Let's talk a minute about substrate and bio-filter...

[Greybeard]

Hi folks. A word about myself: Started reefing 25+ years ago, took a 10 year break, resumed reefing about 2 years back.

Currently working on a short, wide 140g peninsula style reef, SPS/LPS. I've been planning bare bottom, likely starboard, for one main reason... 5' long tank, 100% of water movement must be generated from one end. I can't imagine a sand that would stay in place under the kind of flow I'm going to need to generate at that end, in order to maintain a decent level of flow at the far end.

So, without a sand bed, I'm thinking MarinePure blocks in the sump. I'm planning to start up with Red Sea's starter kit, and use NoPox from there on. Vertex Omega 180i skimmer, probably some sort of GAC reactor, filter socks, and that's about it. I'm planning a fairly sparse rockwork.

I looked at the ZeoVit thing... Expensive, lots of negative opinions around, and I just don't like the idea of a magic bottle.

I'd really like to keep water changes to once a month. Any other 'systems' I should be looking into? BioPellets, perhaps? Turf Algae Scrubber? I'm reading that NoPox and Macro Algae don't get along well...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Stay simple my friend.
My .02.

 

[hart24601]

I like your plan, and dig that skimmer!

You probably don't need the marine pure block, but it doesn't hurt. I just set up a 60 cube, BB starboard, ton of flow. I just have a 1.1ml doser to vinegar really to feed the system and not for nutrient control as much. I run a GFO reactor and skimmer as the only equipment in the sump. (bag of purigen too).

I would consider adding a cheato reactor , they seem pretty slick, but only if having nutrient problems and then only after seeing if overfeeding or why those problems are happing in the 1st place.

Actually you posted on my build thread now that I think about it so you know everything I posted already, hahaha!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

calcium reactor, live rock, instant ocean metal halide.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tapios-reefs.193674/

 

[Webslinger]

Slow and steady wins the race. Fuge with macro

 

[Greybeard]

calcium reactor, live rock, instant ocean metal halide.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tapios-reefs.193674/

I don't do calcium reactors... had a bad experience with one. I do use Kalkwasser from my ATO. Limited live rock in this system. This one's going to be an 8x T5 setup, but I'm a firm believer in halides

 

[Greybeard]

Slow and steady wins the race. Fuge with macro

Original plan was for a 55g tank converted to a large refugeum for macro algae. I may still go that route. Still working on it... hence, this thread

 

[Cory]

I dont think youll need those bacteria blocks. Bacteria will grow everywhere on rocks and glass. Even on coral itself.

Ats systems are great imo, just use a good carbon to remove yellowing like rox .8