Moving to a new cube tank

[fade2black]

I didn't get much feedback on the "other" reef forum and this place looks a lot more friendly.

Here was my post (with some edits):

I am replacing my current tank with a bigger one and plan to go BB. My current tank is 50G and is about 4 1/2 years old and is having the dreaded algae problems, probably due to the age of the DSB. So to cure this, I am replacing the tank and adding a few new things (also the wife wanted to paint the room, so it was a good excuse to build a new tank.

Anyway, the new tank is a 70G acrylic cube (26x26x25) with an external overflow on a corner stand (for more room under the tank). I will be running a closed loop with a Blueline 1100 through an OM super squirt. Lighting is a 24" Aqualight Pro. 250W 10,000k HQI with (2) 96W PC actinic and moonlights. Return pump is a Blueline 800. So I think I will have good, random flow.

My questions are:

1. I currently have a Euro-Reef ES 5-2 skimmer. I'm not sure this will be sufficient. My options are to add another skimmer and run two (like an ASM G3), or sell the Euroreef and go with something like the AquaC EV-120 or 180. Or, I can just build a beckett skimmer and save some cash. Looking for some feedback on this option. I will have about 30" under the stand, but the footprint should be as small as possible.

2. I am currently building a calcium reactor and already have a kalk reactor on my current tank. Any problems running both? Seems like a lot of people run both these days to minimize pH fluctuations.

3. I am currently cooking all the rock that I can. I have a few rocks that have some large SPS corals attached to them and a rock that has a clam attached. What do you guys do about those rocks? I would rather not remove the coral as a couple are about 3 years old.

[updates]
I have pretty much eliminated the Beckett skimmers as I won't have the room under the tank, so a needlewheel is what I want to go with.

Any help (especially #3) would be nice.

I think I'll hang out over here now.

[gwen_o_lyn]

Welcome to TRT!!

[gman0526]

I can "help" with #3... You either chip them off the rock or don't cook those rocks. Pretty much no other options there. I run 2 skimmers and you'd be surprise dof how much crap one skimmer misses that the other picks up. I think the G3 would be good as a second skimmer.

BTW welcome to TRT

[NoSchwag]

fade you can just not cook those rocks if you want. Just blast them out with a turky baster often.

You might have all sorts of algea on them for awhile, just keep up with blowing them out.

[fade2black]

Thanks, that is what I was thinking, just wanted to hear it from someone with experience. Hopefully I will get the stand done in the next few days and then finish up the plumbing and do the big water/leak test.

[elephen]

I would sell the current ER and go with a recirc NW. They just seem to work better IME.

You can run both a CA and Kalk reactor at the same time. As the CA reactor will tend to lower your pH your kalk reactor will raise your pH.

[fade2black]

I have looked into that as well. I was reading all the threads on modding the ASM. I can convert it to a recirculating NW and feed it with my overflow. I just can't make up my mind what I want to do.

[elephen]

If it was me, that is what I would do.

That way any detritius or organics go directly in the skimmer without getting a chance to setting in your sump first... That way ALL your water has to pass through the skimmer first making your skimmer more efficient.

[VWD]

Welcome to TRT!!

[fade2black]

Thanks for all the replies! I had more help here in the past 12 hours than I had in 2 weeks with this post on that other site!