Hello from Greece!!! New 550L reef

manoskap · Oct 16, 2015

Hello! I'm Manos from Greece and this is the first time I will try to keep a reef aquarium! I have had many aquariums before but this is the first time I will go to salt water and I am very excited about it!

Here is my tank now, filled with water from RO, salt up to 1,025 and live sand!

I have a sump setup but I will really need your help! Now the sump is empty (only aquarium cotton for mechanical filtering) and I am waiting my ledzeal S400 to come in order to have light!!!

gaz · Oct 16, 2015

I wouldn't use the Cotten tbh just use a filter sock on your return to the sump easier to take out and clean. What else is going in the sump?

gaz · Oct 16, 2015

Also I see you have a rad behind the tank I would shut that off just in case of over heating the tank[emoji106]

manoskap · Oct 16, 2015

I have fixed already the heat issue I will post a pic soon! Is the filter sock equally good?

gaz · Oct 16, 2015

Better. You can get different micron size that will catch the smallest bit of waste before it enters your sump. The problem with filter wool is it can turn into a nitrate factory causing algae issues later. What else are you having in the sump skimmer fuge etc?

steve&mari · Oct 16, 2015

Welcome to the community hopefully you find it friendly and informative. I also agree with using a filter sock as well. Way easier maintenance and less issues then floss.

SantaMonicaHelp · Oct 17, 2015

Hello Manos & welcome to R2R. You live in a very beautiful country, I love Greece!! Been to the island of Crete once and it was just absolutely amazing, just loved it!!!
Anyways, good luck with the new tank!

~SF

4FordFamily · Oct 17, 2015

Welcome home! You will love this community! It is so neat to have this diverse group of reefers on here from all over the world!

manoskap · Oct 19, 2015

Hi again to all of you!!!
Could you please give me a link on what you mean with filter sock?
I bought some live rocks, some real and some man made and I put them inside my sump in order to begin the cycle. I also bought a blue tang, it's small about 2cm in order to feed it and start the cycle!
The retailer here tells me I need about 50kg of rock for my reef. Do you agree?
Also, he advised me to use only rock for filtering also in the sump.

Why would the cotton become a "nitrate factory"?

Thanks in advance!

gaz · Oct 19, 2015

I wouldn't of brought a tang of all things to start a cycle theres so many other ways patients being one so a fish doesn't have to suffer! You can buy stuff to speed up cycle or put a dead shrimp in from your grocery store.

gaz · Oct 19, 2015

Something like this with a holderhttp://www.bulkreefsupply.com/skimz-bm100-filter-bag-holder-w-1-bag.html

gaz · Oct 19, 2015

the Cotten will collect all food and fish waste which will course nitrate in you DT so will have to do a lot of cleaning on the filter wool and is a pain to take out and put back again socks are easy to remove and rinse or even better have a couple spare so you can just swop them over. You don't have to have a filter sock you can just use LR as a biological filter and skimmer as mechanical it's up to you in the end but it's good to catch any big particles before they enter your sump

steelheader.262 · Oct 19, 2015

Welcome!!!

Thle009 · Oct 19, 2015

Welcome.

manoskap · Oct 21, 2015

http://m.ebay.com/itm/150-200-Micro...-Pre-Filter-Sock-Bag-/181705287223?nav=SEARCH
I found these from ebay. Are these the same? And where do I install it? Before the skimmer?

manoskap · Oct 22, 2015

I will leave the cotton for the time being snd I will change it frequently with new.

My ledzeal came home!!!

I've put it 10cm from the water level and I have adjusted it 20% down from the "sunny" setting!

Here is the solution for the radiator

Now I'm waiting about 50kg of live rock!!

Tell me your advice; It's very valuable to me!!

manoskap · Nov 9, 2015

I got some more live rock (10 kg) and I am waiting for the final amount this weekend!

Also I've put some amount of rock in the second room of my sump along with a small (1000l) wave maker.

Also, I am waiting the parts to make a DIY auto refill pump and the 150mikron filter socks in order to get rid of the cotton!

Finally, during December I am going to get the vertex omega 200i skimmer and 2x sicce 6000l wave makers with their controller!

Only problem that I have is that I can't fit due to water level and the available height the skimmer in the first room of the sump. Will there be any problem if I put it in the second room and move the rock in the first?