Newbie to the reef world help

[phiberop840]

I just posted a tank spec and I have some Questions on skimmers and any ideas or suggestions that anyone may have for me while i convert from FO to Reef.

what is a good skimmr that i can put under my tank since i have no room up top?

Is my lighting adequate? I was thinking about getting an actinic and keeping one 50/50 and one regular.

THanks and here is the link to my specs.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...662#post511662

[tims]

slowly going reef tank specs here

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well I had a fish only for 2 years and managed to do very well with that. I guess i am new to the reef setup but excited too. need to learn alot and will probably ask a ton of questions.

Here is my setup.

75 gallon bow front glass wood grain
2 emperor 400 need to look at live rock and a good skimmer
1 powerhead is okay but can added to or changed to CLS
digital heater
2 50/50 t8 bulbs and one regular not bad
1 seaclone skimmer that i am about to throw out the window.yup!

15 lbs of figi LR increase to 1 - 1.5 LBS per gallon
4 percula clowns
1 cleaner shrimp
2 zebra damsels
1 goby
1 peppermint shrimp
1 crab
2 anemones
some fake decor remove

Everything seems to be doing well i guess i am looking for some suggestions on what i could maybe do to make this setup better. I do need a better skimmer situation. Do they make a skimmer that i can put under my tank and keep the 400s up top.

Thank you all for the input and ideas.


you have add a lot more LR, agreat a better skimmer, you can look at some of the sponors here , make sure the LR is fully cured before you put it in the tank.
and Welcome to TRT!

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT I think Tim helped you!

[VWD]

WELCOME!


You can start off Like Tim said with more live rock, Make sure it is cured before adding to display tank. and you already have the 2 anemones, If so what kind?

[skeety]

Tim's advice is dead on.


The key to a successful reef tank starts with 2 main things:

Sufficient Live Rock and the best skimmer you can afford!

Welcome to TRT, very glad to have you with us!

Keep us posted, and please feel free to ask more questions!!

[tims]

if you have not read this take a look, this may also help answer a few questions that are still in your head..

[phiberop840]

I decided to get another 30 lbs of live rock and got my stupid Sea Clone 100 running efficiently. I dont have the funds for all the sumps and plumbing for this tank and I do believe that the 400s, powerhead and skimmer should do the trick. I am slowly removing the fake decor and will be adding another 50 lbs of LR for a total of 100 Lbs in a 75 gallon tank.

I also think that for lighting i am going to get a T8 actinic and keep one 50/50 and one regular bulb. I may invest in a moonlight. Do you think that would be a good thing to add. I currently have the lights on a timer for about 11 hours.

Well any input would be great and lets see what happens from here. I will post pictures if all goes well. Thanks for the help and advise.

[tims]

as far as your lighting, what do you want to keep in the tank? who and what will determine the lighting needed... can't get away from that one..
that skimmer is not really that good at all, you can do a DIY skimmer also.just need a pump for it.
the moonlights are a thing that goes back and forth, unless they follow the real moon and its cycle, it is nothing then a bit of a "night light" for the tank. if you are a DIY person you can also make them your self.. there are a few companies out there that have some nice set up including timers..
Keep an eye on your parameters as you add the next set of LR to the tank, you dont want a "mini" cycle happening .....
where do you see your tank in 6 months?

[skeety]

Originally Posted by phiberop840

I am slowly removing the fake decor and will be adding another 50 lbs of LR for a total of 100 Lbs in a 75 gallon tank.

Tim touched on it, but I want to stress it some more. If you have fish/critters in your tank currently, do NOT add the new live rock directly to your display tank.

You probably already know...but just in case, Live rock, if out of water for more than 5 minutes, will have some die off. How long OVER 5 minutes determines how much die off. Transfer from your LFS to your house will probably cause enough die-off to start a considerable cycle over again.

Get a rubbermaind tub, air-stone or dinky powerhead, and heater and fill it up with SW and your new LR. Wait a couple week, test your water. If it's still in the middle of a cycle, wait a few weeks more. THEN add it to your display.

Like I said, I'm sure you already knew that...but I'd rather be safe than sorry, and reiterate.

As for what you have and don't have. Want, and can't get yet. Welcome to reef keeping. No matter WHAT you add/build/do to you're tank, you will ALWAYS still have a to do/buy list. And will constantly be upgrading/building/adding/etc. Take a picture of your checkbook now. Cause it will never look the same again! hahahah