noob questions...

[[H]ealer]

This is my first post here, so here's a big shout out to everyone. I have needed help for quite some time with my 65 gallon reef and I finally found this forum so here goes:

1. I've been through 4 skimmers with this tank ETS Reef Devil first that I actually liked but it required a huge pump to run well and then I dropped and broke it. Then a Turbofloater 1000. It just never gave me any skimmate. Then a Coralife 125 SS. It would run well for a week and then overflow and dump a few gallons of water on the floor.

Now I've had the Euro-Reef RS80 and it's certainly the best of the bunch. Very quiet, no bubbles in the tank and it's easy to adjust and clean. If anyone has this skimmer or similar can you tell me the water/bubble level for best efficiency?

2. I know that I need more flow. I've got a weak Eheim to recirculate from the sump (got a new one just need to replumb). I know that the new Eheim will help. There are two maxi jet 450 PH's to help with flow in the tank. They don't do much and I'm contantly repositioning them as the suction cups break loose. After the new Eheim is in I'd like to add new PH's. I like the look of the new Tunze 6025. Does anyone know if these are good or have a suggestion?

3. I'm intested in a deeper sand bed. I have just about a half inch of live sand, but it's now bare in many places. Every water change (8 gallons 1xweekly) I have to vacuum the sand and loose some in the process. Any reason that I can't have a 3-4 inch sand bed?

4. Ball bearing algae!! Don't know the scientific name but this is my nemesis. I've carefully removed it and tried adding emerald crabs, but I'm loosing this battle. Please help.

5. I feed my four fish and one cleaner shrimp every other day. Is that about right?

6. I bought some pumping Xenia about a year ago. I now covers a third of the tank. It does look cool and carries a big wow factor for visitors. But I've lost some softies to it. What the best way to keep it under control?


The tank has been set up for about two years. There are about a dozen soft corals in the tank and 75 lbs. of live rock. Coralife PC for lighting . 65 gallons.

Sorry to go on and on but I've had a lot of questions.

Thanks in advance for the replies...

[theplatypus]

Welcome to TRT.
Just noticed another Atlantan. whoot!


Bubble algae, don't pop the little bubbles in your tank.
You can pull some of the Xenia by hand and trade it or give it away.
YOu could feed your fish even less if you would like.
Sure you can add a dsb if you would like.
Tunze is great company.

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT!!

[[H]ealer]

How stressful is it on the tank to drain it and add the new sand? Or could I just add the sand as is. I would be able to get to some areas. Draining the tank would allow me to add the sump that I've been planning (new sump is too big to go through the doors and would have to go through the top of the sand.

Thanks for the welcome!

PS...how do you post pictures here?

[TheReefer12]

Welcome to TRT. The tunze should work fine for that size tank. The feeding sounds ok, I feed once a day. The best way to keep your xenia under control is thinning it out evey now and then.

[theplatypus]

Originally Posted by [H]ealer

How stressful is it on the tank to drain it and add the new sand? Or could I just add the sand as is. I would be able to get to some areas. Draining the tank would allow me to add the sump that I've been planning (new sump is too big to go through the doors and would have to go through the top of the sand.

Thanks for the welcome!

PS...how do you post pictures here?

Draining isn't a problem if you can keep everything in water with heat and circulation while you work. Get a couple of rubbermaid tubs or new trashcans.

Upload them to the gallery here. There's a link up at the top of the page. Copy the address of the pic then use ([img]) ([/img]) without the ()

[[H]ealer]

Sorry, but how do you "thin" it out?

[partobe]

First of welcome to TRT!!
Allot of folks around here have no sand at all in their tanks. I have a ssb and have thought about going bare bottom as well. So before you add more sand let some of the more experienced reefers chime in.
Why dont you try to trade some of your xenia for sieos or other flow pumps of your choice. Just a thought.

[know-it-all]

Originally Posted by [H]ealer

This is my first post here, so here's a big shout out to everyone. I have needed help for quite some time with my 65 gallon reef and I finally found this forum so here goes

Welcome, the first one is always the hardest

1. I've been through 4 skimmers with this tank ETS Reef Devil first that I actually liked but it required a huge pump to run well and then I dropped and broke it. Then a Turbofloater 1000. It just never gave me any skimmate. Then a Coralife 125 SS. It would run well for a week and then overflow and dump a few gallons of water on the floor.

Now I've had the Euro-Reef RS80 and it's certainly the best of the bunch. Very quiet, no bubbles in the tank and it's easy to adjust and clean. If anyone has this skimmer or similar can you tell me the water/bubble level for best efficiency?

personal preference and 2 variables
1. it will depend on your water level in the sump,
the more constant that is, the more fine tuned you can get your skimmer

2. if you like to run dry or wet (the consistancy of the skamate)

2. I know that I need more flow. I've got a weak Eheim to recirculate from
the sump (got a new one just need to replumb). I know that the new Eheim will help. There are two maxi jet 450 PH's to help with flow in the tank. They don't do much and I'm contantly repositioning them as the suction cups break loose. After the new Eheim is in I'd like to add new PH's. I like the look of the new Tunze 6025. Does anyone know if these are good or have a suggestion?

ehiem like canister filter, don't on a reef
yes, more flow is better IMO, but I have seio's
I'm sure someone with the tunzes will be able to chime in to help out with that

3. I'm intested in a deeper sand bed. I have just about a half inch of live sand, but it's now bare in many places. Every water change (8 gallons 1xweekly) I have to vacuum the sand and loose some in the process. Any reason that I can't have a 3-4 inch sand bed?

again, personal preference
i like a 1" sand bed, but I have a pistl shrimp that will steal the sand
from the rest of the tank and make 1 big pile.

4. Ball bearing algae!! Don't know the scientific name but this is my nemesis. I've carefully removed it and tried adding emerald crabs, but I'm loosing this battle. Please help.

during a water change, pick them off with your finger and suck them out ASAP

if you can pull the rocks out of the tank, do that and scrubb the bubble algea off in a bucket
never in the main tank

5. I feed my four fish and one cleaner shrimp every other day. Is that about right?

are they skinny?
if so, feed more
if not, yes

6. I bought some pumping Xenia about a year ago. I now covers a third of the tank. It does look cool and carries a big wow factor for visitors. But I've lost some softies to it. What the best way to keep it under control?

not put it in your tank

OK, serously
you can Joe's Juice it in the areas you don't want it
or cover it with a shell, to smother it

The tank has been set up for about two years. There are about a dozen soft corals in the tank and 75 lbs. of live rock. Coralife PC for lighting . 65 gallons.

Sorry to go on and on but I've had a lot of questions.

Thanks in advance for the replies...

no problem

[[H]ealer]

Thanks guys!!

Also, what about additives? I don't do any really...I figure that with weekly wc that I'm okay. True?

[know-it-all]

pretty much

[ScruffyRubicon]

Welcome to TRT! Sounds like you got lots of good advise above, as is normal here.

[theplatypus]

Originally Posted by [H]ealer

Thanks guys!!

Also, what about additives? I don't do any really...I figure that with weekly wc that I'm okay. True?

For the most part that is true. If you haven't done so already you might want to look into a means for maintaining Ph. If/when you start getting into sps/lps and clams alk and ca will have to be monitored/maintained as well.

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



G~

[[H]ealer]

Thanks again everyone...what a great community of support that you have here!

How about if I post some pics of my tank and setup and leave it open for comments and suggestions? (be nice though)