Setting up 125 Gal Reef

[manodano26]

Originally Posted by D.J.

iget off at 430 tomorrow but close for the next few weeks.....but im off this comin tuesday

Hey DJ, Tuesday would work for me my number is 715-864-4568 if I dont answer leave me a message otherwise tomm after you get done could work out too! Thanks again Dan.

[Timmy]

You can use the canister filter if you want. I have been using the same rena xp2 for two and half years now with no problem. A overflow box and a sump would be better. Since you already have the canister filter you might as well use it. The renas are easy to clean so just do small water changes weekly and it will serve you well.
If you have enough live rock you wouldn't even need the canister filter just a good skimmer.
As for the reef test kits they kind of are a waste. I think they come with ph, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia. If you observe your tank you really shouldn't need most of these. Since my tank has been established nitrites have been zero ammonia been zero, and the only time nitrates been high is when I do something stupid. (which isn't to often) For a reef tank I think you should test for is calcium, alk, and magnesium. Don't get me wrong when I first started I got the master kit as well. It will let you know your tank has cycled. Over the years I have picke up the random phosphate or nitrate test kit, but if you don't have an aglae issue you really shoudn't have to worry about it.

[ReefLuvR]

Thanks for chiming in on this one Tim. I knew you were running a canister, but I thought you were pulling it in favor of a skimmer? Are you having issues with it? Or are you doing the fuzzy stick thing? I know that when you get into the SPS corals, crystal clear water quality seems to be the preference.

Dan, in an effort to save on $$, use your dip strips to follow your cycle. But be diligent about it. Write down your readings and follow the peak of ammonia, then the nitrite peak. Once the nitrite drops (and I think you'll be able to see this with the strips), your nitrates will come up and you can do your first waterchange.

I wouldn't use damsels for the cycle. First off, it's stressful as heck on fish, which is why you'd only use cheap ones. So really, it's a bit cruel. (yeah I know, they're just fish!) Second, in a 125 they will be a PITA to catch. And you WILL want to catch them. Unless you're going for the more aggressive reef fishes, you'll most likely have trouble with them. They don't call them devil fish for nothin!

Go to the grocery store and buy a couple uncooked shrimp. Toss 'em in and watch for your ammonia cycle to start. Be prepared for a little stink, but I promise, it's the most efficient way to really start the cycle. Once your nitrites come up, you can pull the shrimp. One hint, put the shrimp in a nylon stocking. The shrimp will be rotting, which is what starts the cycle. This makes it MUCH easier to get them out.

As for sand, you may want to wait to seed yours from DJ. Your cycle may just kill off the beneficial critters in it. You can get some from me, too.

I'm in Eau Claire, too, so if you want to come check out my system, you're more than welcome to. Keep us posted!

Jennifer

[diggler]

I would drill for 10$ I have 1 1/2 and 2 inch bits. Dj you can make overflow or bulk reek supply sells them.

[schneijt]

Tim, how often do you change the media in your Rena? If you're not changing it every few days, I'm wondering how you keep nitrates in check. So either you change it frequently or you have a lot of biological filtration keeping the nitrates low.

Dan, I'm still not too big on the canister filter. If it works for someone, that's great, but I think you'll discover that it's a pain to constantly be changing out the media, and that protein skimming and water changes are faaaaaaaaaaaaar better at removing organics from your water than carbon or any other filter media in the Rena. Since you already have it, it doesn't hurt to use it. But just remember that it's something you need to maintain well, and that in rather short order you'll probably move on to a sump with a protein skimmer, or a good hang-on skimmer.

Also, please let us know when you're choosing a skimmer model. A good skimmer is worth it's weight in gold, and there are many out there that look fancy and nice, but really suck at actually skimming. So, we'll help make sure you get a dang good skimmer the first time, so that you don't end up like us and buy a Prizm or something else crappy and then have to upgrade (aka more money) later...

Also, you're free to come see my tank or get a bit of sand from me or whatever anytime you'd like.

-Joe

[manodano26]

Hello to Jen and Joe. We would love to come take a look a your setups. I really like your stand jen and your reef looks great! Just let us know when a good time would be for you guys as once again we are not working do to a car accident. So just let me know. You can just give me a call at (715)-864-4568. Thanks again Dan and Amanda!

[D.J.]

sorry dan had a company picnic tonite i totally forgot about......tyesday would be great..give me a call when your free....715-579-7237....

[Timmy]

I do run a protein skimmer on my tank. I clean the canister every week. I just rinse the pads and media bags out. Right now I have some dry cooking in the kitchen. When I add that to the tank my plan is to ditch the canister filter. Maybe run a phospahte reactor with 50/50 mix of carbon and phosphate remover.(seagel)
I just think if they already bought the canister filter they might as well use it. (with a protein skimmer).

[schneijt]

Where do you live in EC? You're free to come over and see my tank anytime I'm home, which is usually weekday evenings and most of the time on the weekend. I live on the south side of town.

-Joe

[schneijt]

Tim,

I wonder if you could use the canister filter to run your GFO. Is that what Seagel is, just GFO? (Dan, GFO is a type of chemical solid that many of us use on our tanks to remove phosphates that can slowly build up over time. It comes in tiny little grains or larger "pellets" from companies such as bulkreefsupply.com)

As long as you were using the larger, coarser type of GFO, the higher flow of a canister filter shouldn't pulverize it too much. And as long as you've got a filter sock or really aggressive protein skimmer to keep solids from getting stuck in it, it should work just about as well as a phosphate reactor... Just a thought, since it'd be cool if you could somehow modify your canister filter to hold the phosphate media and save you the $$ of buying a dedicated phosphate reactor.

-Joe

[manodano26]

Originally Posted by schneijt

Where do you live in EC? You're free to come over and see my tank anytime I'm home, which is usually weekday evenings and most of the time on the weekend. I live on the south side of town.

-Joe

We live over on the north side and are pretty much available anytime. Just give me a call 715-864-4568 and we can set something up thanks again Dan and Amanda.

[ReefLuvR]

HI Dan and Amanda,

You like my stand? Oh, I'm wondering now if my old tank pics are still up. I'll go check. My tank now is a 90 (the old one was a 125) and my stand is just a two-by-four frame right now. LOL

I too, am on the northside, right by Gordy's off Birch Street. I'll be home Tues & Weds after 6pm if you want to stop by.

Jen

[D.J.]

ya know jen i can build a NICE stand for ya!!!!! LOL

hey dan give me a call tomorrow anytime....ill be here....might be makin frags so if i dont answer right away ill call you right back....

if i only had buyers for the goni

[ReefLuvR]

Oh you stinker. If you're fraggin that Goniapora, I had BETTER be on the list. Remember, I know where you live!!

[D.J.]

ya you and about 5 other people!!! IM GONA BE RICH!!!! LMAO...or at least ill have some gas money!!!!!!!

once i get things fragged ill make a post.......good thing i done it for the meetin
SORRY FOR THREAD HIJACKIN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

you can run a sump and still use that canister as well.......i seen a setup on another site where the guy was runnin a 150g with a 55g sump and his pumps where to 2 fx5 canisters emptied of media.....the worked like external pumps....i wouldnt recomend it without know what your flow rate is on the canister and on the overflow box you would have to use so you dont over power the canister pump....just a thought....

not sure what his flow rate was or anything but im sure it wasnt very high.....although on my 75g i ran a magnum350pro and i had nice flow.....just sand kept eating it up......

ive had water just as clear and pure with runnin backpacks on my 30g,40g,55g, and 75g as people get with sump setups.....like it was said the trick is a good skimmer.........