SRC Member reefaquaria Posted June 28, 2014 SRC Member Share Posted June 28, 2014 After years keeping freshwater fishes and planted tanks, I'm motivated to set up a reef tank at home for my little boy who enjoy watching colorful marine fishes and corals. I have spent the last few months decommissioning all my freshwater tank, reading through many useful information in this forum and sourcing for used marine tank set+equipment. I'm expecting many challenges to come in my little adventure, hence I hope for feedbacks, advices and pointers from many experienced reefers here. I plan to start slowly and enjoy the whole process so I will start with FOWLR and slowly turn it to LPS or even SPS in the future. Here is specs of my tank:- Display tank : 3' x 2' x 2' Sump tank : 25" x 20" x 15" Return pump : Eheim 1260 Chiller : Arctica DBE-200 (1/4hp) with Ehem Compact 3000 Light : Orphek PR-156W Skimmer : Skimz SM161 Wavemaker : Vortech MP40W + Jebao WP-25 FR : Rowaphos + carbon with Eheim Compact 1000 FR : Enductor FR30 biopellet with Eheim Compact 1000 The tank is still empty, planning to get NSW these few days to start the cycle with live sand and Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter7. I have not decided on any type of live sand, so appreciate any suggestion. Thanks in advanced for all feedback, advices and pointers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted June 28, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted June 28, 2014 I played around with configuration of rock scape this morning to come out with this scape. Appreciate any comment/feedback on how to improve this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siowaro Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Nice scaping!! Welcome the no return red going world!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted June 29, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted June 29, 2014 Nice scaping!! Welcome the no return red going world!!! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted June 29, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted June 29, 2014 29-June-2014: Filled the tank with NSW Moved the rocks in Turned on skimmer, carbon, rowaphos and biopellet reactors Plan for this week: - waiting for the rocks to cure - do 50%-100% water change at the end of the week Should I start dosing microbacter7? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Supporter ReDDeviLs Posted June 30, 2014 SRC Supporter Share Posted June 30, 2014 how long have your rocks been out of the water before going into the tank? i personally dont believe in doing large water change during cycling. but it depends on individual. Quote [ ] [ ] Reef Reefing Reefed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Clement Chen Posted June 30, 2014 SRC Member Share Posted June 30, 2014 ya agreed with bro reddevils. Should not do a 100% water change. Quote Clem's Clam Corner (Decommed) 60cm x 40cm x 30cm Tank Nano tank reboot v2.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted June 30, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks bros, appreciate the comments. The rocks are dead to start with. I brushed it to remove the die-offs as much as I can but the rocks remain smelly so I'm curing it for few weeks. I would expect the water to turn smelly in a week and water change will help to export out excess nutrient and smell. Let's see how it turns out in a week, will do water change if water turns bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Supporter ReDDeviLs Posted June 30, 2014 SRC Supporter Share Posted June 30, 2014 you can do partial WC constantly. the reason we cycle the tank its to stablise the water condition, if you do a 100% or 80% its as good as using "new" water. and yes the smell is terrible i fully understand. keep enough flow going through your rocks and system. it helps. enjoy your setup! Quote [ ] [ ] Reef Reefing Reefed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 1, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thanks for info bro. Currently running mp40 with full blast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 1, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 1, 2014 30-June-2014: first dose of microbacter7 test water parameter SG. : 1.020 pH. : 8.4 kH. : 7 Ammonia : 1 ppm Nitrite. : 0 Nitrate. : 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 8-June-2014: add a 40lbs-bag of caribsea ocean direct live sand 11-June-2014: test water parameter SG. : 1.023 (30) pH. : 8~8.5 kH. : 6 Ammonia : near 0 Nitrite. : near 0 Nitrate. : 20-40ppm Do 10% water change this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 My kH seems a bit low, how to increase? Do more water change? I'm using NSW btw. TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Supporter ReDDeviLs Posted July 12, 2014 SRC Supporter Share Posted July 12, 2014 you can get KH buffer to buff up your KH slowly. It will be easier to use good salt mix to do your wter change in future so that your parameters will be more consistent. NSW have lower parameters at times. Quote [ ] [ ] Reef Reefing Reefed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chercm Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 29-June-2014: Filled the tank with NSW Moved the rocks in Turned on skimmer, carbon, rowaphos and biopellet reactors Plan for this week: - waiting for the rocks to cure - do 50%-100% water change at the end of the week Should I start dosing microbacter7? Quote Humble tank : Size: 4x2.5x2 ft - Display Equipment : Return 1 : Ecotech marine L1 Return 2 : Ecotech marine M1 CR : Skimz CM122 - Caribsea extra course media with Grotech magnesium Light : ATI 8x54W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 you can get KH buffer to buff up your KH slowly. It will be easier to use good salt mix to do your wter change in future so that your parameters will be more consistent. NSW have lower parameters at times. Thanks bro, I don't have ro/di unit to make salt mix at the moment. I may consider to invest one in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 do not recommend for the bio pellets to be added in during the cycle period I was advised against turning on skimmer, carbon and rowaphos during cycling. So I switch them off last Sunday. But I was told to keep biopellet on to act as biomedia for bacteria to grow which I think make sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Supporter ReDDeviLs Posted July 12, 2014 SRC Supporter Share Posted July 12, 2014 remember to test your other parameters such as PH,MG,CA as well especially on NSW. Quote [ ] [ ] Reef Reefing Reefed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 remember to test your other parameters such as PH,MG,CA as well especially on NSW. Noted, thanks bro. Have yet to get tester for MG & Ca yet, it's in my shopping list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member james72 Posted July 12, 2014 SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 So you kept your biopellets running and skimmer off? Hope your adviser knows what he/she is doing..... Cheers, James Quote Cheers, James Reviving my reef tank : Crystal glass 53" x 22" x 17" rimless (inclusive of 12"x22"x17" IOS) Life Reef HVS3-24 with mazzei venturi ATI Sunpower 8 x 39w T5 (4 x Blue plus, 2 x Aqua blue special, Coral plus) ZET Light 3 x 3w LEDs moonlight Arctica 1/3 Hp + 1/4 Hp back up Vortech mp40w x 3 + Jebao wp25 Eheim 1264 x 3 + water blaster 5000 Vortech back up battery TLF-150 + Rowaphos Activated carbon Kamoer 3 channel + CaCl2 + NaHCo3 150L Refugium with DSB, miracle mud, cheato 2ft T5 x 2 light tubes for refugium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chercm Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 I was advised against turning on skimmer, carbon and rowaphos during cycling. So I switch them off last Sunday. But I was told to keep biopellet on to act as biomedia for bacteria to grow which I think make sense. i am currently cycling the tank now and i have switched on the skimmer. If u turn on the bio pellets reactor , it will cause the cycling process to lengthen . i asked the same question on the Reefcentral forum The only concern would be if you do not generate enough of the normal cycling bacteria because you have driven a different species that was eating the pellets and using ammonia as a nitrogen source. Since those bacteria may not be as easily able to expand in numbers as the daily production of ammonia rises with new creatures, you might have to cycle over again, or it may slow the cycle. so i would suggest strongly to turn on the skimmer - ( Skimmer needs to go through the vinegar bath if it is new one to allow it to break in faster ) and wait for the cycling process to complete before using the bio pellets . For bio pellets , the output needs to go through the skimmer. Quote Humble tank : Size: 4x2.5x2 ft - Display Equipment : Return 1 : Ecotech marine L1 Return 2 : Ecotech marine M1 CR : Skimz CM122 - Caribsea extra course media with Grotech magnesium Light : ATI 8x54W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 Well I think there are different school of thoughts on this. You might be right, I don't know to be honest as I'm newbie myself My tank is nearly cycled now and this morning I have turned on the skimmer, carbon and rowaphos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chercm Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Well I think there are different school of thoughts on this. You might be right, I don't know to be honest as I'm newbie myself My tank is nearly cycled now and this morning I have turned on the skimmer, carbon and rowaphos. Just checking how do u know it is cycled ? Quote Humble tank : Size: 4x2.5x2 ft - Display Equipment : Return 1 : Ecotech marine L1 Return 2 : Ecotech marine M1 CR : Skimz CM122 - Caribsea extra course media with Grotech magnesium Light : ATI 8x54W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member reefaquaria Posted July 12, 2014 Author SRC Member Share Posted July 12, 2014 Tested ammonia and nitrite dropped to zero and nitrate going up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chercm Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Good luck then Quote Humble tank : Size: 4x2.5x2 ft - Display Equipment : Return 1 : Ecotech marine L1 Return 2 : Ecotech marine M1 CR : Skimz CM122 - Caribsea extra course media with Grotech magnesium Light : ATI 8x54W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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