I've been reading all the past messages and articles on this site for the past several days. I have been into several books lately to try and learn as much as possible and I'm still confused. I am sold on the DSB and have gone ahead with adding a 3-4 inch bed to my existing tank which had regular/colored gravel, which I removed prior to laying the DSB. I also seeded it with 5 pounds of live sand. I've also gone ahead and added about 50 lbs of live rock. I'm trying to make the transition from a fowlr to a reef, which has always been my ultimate goal when starting this hobby about 4 years ago.
That said, I still can't get the clear answer to a couple of questions I have and would appreciate any input any of you may add.
My current setup is this:
55 gallon with a Eheim canister, Aquaclear 500, UV and heater. Tank temp is steady at 79. One power head for circulation. Also have an AMiracle 22" PS lying in the closet not being used.
1 common clownfish
1 scooter blenny
1 blue damsel
Cleaning crew:
12 turbo snails
10 scarlet hermits
1 beige/brown starfish that stays under the sand(forgive me I do not remeber what it is called)
1 brown spotted cucumber
2 cleaner shrimp
1 arrow crab
(I also have a brittle star and abalone on order at my lfs)
My questions:
1. I read some opinions not to use sand sifters, some say do? s my starfish doing more harm than good for my new dsb? Is there anything I should add to my sand at this point or take out as far as cleaning crew go?
2. I have a protein skimmer but do not use it. I know there are many arguments over my next question, but I have asked 2 pretty good lfs in my area and get 4 different opinions. After reading everything I could, it seems to me that I'm still confused. Is my ultimate goal to not use a UV and protein skimmer, and even perhaps get rid of the Aquaclear 500 at some point? And just go with the LR/DSB and the eheim for mechanical filtration, or is the eheim also not necessary down the road. I ask because I have always had a nitrate problem -cherry red. I have tried many things-bio wheels, thin layer of ls to name a few and nothing works. I think the filters are harboring the trates. Are any of you successfully running without a protein skimmer, UV and mech filter?
Thanks and regards,
Mike.
That said, I still can't get the clear answer to a couple of questions I have and would appreciate any input any of you may add.
My current setup is this:
55 gallon with a Eheim canister, Aquaclear 500, UV and heater. Tank temp is steady at 79. One power head for circulation. Also have an AMiracle 22" PS lying in the closet not being used.
1 common clownfish
1 scooter blenny
1 blue damsel
Cleaning crew:
12 turbo snails
10 scarlet hermits
1 beige/brown starfish that stays under the sand(forgive me I do not remeber what it is called)
1 brown spotted cucumber
2 cleaner shrimp
1 arrow crab
(I also have a brittle star and abalone on order at my lfs)
My questions:
1. I read some opinions not to use sand sifters, some say do? s my starfish doing more harm than good for my new dsb? Is there anything I should add to my sand at this point or take out as far as cleaning crew go?
2. I have a protein skimmer but do not use it. I know there are many arguments over my next question, but I have asked 2 pretty good lfs in my area and get 4 different opinions. After reading everything I could, it seems to me that I'm still confused. Is my ultimate goal to not use a UV and protein skimmer, and even perhaps get rid of the Aquaclear 500 at some point? And just go with the LR/DSB and the eheim for mechanical filtration, or is the eheim also not necessary down the road. I ask because I have always had a nitrate problem -cherry red. I have tried many things-bio wheels, thin layer of ls to name a few and nothing works. I think the filters are harboring the trates. Are any of you successfully running without a protein skimmer, UV and mech filter?
Thanks and regards,
Mike.