So I'm on my way to having my first predominantly SPS tank. I'm setting up a 75 gallon reef. So far, it's up and running with about 100 lbs of live rock and a shallow sand bed. Well, kinda shallow...lol.
I'm currently running 1 HOB overflow but will be adding a second. My sump/fuge is a wet/dry system (for now.) I removed the bio-balls and placed chaeto, live sand and rubble rock in that area. In the sump, I'm running a ProClear Aquatics MSP 150 skimmer. I'll probably change that out for my Remora though. I'll soon be replacing the wet/dry with a sump/fuge I'm building out of a 29 gallon tank. Then I'll add a second HOB overflow and use a larger return pump to increase my flow. Currently I'm using a 600 GPH return pump that utilizes a SQWD. I also have 3 powerheads running inside the tank. 2 are MJ1200s with Hydor Flo attachments and the 3rd is a RIO 1400 centered on the back wall and aimed at the front wall and a lil' up. Once I get the larger return pump going, I'll change the powerhead arrangement some and maybe add a second SQWD. I really like the Hydor Flow units too! I'm also running a HOB aquafuge that adds a lil' flow plus the added benefit of a refugium that pulls water from the tank and pushes it on through back to the tank instead of chopping up critters as they pass through a pump on their journey from the sump/fuge to the display tank. I hope they appreciate that. I really wanted to drill the tank and himmed and hawwed about that for a couple weeks before deciding against it.
My lighting is going to consist of a T5 fixture (Sun Supply Tek5 48" 6 bulb fixture) I still haven't decided on the mix of bulbs I'm going to use. Yeah, Yeah, I know...I should be going with MH lighting instead. I've heard it all and done a lot of research into it. I know I may not be able to keep acros but I think I'll still have a pretty good system for most other SPS. Might even eventually try acros up high. Who knows, maybe I'll end up needing to upgrade to MH eventually. Right now, I don't want to have to deal with the price of a MH fixture, the cost of operating and the issues of heat involved with MH. If I do upgrade in the future, the T5 fixture will be perfect for the 75 FW planted tank that's next on my agenda....lol.
I'm hoping that starting this tank out with RO/DI water will help with problems I've had with the other 2 tanks, which started out with tap water and had tap water in them for about 6 months before I invested in an RO/DI unit. I'm also studying up on Kalk and will be making my own gravity drip system. I'll also be investing in a couple test kits that I haven't had in the past...CA, ALK, Mg. I've still got a lot to learn about the whole interaction between these 3 elements. I also want to start learning about coral food mixes. I do feed some of my LPS and softies frozen mysis shrimp and they seem to love it. I want to be prepared to offer food to the SPS as well. Either that, or be prepared to start growing phyto to get a good population of copepods started and growing.
I guess I've got a lot of learnin' to do in the next few weeks...lol. Any suggestions, comments or advice would be really appreciated!! Thanks all for putting up with my long windedness!!
I'm currently running 1 HOB overflow but will be adding a second. My sump/fuge is a wet/dry system (for now.) I removed the bio-balls and placed chaeto, live sand and rubble rock in that area. In the sump, I'm running a ProClear Aquatics MSP 150 skimmer. I'll probably change that out for my Remora though. I'll soon be replacing the wet/dry with a sump/fuge I'm building out of a 29 gallon tank. Then I'll add a second HOB overflow and use a larger return pump to increase my flow. Currently I'm using a 600 GPH return pump that utilizes a SQWD. I also have 3 powerheads running inside the tank. 2 are MJ1200s with Hydor Flo attachments and the 3rd is a RIO 1400 centered on the back wall and aimed at the front wall and a lil' up. Once I get the larger return pump going, I'll change the powerhead arrangement some and maybe add a second SQWD. I really like the Hydor Flow units too! I'm also running a HOB aquafuge that adds a lil' flow plus the added benefit of a refugium that pulls water from the tank and pushes it on through back to the tank instead of chopping up critters as they pass through a pump on their journey from the sump/fuge to the display tank. I hope they appreciate that. I really wanted to drill the tank and himmed and hawwed about that for a couple weeks before deciding against it.
My lighting is going to consist of a T5 fixture (Sun Supply Tek5 48" 6 bulb fixture) I still haven't decided on the mix of bulbs I'm going to use. Yeah, Yeah, I know...I should be going with MH lighting instead. I've heard it all and done a lot of research into it. I know I may not be able to keep acros but I think I'll still have a pretty good system for most other SPS. Might even eventually try acros up high. Who knows, maybe I'll end up needing to upgrade to MH eventually. Right now, I don't want to have to deal with the price of a MH fixture, the cost of operating and the issues of heat involved with MH. If I do upgrade in the future, the T5 fixture will be perfect for the 75 FW planted tank that's next on my agenda....lol.
I'm hoping that starting this tank out with RO/DI water will help with problems I've had with the other 2 tanks, which started out with tap water and had tap water in them for about 6 months before I invested in an RO/DI unit. I'm also studying up on Kalk and will be making my own gravity drip system. I'll also be investing in a couple test kits that I haven't had in the past...CA, ALK, Mg. I've still got a lot to learn about the whole interaction between these 3 elements. I also want to start learning about coral food mixes. I do feed some of my LPS and softies frozen mysis shrimp and they seem to love it. I want to be prepared to offer food to the SPS as well. Either that, or be prepared to start growing phyto to get a good population of copepods started and growing.
I guess I've got a lot of learnin' to do in the next few weeks...lol. Any suggestions, comments or advice would be really appreciated!! Thanks all for putting up with my long windedness!!
:lol: .
