Newbie Questions

[Rmahan1997]

I am new to the hobby, and most the time I feel like an idiot. I have a 55G tank, I recently added a skimmer which hangs off the side of my tank. I have 30+ year old live rock. My tank is 5 months old, I have been battling dinos. I shift the sand and do RODI water changes, all my fish and corals are doing great, my parameters are great. I'm just sick of scrubbing back of my tank (its hard to reach). They disappear from the sand, but the tiny ones suck to the glass drive me insane. I have a sump with a refugium underneath with chaeto and live rock.
I just have a few questions.

How often do I leave the light on under my tank?
Do I just accept the dinos?
I currently have a current orbit light which my sps love, and suggestions on upgrades for the future?
How do I prevent overfeeding with frozen?
How much salt do you put in a 5 gallon bucket?

 

[MnFish1]

How often do I leave the light on under my tank?
Do I just accept the dinos?
I currently have a current orbit light which my sps love, and suggestions on upgrades for the future?
How do I prevent overfeeding with frozen?
How much salt do you put in a 5 gallon bucket?

1. You mean the refugium? Its individual preference - some people do it at the same setting as the main tank - some people have the refugium light on when the tank light is off.
2. I accept them (if you suck them off - with a baster, or something - they go away - as other things grow)
3. If its working keep it - but I personally like Radions - I like the look - and the interface.
4. Feed what the fish eat within 5-10 minutes. If there is food leftover - you're feeding too much.
5. Follow the instructions on whichever salt you're using? Not sure what the question meant.

Hope this helped

 

[Rmahan1997]

Also how does one siphon sand with out pulling sand out?

 

[CenlaReefer]

I am not sure if you would want to go this route, but removing my sandbed helped me greatly with my dinos. I understand this helps with some dinos more than others. Some on this forum use microscopes to ID them.. Also, dosing some nitrates may help if yours is near zero. What do yours measure at now?

Also, it is a good idea to rinse the frozen food prior to feeding.

 

[MnFish1]

Also how does one siphon sand with out pulling sand out?

I use a python. there is a valve on it (or you can kink it) - once you suck a bunch of sand - if you decrease the flow a little (not completely) - just a little - you will keep siphoning out the 'dirt' but the sand will drift back down

PS - I think he was saying 'take the sand out' - but I might be misreading