repost of system critique request

underwaterreefer · 05-31-2003, 02:01 AM

unfortunately i switch lfss while in the process of setting up my 50 gal reef to be. as a result i think i am employing a mixed bag of techniques and methodology. could anybody please help me out and point me in the right direction as far as changes and modifications

*50gal 3' tank w/ 20gal trickle/sump below
*filter floss->bioballs->carbon->return pump
*diy skimmer on the way
*70 lb of cured lr ~2" argonite sguar sized+20 lb aragalive sand
*amonia and nitrite undetectable and nitrate at <25 mg/l
*2 small chromis' and 2 small false percs
*10gal refugium to be plumbed beside the tank

tank is 3 weeks old and experiencing its first major brownslime algae growth. ive read previous threads until my eyes dryed out, but am still unclear as to the "properness" of my system.

underwaterreefer · 05-31-2003, 02:06 AM

i am at a loss as far as what to put in the fuge, some say dsb, others miricle mud. some say calpera(sp) but others say its a no no. i would mostly like to use it as a natural denitrifier

Doug1 · 05-31-2003, 02:53 AM

with LR the bio balls are redundant. the tank is new, give it a while to settle down

ReefDave · 05-31-2003, 02:58 AM

I agree with Doug the bio balls and filter floss aren't needed. Your live rock does the same job and a much better job at that. Sounds like your tank isn't too far off...what kind of lighting do you have/planning, what are you planning to keep (coral/inverts/animals?)

As for the slime...some clean-up critters help, but more than most likely this is just one stage of many undesirables on the way to what hopefully will be very addictive beautiful reef.

Dave

Rick O · 05-31-2003, 06:11 AM

Ditto to what Doug and Dave say.

Just so you'll know you're likely to experience worse algae problems as the tank matures. It's part of of the process for a new tank. Start now with good maintenance habits. If you're going to use floss then clean it frequently. Feed very sparingly. And do frequent water changes starting with RO/DI water.

Good luck. Sounds like you're off to a good start.

underwaterreefer · 05-31-2003, 03:34 PM

thanks guys, i plan on VHOs or PC lighting, now it has 2 no flourescents, daylight and actinic. should i just pull the bioballs out seeing as the tank is so new, or would i have to remove them slowly?

underwaterreefer · 05-31-2003, 03:36 PM

how much food should i be giving my fish, the lfs told me to feed twice a day, flakes in morning and frozen brine shrip at night. is this too much? how much can they get by on?

ReefDave · 05-31-2003, 03:38 PM

Just yank em now while its young....since you don't have any inverts in the tank there won't be much of a visible effect. If you yank all the bioballs and floss now, then the bacteria on the rock will just bloom more and take over for what surface area was lost when you pulled out the media......

Pulling them out now is better than waiting until you have a high bioload then pulling them.

Dave

underwaterreefer · 05-31-2003, 03:40 PM

thanks dave, ill do that today

ReefDave · 05-31-2003, 03:49 PM

good question there are only about 500 factors that play into this.

1. What kind of fish...if they eat anything off of the LR at all they might only need fed once every couple days..however, if they only eat the flake and frozen maybe once or twice a day.

2. Water temp....higher temp is higher metabolism for the fish means they use more energy eat more food create more waste...

3. How mush can your tank filter out....even a tank with no fish at all will have to be fed to keep your sandbed and live rock organisms healthy/happy......

Others can give you specifics on your particular animals, but there are dozens of factors to take into account.....you would probably be safe with once a day feedings......and maybe a brine shimp treat once every few days....JMO

Dave

Rick O · 05-31-2003, 04:00 PM

I feed once every other day or every third day. My clowns don't graze so if I don't feed them then they don't eat. All the other fish pick at the rockwork.