BB start-up questions

[electricbluelizzy]

I'm hoping to create a BB SPS tank out of my empty 75 Gall RR AGA. I have a 55g sump.

The display is drilled for a CLS, powered by two Velocity T-4 pumps, run in opposing directions, which I may run full out, or in a tidal sequence, depending on what you wild people think. Each output for the CLS will have the locline y's with two lil snaky pieces so I can point them around.

The sump return is a Mag 9.5, which I may just dump in to the tank, or possibly rig myself one of those nifty calfo manifolds, I'm just not sure that pump pushes enough to make it really work well.

So the first major questions is, Do you think that will be enough flow? I realize as my corals grow out, etc, I may have to supplement, and ideally I'll probably get the OM product someday. I am 100% against PH's, so I'm not really wild about the tunze streams b/c I think they are ugly. But hey, if you gotta have 'em, you gotta have 'em.

Second - If I am ordering all new LR, do I still need to cook, and would that just be sort of an extending curing process if I decide to go that way.

Third - lighting will be 2 250w MH lights, 10,000K, and 110 W actinics...

Whaddy'all think? Am i on the right track?

[drock59]

I would say that is enough flow. Maybe consider a dart instead. Give you the same flow as two T4's without the heat. I just put one on my 75 BB and it is glorious.

I didint cook my rocks when i switched over. With a ton of flow and new rocks it shouldnt be that big of an issue.

Lighting is fine.

[NoSchwag]

IMO you are very caught up with flow.

How do you plan on cleaning the dirty water that will be blowing all over your sps corals, what's your export method??

[electricbluelizzy]

Thanx drock! Yeah, you're prolly right about the pumps, and I will upgrade those someday... but I own the V-T4's, and I'd have to buy the darts, so I'm hoping I can get away w. those for a while...

Any opinion on running those two in opposition full time, or whether I should run one, say 6 hours, then the other, 6 hours, with ya know maybe 30-45 min of overlap? I dunno. prolly will just play with it and see what looks good.

Good news about the rocks & lights....

Your'e the best! Thank you!

[drock59]

I would run both pumps and u are not too caught up with flow. Flow is VERY important in a BB. You do not want anything settling on the bottom to decompose.

You are on the right track, now get yourself a good skimmer and skim wet.

[NoSchwag]

drock.. so you think it's better to have a ton of flow and have the stuff floating around HOPING that your skimmer removes it, than to have it settle in a pile for easier shiponing??

[electricbluelizzy]

Got a skimmer... Euroreef--I can't remember now.... I think it is a CS-6. If it can't hang I think I will DIY a second one... Oh BTW, the tank is in the wall with a fish room behind it, so nothing has to be pretty

Noschwagg- thanks for chiming in, man... awfully nice of you. Maybe I AM too caught up. I don't really have a frame of reference here so I needed to ask a question particularly about flow. That's the part I don't really understand - so I guess y'all will have to deal with my ignorance The rest is all basic science & chemistry. You can learn that stuff from a book. The flow part takes actual experience, and I am lacking. I appreciate the input, though.

I think I want to skim out as much as possible. HOWEVER - I think it would be great to have it all settle out into a little pile so I can siphon that bad boy... I'm hoping I can play with the locline and have that happen.

But I wonder, if you want randomized flow for all the coral, then wouldn't it be a bad thing to have an established flow pattern that spun all your detritus into one little pile? I dunno, I see that one both ways....

Thanks for all the help

[electricbluelizzy]

Do you think my skimmer is undersized?

Other than wet skimming, what other options do you have, really, for nutrient export? And what methods do you use to combat the inevitable SG swing?

For nutrient export, you can run carbon, filter socks/siphon, water change regimen, basic hygeine stuff....

I am under the impression that a macroalgae harvest really wouldn't work 'cuz hopefully there shouldn't be enough nutrients to grow them..

I'm kind of on the fence when it comes to ozone.... Haven't really decided if that is necessary or not, and I probably wouldn't run it all the time. I'm not that well educated there.

Filter-floss, bio-media, doesn't that work against all the principles of a BB tank? (well, that might not be TOTALLY true, but I think you get the idea)

What am I missing?

[NoSchwag]

Originally Posted by electricbluelizzy

But I wonder, if you want randomized flow for all the coral, then wouldn't it be a bad thing to have an established flow pattern that spun all your detritus into one little pile? I dunno, I see that one both ways....

Me personally, I have my penductors on locline with ball valves.. When I close or open one it creates a different pattern of flow. Once a pile forms (usually 2 days) then I switch the flow and do it all over again.

[NoSchwag]

Do you think my skimmer is undersized?

Not sure. You'll be able to tell real quick by the amount of stuff floating in your tank. My opinion is that it's the wrong type of skimmer to effectivley wet skim.

Other than wet skimming, what other options do you have, really, for nutrient export? And what methods do you use to combat the inevitable SG swing?

I only use wet skimming but some other people use filter socks that need to be changed often. The SG swing isn't that bad. I have 2 brutes, 1 for asw for skimmate replacement, and 1 with ro/di for evaporation. I don't like using float switches so I do it manually.

[three90s&125sump]

I thought I would be ok with my CLS but as it turns out i will be redrilling my tank or placing some Seios in it. I hate PH too so its a tough call. If you think you have enough flow for your tank double it.

[gman0526]

FWIW, is more a matter of how well is that flow distributed than the amount of flow itself. You could have a turnover of 1000x and if you only get 10% of the crap over your OF to be removed, you're not doing anything with all that flow.