Random "I can't sleep with all this on my mind" thread

[mud1059]

So here's my tank. My poor tank.

Stats:
180G standard glass tank
55G Refugium
Berlin XL skimmer w/500GPH pump
Siphon Overflow (I've learned my lesson!) - How can I change this?
720 GPH return
795 GPH PH
250 GPH PH
100 lbs live rock
70lbs Reef Base
2 2/65W PCs 10000K/ACT 03(420nm)
1 96W PC 6700K

Livestock:
40+ Colt Coral stalks/frags
50+ assorted mushrooms
Some zoos
5 Damsels 1 I like (Thanks Tangee) and 4 won't die!
2 Pencil Urchins
2 "other" Urchins
4 shrimp
3 Emerald Crabs
20+ Featherdusters multiplying daily
Roughly 60 Scarlet/Blueleg Hermits
Half a million snails or...50 give or take.




My problem is this:
I've been to a few of ya'lls homes to buy a few things and been in awe at your tanks. I don't get that feeling with mine. I know it's not a great setup but I don't know what I need to do to make it BETTER. Either that or I don't know what my options are. note-This is a "budget build" grand total I stand at roughly $1300 to include trace supplements and (reluctantly) damsel food.

*I've been using "conditioned" tapwater since day 1* I finally bought a RO/DI system today.

I'd appreciate any and all advice. I've lost just enough livestock to doubt myself drastically - 1 anenome, 3-5 colt corals, and 2 colonies of polyps since I started the tank in December. (most of the coral/mushrooms were there) I'm afraid I don't have enough flow or lighting to try more corals. If you have something lying around I may need, don't hesitate to PM me. I'm becoming quite the bargain shopper with this tank. If you know where to find cheap LR,MH equipment or a better return pump, again, PM me!

If you have the ability/know how to get rid of my siphon overflow, set up a MH retro or other, please be in touch!

OH! One more thing! I need to know the best way to extract PITA damsels. I'm scared to put any other fish in there!

Thanks for your time,
Paul
[email protected]

 

[jnarowe]

so many issues! We all have our distressing reef days...

With the damsels you can try a trap or I have seen reefers use a deep plastic container like the large yogurt containers. They place food in the bottom, wait for the fish to enter, and come down on the top with a lid or piece of acrylic. Seems to work. I think clear containers work better but reefers use all sorts of things.

It's really tough for anyone to make equipment suggestions withot seeing your setup in person and getting an understanding of what you want to achieve for your reef. I would suggest a small get-together so that other reefers can meet you, see the system, and discuss options. I always love to have reefers visit and chat about various reef keeping issues. It's fun!

 

[JasonD]

The thing that really jumps out at me is lighting. PC's are a little weak for a tank that is 24" deep. If the funds are available, I would get 3 x 250 watt halides with full size Lumenarc reflectors, 12k reeflux bulbs. You don't need any actinic supplements with the 12k's, looks really nice IMO. .

http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc_retro.htm

It is probably overkill for the corals you have, but you will probably buy halides eventually anyway. Why 3? One halide lights a 2' square, so 3 would light the 2x6 tank. You could buy them one at a time and slowly phase out your PC's. There are plenty of other options...T5's, more PC's (been there, done that, never again), VHO's, halides with supplements….

 

[jezzeaepi]

First off, you must decide on your goal. Are you trying to set up a softie/lps tank? or a SPS dominated tank? Just a few corals and mostly fish? Can set up a softie tank for around 2G's.. The same SPS tank would cost atleast 5 to 6k.

Your light, and flow both need drastic upgrades if you want to keep anything more then what you have now. What kind of skimmer is it? Chances are your going to need to upgrade that too as your livestock starts to increase..

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I agree with Jason and one can buy them one at a time as money allows. Have the first one directly over your corals. Buy them used on RF and be on the lookout for SEIO powerheads to add flow. Get an inexpensive better skimmer after the lighting upgrade. Hang on overflows can work fine if maintained. have kept one on my 72 bowfront for quite awhile with no problems. One does not need to spend many $1000s to have a nice system. A couple friends of mine have set up sps tanks on the cheap and their corals look better than mine...

 

[jezzeaepi]

My point though, is that realisticly, he doesnt need to add much more if he wants to maintain just softies and few lps. A few seios and some more PC's will probably be just fine. If he wants to go sps, hes going to be buying a lot more and replacing what he already has. 3 Mh set ups + some sort of dosing set up + new skimmer + ATO + etc... is a much larger investment in the tank, so I feel its a good idea to warn him. Im not saying a nice sps system cant be done on the cheap, but you should be realistic about what all will be needed. $200 vs $2000 is still quite the difference.

 

[davidabrown66]

Well, first off you've done an incredible job for the amount spent. Unfortunately, you've run into some real limitations for success based off of your equipment.

Of course it all comes down to money, but without knowing more about what exactly you're dissappointed with, I jotted down some things here based off of your list:

You'll want proper nutrient export, water flow, lighting, temp, proper diet for optimal animal health, maintain alkalinity and PH, calcium, mag, which which brings me to most important...over all stability...no large swings of anything in a short amount of time.

OK, so here's a quick list:

1) Berlin XL Skimmer - Poor design, you might as well have a lava lamp plugged in in it's place...more bubble reach the top. :lol: Many reefers have good equipment for sale here, and read what others are using with success.

2) Lighting: I count about 360 watts on your 180 gal reef. I would look to add more lighting...maybe some vho's. I've seen used Ice Cap ballasts go pretty inexpensively here, and they last many many years. I had (4) 95 watt 36" bulbs on my 50 gal reef before moving to a 150 gal with halide and vho. My tank is only 4 feet wide, and I'm running about 800 watts.

3) Water flow: Many people are going to closed loop systems to increase water flow 5000+ gal/hr without the water going thru the sump. Your limitations would be trying to drill holes into your glass tank for bulkheads. So, plan B would be to add random flow from either side of your tank, underneath, and from the rear using better large volume power heads like a Vortex pump, Seio or Tunze.

4) Reef Base Rock: If this is lava rock, get rid of it and replace it with quality live rock. Aquascaping to make sure there are a lot of openings for water flow in and around your reef. You can drill into rock and epoxy pvc fittings in between two separate rocks to create overhangs etc.

5) Keep reading as much as you can. This is an excellent site, and you can also look here for great info that has just Q&A from people like you asking a very experienced and knowledgable group of folks who give answers to everyone who writes in with a question. The database of info is vast, but easily searchable. In fact I would suggest using the search tool first so you don't write a question that's posted on their FAQ's. This one site helped me through the tough times, and led me in the right direction.

www.wetwebmedia.com

Hope this helps

 

[mud1059]

I appreciate the help. This is exactly what I was looking for. I got to see some T5s today for the first time. They're much better than I originally thought. It's quite a tossup now. I like the T5s because of the whole heat issue.

I'll certainly fill in the blanks here shortly however I'm running a bit late to work. Thanks for your folks' time, I really do appreciate the input.

 

[jnarowe]

Careful about the T5s. I have an 8 lamp T5 array and it gets REALLY hot. The glass is over 180F...

 

[dhnguyen]

What kind of siphon overflow is it? What is its gph rating? Hopefully not the CPR C style overflow. Properly setup, an u tube siphon overflow will function well and never overflow--no pun intended

For flow, you can use Hydor Koralia, Vortech, Tunze, Seio, or on the cheap MJ mods. I tend tyo shy away from closed loop as it requires a powerful ump to run and isn't all that efficient.

I would opt for a better skimmer as well. But for now what you can do is mod the pump into a mesh wheel and it will improve the skimmer's performance greatly.

For the corals that you keep, your lighting is fine but if you want and LPS and SPS, then I would suggest upgrading to HM or T5HO.


Damsels...grrrrr.... I HATE thos little F***ers. Try using a fish trap. Even knew someone once who used a fishing rod to catch them :lol:

 

[mud1059]

Well, because $$ is an issue, I installed another 2 ballasts with 4 more 65W PCs. I just had them around, otherwise I wouldn't have. Also note, I'm only running the lights on 2/3 of the tank. The right side is the "deepsea" area until I can afford to light it and fill it with LR

I have collected 3 400W MH ballasts recently I spent $20 on. Now it's all a matter of collecting the rest of the materials, putting things together and talking myself out of a canopy.

This last week I got my Seio 1500s in. On sale of course for $120 for the two of them.

Last night I did my first water change to the system, I used my fancy new RO/DI filter. Yes, I tossed the first 20 gallons!

And finally - I'm not too picky on what types of coral I'll be keeping in my tank just yet. I obviously want a stable system - which it's not in my opinion. The more automated I can make it, the better. I lead a semi hectic life with two munchkins and my 4x4 hobby. I would like for the tank to be setup for SPS which I understand is less forgiving/more demanding. However I am keeping my options open to the best of my ability. I'm really looking to keep a variety of corals I find "pretty" or fascinating. Sorry folks, but some are downright boring

On a final note, the overflow is NOW working properly. I had the tankside bucket too low and not catching the debris like it should. I haven't had a flood yet, but only because I've been lucky to not have too much water in my fuge when dinking with the U tubes. I DO see the potential though...

Thanks again for all of your input. If you see me going in the wrong direction anywhere, please speak up! I only get a certain amount of time I can dedicate to sponging more info for my newest love. There's a lot of info to be learned!

 

[OmarD]

...can't sleep

From this months ReefKeeping : Top Ten Reasons Why Reefkeepers Never Sleep or Top Ten Reasons Why Sleepers Never Reef...

I have thought of moving bed to living room where tank is, so I don't have to get out of it to check on tank.