Billy's 75

[BillyOz]

Hi all,
Just a list of what's running, This setup was done 10/16/08

Tank
75 gal 4ft long standard Reef ready
30 gal sump Bio balls in place
1200 mag pump main return
1200 Koralia power head
skimmer not installed
160 lbs LR

Lighting
4x54 T5 HO w/moonlights Nove extreme 1122

Live Stock
Maron Clown 1-1/2 inch
10 Brown Button Polyps
1 elephant ear 1 inch open
1 Pink califlower 3/4 inch open
20 blue leg hermits small
20 Snails Small
8-10 yellow button polyps small
2 small white finger leather 1-1/2 when open
2 small yellow leathers w/red polyps
1 small clusters of Macro algie

This is my first marine tank in several years. The picture is of my first tank which was a 75 gal built into a wall in the living room. It's great to be getting started again. Just wish I'd done a little more research before I set this tank up. However it is doing quite well.
Billy

[crvz]

Hey Billy, welcome aboard! Sounds like a great setup, if you'd like to show some pictures for now you can attach them to the post (with the management attachment feature), and at 20 posts you should be able to then post hyperlinks.

[jenglish]

Welcome to TRT. Sounds like a great setup! I think w/ that much live rock you may be better off w/o the sump full of bio-balls. What is your w/c schedule like?

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT! sounds Nice!I also say you should take the balls out.

[BillyOz]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm going way to fast with the livestock due to a misunderstanding with my lfs. Everythings is well. 50% of the bb's have come out. And the others will come out later. My trates are running 20 up 30 by the end of a week when I do a 10gal w/c.

Do you Agree that this amount of LR should be able to handle the trates or should I begin consideration of a DSB.

I'm Currently working on my auto top off. After I get the other BBs out of the sump I should be able to get my otb seaclone skimmer operational. Or is there a way to plumb the thing where It will work in that shallow water. I'm only running a few inches in the sump currently.

Pictures will have to come later my camera was lost and all the extra money seems to go in the aquariumn

Your thoughts might be helpful

[jenglish]

you should have plenty of rock to process nitrification and as long as some of the rock is larger pieces denitrification. DSB is really a matter of choice with a lot of pluses and minuses just like anything else in life. Have you plugged in your seaclone yet or is it new? like do you still have the box and everything?

[crvz]

I would MUCH sooner buy a better skimmer than rely on a deep sand bed. The seaclone skimmer is terribly undersized for your tank, consider the MSX or octopus line. This would be a pretty good skimmer for a tank that size.

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...duct_info.html

[jenglish]

Originally Posted by crvz

I would MUCH sooner buy a better skimmer than rely on a deep sand bed. The seaclone skimmer is terribly undersized for your tank, consider the MSX or octopus line. This would be a pretty good skimmer for a tank that size.

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...duct_info.html

yes, even as a true believer in DSB... I would totally agree with the above statement. You have plenty of Bio filtration but your chemical removal is under par. Your tank can of course be maintained theoretically w/o any skimmer but with that bioload that would leave very little room for error. If the seaclone cannot be returned there are some mods that can be done to it to improve its effectiveness but it you can never completely overcome some of its design flaws.

[BillyOz]

After removing 50% of the BB's I'm now experiencing a major problem with micro bubles. Would the BB's continue to serve there purpose if I was to cover them with water. (Just and atempt to reduce the bubles) Could some one direct me to picture of a good setup of the drain tube. It's still part of the original W/D setup and I'm not sure how to re-plumb to help rid the problem of micro bubles. Should I use like a J at the bottom of the sump (how close to the bottom of the sump should the DT be) or just dump the water streight down?? I know I have a lot of work to do to get this converted to a multi chambered sump.

Yes the Cart is way out front of the horse.

The SeaClone skimmer is from a previous tank I will probally install it to see how it preforms when I can get my W/D changed over and have a chamber built for it. I know this is not a popular design but I've had really good luck with it in the past. It was taking thick green syrup out of my other system. I'll let you know if it still works for me. My lsf had the same opion of the skimmer.