great looking tank.:D And looks like you did an awesome job in the move too.
A novices attempt at 75 gallons
- Thread starter Chito
- Start date
Chito
Reefing newb
Thanks! Everything is going great so far except for one little thing.
ALGAE!!
It turns out the lights we got with the tank were over 3 years old, so I bought some new MH bulbs a couple of days ago. We're using all RO water and ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels are at 0 so I don't think it's water quality. Could it have just been the old bulbs? Any tricks on how to get rid of it?
ALGAE!!
It turns out the lights we got with the tank were over 3 years old, so I bought some new MH bulbs a couple of days ago. We're using all RO water and ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels are at 0 so I don't think it's water quality. Could it have just been the old bulbs? Any tricks on how to get rid of it?
Bifferwine
I am a girl
It could definitely have been the old bulbs! If your water quality is good and you are not overfeeding, then it will go away on its own after switching bulbs, but it can take time. Remove as much by hand as you can, keep up with water changes and get a good clean up crew.
pheasant29
Reefing newb
And don't leave out some mexican turbos in that CUC.
Chito
Reefing newb
Thanks, team! :)
Going to pick up the first coral this weekend. An acan frag.
Going to pick up the first coral this weekend. An acan frag.
Chito
Reefing newb
Hmm, some people on the used websites just don't want to make a sale... After numerous e-mails and phone calls, I called 'er quits. No new coral. :(
I've been speding the time instead to figure out this phosphate reactor that came with the tank. The guy before had no media in it. I bought some and blundered my way through the set up process.
I'm concerned it's not "bubbling" enough, though. It's kind of like a simmer, where the media is bubbling up to about a centimetre high. Is that enough flow? I have an old powerhead 802 hooked up to it.
I've been speding the time instead to figure out this phosphate reactor that came with the tank. The guy before had no media in it. I bought some and blundered my way through the set up process.
I'm concerned it's not "bubbling" enough, though. It's kind of like a simmer, where the media is bubbling up to about a centimetre high. Is that enough flow? I have an old powerhead 802 hooked up to it.
Chito
Reefing newb
A really nice guy came by and dropped off a bunch of coral frags for a steal yesterday. Helped me set them all up, answered a bunch of questions and let me use his reef glue.
Devils Hand
Zoos
1 of 3 montipora frags and xenia
They all seem mostly fine so far. A bunch of the mushrooms fell off of their rock, though. Kinda' bummer. Maybe I just need to glue them back on.
Checked the water today and had a bit of a nitrate spike. Measure around 10 or 20. Everything else was fine though. I also started up my phosban 150 a few days ago, could that have anything to do with it?
Devils Hand
Zoos
1 of 3 montipora frags and xenia
They all seem mostly fine so far. A bunch of the mushrooms fell off of their rock, though. Kinda' bummer. Maybe I just need to glue them back on.
Checked the water today and had a bit of a nitrate spike. Measure around 10 or 20. Everything else was fine though. I also started up my phosban 150 a few days ago, could that have anything to do with it?
dcantucson
Reef pro
Congrats on the new frags. They look nice, and yes just super glue (gel type) the mushrooms back onto their plug or rock.
yote
In Memoriam
Those are some good looking frags.
cageburn
Reef enthusiast
sweet pics!
Chito
Reefing newb
Thanks, team!
Next up, I'm hoping to pick up a 29g long tank tomorrow that will be my new sump/refugium. I've been trolling around trying to get ideas and have come up with this super simple set up. Any improvements I can make?
The divider is to try and keep the growing chaeto away from the skimmer and the pump. I know eventually I shouldn't need the skimmer with an algae scrubber, but I'm definitely not ready to take that leap as of now!
Next up, I'm hoping to pick up a 29g long tank tomorrow that will be my new sump/refugium. I've been trolling around trying to get ideas and have come up with this super simple set up. Any improvements I can make?
The divider is to try and keep the growing chaeto away from the skimmer and the pump. I know eventually I shouldn't need the skimmer with an algae scrubber, but I'm definitely not ready to take that leap as of now!
Bifferwine
I am a girl
You will probably want to add a bubble trap in between the skimmer and return pump. Skimmers produce a lot of bubbles, and those will get sucked up and spit back into the display without a bubble trap.
coolhandgoose
Reef enthusiast
Also I wouldn't just put a valve from the overflow like that to your algae scrubber, you generally want the down spout to be unrestricted. Why not try making a tee to the algae scrubber then the other part drains into the tank and put the valve on the part that drains into the tank. That way you can have all the flow from your overflow and still control the waterflow to the scrubber.
Chito
Reefing newb
Great points. How about this?
Zissou
What about my dynamite?
You want the skimmer to be before the scrubber and chaeto, or your skimmer will take up a lot of the beneficial pods and other things.
Zissou
What about my dynamite?
I would drop the chaeto, I think, because the scrubber itself will supply most of the nutrients to the tank and provide its own place for pods to live. Plus, the chaeto might interfere with the scrubber's growth (as will the skimmer).
Putting the return section in the middle allows the scrubbed water to avoid the skimmer. Although you might want to tee off the return line and divert some of the water back into either the scrubber or skimmer chamber, for flow adjustment.
Putting the return section in the middle allows the scrubbed water to avoid the skimmer. Although you might want to tee off the return line and divert some of the water back into either the scrubber or skimmer chamber, for flow adjustment.
coolhandgoose
Reef enthusiast
The other question would be, why are you using a skimmer when you're going to be using an algae scrubber? Isn't the whole point of an algae scrubber so you don't need a skimmer?
Chito
Reefing newb
Looks great, Zissou! Thanks so much!
I hope to get rid of the skimmer eventually, but I'm a wimp. :)
I hope to get rid of the skimmer eventually, but I'm a wimp. :)
BigH55
I'm that guy
You could also run a T off the return pump for the scrubber with a ball valve.
Chito
Reefing newb
Planning on it.
Where do you all buy the acrylic for the dividers? Like a home depot place? Will they cut it for you? What kind of silicone do I need?
Where do you all buy the acrylic for the dividers? Like a home depot place? Will they cut it for you? What kind of silicone do I need?
