Any advice?

[Meister21]

Hey! I’m new to Saltwater. I’ve had several freshwater tanks. I know saltwater is a little different. I got a 75 gallon tank used with a 20 tall sump. 50 lbs live rock and about 1.5-2 inches of sand. 2 clowns, Foxface, 2 Chromis, niger trigger, powder brown tang, yellow tang, Kole tang, coral beauty angel, and a scooter blenny. I know it’s a lot. I bought it all as a package and have talked to my LFS about the fish when they get bigger.
I just ordered 2 Viparspectra 165w leds. And an octopus skimmer. Can’t remember which one right now. I also have Cheato in the sump. What all should go in the sump? I just set it up how he had it previously. 2 bags or carbon. Ceramic bio media and Cheato.

Any advice and tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[trido]

Keep it simple, return pump, heaters, skimmer. If you have room for a refugium then chaeto otherwise you can buy an algae scrubber or reactor to remove PO4 if you need.

 

[Meister21]

Keep it simple, return pump, heaters, skimmer. If you have room for a refugium then chaeto otherwise you can buy an algae scrubber or reactor to remove PO4 if you need.

How do reactors work?

 

[Oscaror]

How do reactors work?

 

[HawaiianReef]

Welcome to Reefing!!!
First upgrade, IMO, would be to add a decent auto top off. Your going to have about a gallon or so of water loss from evaporation, which is good. But your salinity is going to change, and that changes ph and alot of other parameters. Keeping things stable is key.

 

[Meister21]

Welcome to Reefing!!!
First upgrade, IMO, would be to add a decent auto top off. Your going to have about a gallon or so of water loss from evaporation, which is good. But your salinity is going to change, and that changes ph and alot of other parameters. Keeping things stable is key.

He had an auto top off, I just didn’t understand how it worked. I’ll add a picture.

 

[Meister21]

Welcome to Reefing!!!
First upgrade, IMO, would be to add a decent auto top off. Your going to have about a gallon or so of water loss from evaporation, which is good. But your salinity is going to change, and that changes ph and alot of other parameters. Keeping things stable is key.

He had an auto top off, I just didn’t understand how it worked. I’ll add a picture.

 

[Meister21]

He had an auto top off, I just didn’t understand how it worked. I’ll add a picture.

That is attached to a little black box. I assume it’s a pump? I wasn’t sure how it worked and I don’t know the guy. So I just never plugged it in.

 

[azbigjohn]

Auto top offs usually have a float or sensor that measures the water level (usually in the sump) and a pump and water container, so fresh RODi can be pumped into the sump to maintain proper levels. That keeps salinity even, since water evaporates, but salt does not.

 

[Meister21]

Auto top offs usually have a float or sensor that measures the water level (usually in the sump) and a pump and water container, so fresh RODi can be pumped into the sump to maintain proper levels. That keeps salinity even, since water evaporates, but salt does not.

Okay and just sit the bucket next to my sump?

 

[azbigjohn]

Yes. I personally use a "per food container" that has a lid, to prevent the water in the top off container from evaporating as fast as the tank...

 

[Meister21]

Yes. I personally use a "per food container" that has a lid, to prevent the water in the top off container from evaporating as fast as the tank...

Okay. Awesome. Thank you! I’ve read on a lot of forums that the amount of fish I have right now will be hard to keep alive due to the bio load. What do you think? I know I can’t keep them long term because of tank size.

 

[azbigjohn]

The tangs will probably outgrow the tank. I would monitor your ammonia level carefully, and make sure it doesn't climb; it does seem a little overstocked.

I don't see a ton of algae, so I would worry about aggression between the foxface, angel and tangs, as they are all primarily herbivores, and will try to stake out territories to have algae to eat.

 

[Meister21]

The tangs will probably outgrow the tank. I would monitor your ammonia level carefully, and make sure it doesn't climb; it does seem a little overstocked.

I don't see a ton of algae, so I would worry about aggression between the foxface, angel and tangs, as they are all primarily herbivores, and will try to stake out territories to have algae to eat.

What would you suggest if the ammonia is high? I know I’m freshwater the more biological bacteria you have the better. But from what I’ve read on here most people stay away from media such as bio balls. They mostly use sand/mud and live rock.

 

[azbigjohn]

What would you suggest if the ammonia is high? I know I’m freshwater the more biological bacteria you have the better. But from what I’ve read on here most people stay away from media such as bio balls. They mostly use sand/mud and live rock.

Make sure your sump is full of live rock rubble, or Marine Pure blocks. That is where almost all of your filtration will occur. You can also have Prime on hand to neutralize any ammonia if it elevates, but that is a temporizing measure until you can do water changes. Prime drops the oxygenation in the water...

 

[Meister21]

Make sure your sump is full of live rock rubble, or Marine Pure blocks. That is where almost all of your filtration will occur. You can also have Prime on hand to neutralize any ammonia if it elevates, but that is a temporizing measure until you can do water changes. Prime drops the oxygenation in the water...

The skimmer I got will take up most of my sump I believe. Do I just put the live rock rubble all around it? Like wherever it will fit? I have 3 sections. Where the water comes in and I have a bunch of PolyFil the next section currently has bio balls and the Cheato and pot scrubbers for more bio and the heater. The third section just has the return pump

 

[azbigjohn]

The live rock rubble would take the place of the bio balls. I haven't used bioballs before, but most folks feel they are much less effective for holding bacteria compared to liverock.

 

[Meister21]

the rules and tricks for saltwater are so different from freshwater lol I really appreciate your help!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Research and research any fish or equipment you are considering. Additionally, go slow and be prepared to be very patient and resist temptation to buy fish too early or cheap equipment.
Do not chase parameters and if in doubt, take water to a trusted pet store for testing to compare to your readings.