First timer need advise

[daniel_y]

hi, 1st try in marine using left over equipment from fresh water set-up.

24inx18inx18in tank, caninster filter fluval 403 x2pcs, red sea prizm skimmer(2nd hand just bought.

here's the questions.. should i run the filters in series or run two by themselve?

there is a small black plastic basket in the skimmer, what must i put in? the lfs man say no need to put anything, but the triangle shape thing can be remove n there is a lid that can open.

thks in advance.

[adrianlau]

Not sure about running the canisters in series or independently, but the red sea prizm black basket is for running chemical filtration like carbon or phosphate removal media. Just need to make sure media is bigger sized than the gaps of the basket, or else need to use a netting to prevent them from coming out of the basket.

[jyoon]

Hi Bro

Regards to whether running the canister in series or independent depends on what you want to archeive.

1. If you intend just to turn on 1 canister to save power comsumption then you can chain them up in series. DO NOT turn on both, it does not make sense and waste the electricity. THe pro of running in series will be the 1st canister can have your mechanical filtraion (off cos you can add Bio rings..etc) and the 2nd canister can be your chemical (like carbon).

2. If you run independent, then each canister will need to have a min Mechanical (cotton wool) filtration. You will need to filter the majority of the dirt before hitting the Bio. The pro of running this way will be easy maintenance (can shut down 1 at a time) and also can point the flow in at least 2 direction easier.

Just my 2 cents. Previously I am also running on canister filter.

[daniel_y]

thks for the input. use to run these 2 in series wif only 1 powered.

[wil_lee76]

IMO, last time, i started off with a JEBO cannister and slot in coral chips and cotton only. It all goes well for me....but when comes to mainatence...its best that you soak your cannister slots with fresh seawater....NO normal tap water...

but from what i known of others reefers that known off...some even dun put anything inside, except cotton filter for dirt collections...

for your info, right now, im keeping a nanotank..and best of all....i dun put bioballs & ceremic rings....what i put behind is a piece of cotton filter. and thigns are looking good...

hope it helps and diff reefers have diff methods... :

[daniel_y]

Here are some pics of my setup.

2nd day water still cloudy...

[daniel_y]

more pics...by 4th day all clear. hand itchy put some live stock in.

now 1 week pass all ok except kena whitespot.

[adrianlau]

Welcome to the world of marine. Like you, I was also converted from Fresh water (not just the tank, but myself).

1. Do calm down your excitement. Instead of adding LS on the 4th day, try reading from the lots of info on the net to prepare for success. Or else will have to learn from failure. The usual recommendation is to cycle the tank for 1 month before adding LS. This is to allow for beneficial bacteria to multiply to cope with the waste product of the LS.

2. Is your stand made for fish tanks? While it looks sturdy, I'll be worried if it was made to be a telephone stand. (But myself I'm using a 2nd hand TV stand for my 24X18X12 )

3. Your sand is quite coarse, detritus will be trapped in it. May I recommend more clean up crew to help clean up uneaten food trapped in there, or regular vacuuming of your sand (since yours is a shallow layer of sand, if it had been a Deep Sand Bed then cannot disturb the sand).

Have fun.

[Sapp]

Hi Bro,

Welcome to our reefing community. You mentioned that on the 4th day, you introduced livestock to your new tank. A few questions came to mind.

1) Are you using liverock, live sand and cultivated bio-rings ?

2) Did you cycle your tank ?

3) Have you check the water parameters?

It is important that you do not rush on stocking up when your tank is still new and might not be ready for livestock.

Just my 2 cents.

[daniel_y]

Welcome to the world of marine. Like you, I was also converted from Fresh water (not just the tank, but myself).

1. Do calm down your excitement. Instead of adding LS on the 4th day, try reading from the lots of info on the net to prepare for success. Or else will have to learn from failure. The usual recommendation is to cycle the tank for 1 month before adding LS. This is to allow for beneficial bacteria to multiply to cope with the waste product of the LS.

2. Is your stand made for fish tanks? While it looks sturdy, I'll be worried if it was made to be a telephone stand. (But myself I'm using a 2nd hand TV stand for my 24X18X12 )

3. Your sand is quite coarse, detritus will be trapped in it. May I recommend more clean up crew to help clean up uneaten food trapped in there, or regular vacuuming of your sand (since yours is a shallow layer of sand, if it had been a Deep Sand Bed then cannot disturb the sand).

Have fun.

thks bro, as for cycle i pour 1/2 bottle beneficial bacteria in balance 1/2 another few days put in.

the stand is a teak wood side table very strong. can recomend what clean up crew?

[daniel_y]

Hi Bro,

Welcome to our reefing community. You mentioned that on the 4th day, you introduced livestock to your new tank. A few questions came to mind.

1) Are you using liverock, live sand and cultivated bio-rings ?

2) Did you cycle your tank ?

3) Have you check the water parameters?

It is important that you do not rush on stocking up when your tank is still new and might not be ready for livestock.

Just my 2 cents.

yes using LR n rings in filter.

water parameters , ok.

[adrianlau]

Clean up crew

[daniel_y]

4 days since corals went in.....perimeters are

PH 8.5,KH 10, NH4-0, NO2-0, NO3-yellow(lost colour chart)

now only 4x T5 24W, think light not enough cos lots of brown algae.

1st pic rear top rock covered with brown algae, damn piss... rescape again turning over the rocks n add 2 more tubes of 24W.

Must remove the algae ball look out of place.

[sonicfrank]

bro daniel_yeo welcome to reefing..

the same like yu.. from fresh water fish to marine..

maybe yu like to post in Members Tank & Specs..

by the way very nice set up yu have there..

Have Fun.. All The Best..

[Victor007]

welcome to the hobby. so fast u add in corals.goodness and fire scallop dun stand a chance to survive long in captivity.

ur tank is still new, i suggest u stop adding any stock and deal with ur algae problem first.

spend more money and time on your filter system and circulation cos it's worth it in a long run.

if not, u end up stocking more if these stocks ended up somewhere.

especially if the algae growth is not under control, it will be a big headache.

and many times they can grow up to ur brain corals causing them to shrink.

u using any wavemaker ? low circulation can caused algae growth.

and get some snails or algae grazers to graze on them.

Cheers. marine tank needs some patience.