Converting from fish only to reef

[dundeels]

Hi All,
I was under the impression that it would not be very difficult to simply "switch" my tank from a fish only tank to a reef tank. After educating myself on this forum a bit, I'm starting to think it just ain't that easy. I've got a 54 gallon corner tank with white crushed coral in the bottom. It was used by the last owner as fish only, and I am COMPLETELY starting this tank over. As of right now, I have zero live rock in the tank. My local fish store suggested that I use starter damsals to run the nitrogen cycle, so that's what I purchased, two of them. About 14 days ago.
However, I just added about 27 lbs of dead rock from the Marshall Islands. Looks nice in the tank with the damsals. One of my close friends gave me about 9-10 lbs of very nice live rock, but it had the hair algae on it. So, I'm cooking it for a couple of months as described in these forums. When this is done, I'm hoping that adding this rock to the tank will "seed" my dead rock and get me bunches of live rock at a very nice price. I'm thinking that my nitrogen cycle will probably be done before I ever even get this rock into the tank.
My hopes for this tank are to take the top and "basic" flourescent light off and put a 250 watt metal halide pendant hanging over it. Then all the beautiful stuff that goes along with a reef tank. I'm reading that bio balls are not the best thing for reef tanks, but that's what I'm currently running in my 75 Wet/Dry. Can anyone suggest what I should do if I want to steer this tank in the direction of a reef? Thanks for the advice and sorry for the length of this post, just many many questions.....

Jerry

[rdaled]

I also am fairly new and started with CC (crushed coral). Many suggested I remove it though due to various reasons. One being that it traps detritus and is hard to clean.

HTH

[leveldrummer]

before you get too far, i would go ahead and pull the tank back apart, you have your live rock cooking. (which is also cycling it) and your dead rock will stay dead, you dont need the damsels, and unless you plan to keep them, i would go ahead and return them. the live rock will cycle the tank instantly when you put it in after cooking it. and while you have it apart, trash the crushed coral for the reason mentioned above. if your wetdry has bio balls, go ahead and dump those too, they are great for fish only, but in a reef arent nessesary and can cause damage. and start looking for a good skimmer while your rock is cooking. and your off to a great start. hope this helps and ask all the questions you cna think of.

[pyron88]

I'm switching a 55g. I have part sand, part crushed coral. When it was fish/rock I had plain crushed coral. I had a cpr bac pac for the tank already so I still have it. Works but not as well as I think I need. If your bow has a center brace you might want to rethink the one light idea because of the shadow it will make. I'm working on the sump/ refugum thing now. Basement version or tank under tank thing. Next DIY project is a closed loop. Do I get a squid or no?? Most of the people who recomend against squids have larger tanks and are concerned about flow loss. It's not as bad on a smaller tank. If I used the flow these guys do in threir 110's and up, I would need a net to catch the stuff flying out of it. Allways keep in mind the size of the tank you are working with. Where some people need 1500gph, in a 54g you probably would not. I have been keeping salt fish since 1980. I'm just now doing my first reef mix so I have learned a lot about carring for fish, don't know much about coral. This site is really a great place to learn from others victories and failures.

[Geoff]

do you have a skimmer? is that 75 wet/dry one of those combo units with a skimmer in it. you will prolly want to upgrade the skimmer for a reef system.

the lighting sounds great, as long as there is not a center brace blocking the light.

i would also get rid of the CC substrate and go with an aragonite one.

G~

[pyron88]

Originally Posted by pyron88

I'm switching a 55g. I have part sand, part crushed coral. When it was fish/rock I had plain crushed coral. I had a cpr bac pac for the tank already so I still have it. Works but not as well as I think I need. If your bow has a center brace you might want to rethink the one light idea because of the shadow it will make. I'm working on the sump/ refugum thing now. Basement version or tank under tank thing. Next DIY project is a closed loop. Do I get a squid or no?? Most of the people who recomend against squids have larger tanks and are concerned about flow loss. It's not as bad on a smaller tank. If I used the flow these guys do in threir 110's and up, I would need a net to catch the stuff flying out of it. Allways keep in mind the size of the tank you are working with. Where some people need 1500gph, in a 54g you probably would not. I have been keeping salt fish since 1980. I'm just now doing my first reef mix so I have learned a lot about carring for fish, don't know much about coral. This site is really a great place to learn from others victories and failures.

I have Aragonite not cc.

[dundeels]

Yes, forgot to mention, I do have a protein skimmer. It is a rather large one that sits down in my sump and appears to be bringing a bunch of stuff up into the cup into the top. I have no idea of the brand but it stands at least 18" tall. You guys really think that it would be a good idea to get rid of the crushed coral? I'll go ahead and do that if necessary.... Live Sand instead? I was planning on adding the live rock in about 2 months when it is done cooking, if that is not too late. Don't want the clock to run against me on this one..... Would it be acceptable to add live sand to the crushed coral? There is no cross bar on this tank, the top is wide open, so adding a light would not be a problem. Thoughts?...... Thanks!

[pyron88]

The sand and or aragonite act as a buffer. I'm not sure on CC. It depends, if your rock is cured or not. It could start the tank cycling again. Certain Gobies likee to live in holes they dig. If the sand is to fine they can't dig a hole that will stay open.

[Geoff]

remove the CC. do not worry about LS, not worth it. the LR will populate the sand just fine.

find yourself some white sand that dissolves in vinegar. this is aragonite. you can find it at Wal-Mart and other places. it needs to dissolve in vinegar.

G~

[skeety]

Great advice so far.

Just wanted to chime in that I used to be one of the few who argued FOR CC...but I've recently changed my opinions on it.

It's not so much that it traps detrius (not very dense, so fish poop/etc falls down into it easily)...as that can be vacumed out, but more that the detrius it traps leaks phosphates which with a CC substrate can EASILY float back up and into your water. With a sand bed, these phosphates get trapped better, until you vacumn.

Also, Damsels are pretty, but extremely aggressive and super territorial. Take them back. Otherwise, when you go to add other fish later, the damsels will pretty much beat the crap out of them.

And better to do it now, then later on when you're tank's all set up, and after a couple hours, you get fed up and have to tear the tank apart just to catch them.

Just a FYI on that.

For a reef, all you really need is Good lighting, a good skimmer, and a sufficient amount of live rock (roughly ~1 lb/gal).

Good luck, keep us posted, and show us some pics!!!!!

[abigtroutt]

Dundeels Welcome I also have a 54 gallon corner tank and I love mine. I agree with all of the above.

No bio balls and C/C...as for the damsels, thats a hard one. No one wants to look at a tank full or rock only so the LFS sells Damsels because they are a hard fish to kill and are the only few that can handle the ammonia cycle that still burns their gills and can permanently harm the fish. So that choice is up to you..plus you already own them, but if you keep them it will be heck to remove later!

Here are a few picks of my 54..