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Erick Merfeld

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I have been trying this hobby for about a year now and I just cant seem to catch onto everything. I have done quite a bit of research and reading on this hobby. It has turned into an addiction for me! Anyways, currently I have a 55gal tank. I am thinking about down sizing until I understand this hobby better and can afford everything you need to make and grow a great mixed tank.

What is everybody's thoughts?

Is it easier to learn how everything works on a smaller setup or not? If so, I am looking to trade for a smaller tank or just keep the one I have now and buy a complete new setup for a smaller tank and put the livestock I have in my tank now in the new one. Because I have kind of fallen in love with my clown fish! lol

Thanks for the help everyone!
 
Tidal Gardens
Erick Merfeld said:
I have been trying this hobby for about a year now and I just cant seem to catch onto everything. I have done quite a bit of research and reading on this hobby. It has turned into an addiction for me! Anyways, currently I have a 55gal tank. I am thinking about down sizing until I understand this hobby better and can afford everything you need to make and grow a great mixed tank.

What is everybody's thoughts?

Is it easier to learn how everything works on a smaller setup or not? If so, I am looking to trade for a smaller tank or just keep the one I have now and buy a complete new setup for a smaller tank and put the livestock I have in my tank now in the new one. Because I have kind of fallen in love with my clown fish! lol

Thanks for the help everyone!
Click to expand...
What problems are you having? What about your tank stocking (fish, coral, inverts, sand, live rock,etc;)? Some more info on your system would be helpful. Don't give Up. Well worth the learning Curve.
 
I started with a 75g and I'm glad that I did. The larger the system the more forgiveness, ie...temp, salinity etc... As stated above more information on your setup will help others help you!
 
Here is my tank as we speak. I have an algae problem all the time. After a 20 gallon water change a day maybe two the tank is clean but after that it goes right back to algae everywhere. I tested my water last night. Everything panned out great but the nitrates. That test was at 20. I know that is high but I have never been able to get it down to 20 til now let along 0. I don't think my canister filter is cutting it. My power head is cheap and generic. No skimmer just heaters one power head and a canister filter.

What is my next step?

image.jpg
 
Your canister may be the cause. You need to thoroughly clean canister filters pretty much weekly. I think that is the reason so few people use them for salt water. Tons of work compared to a HOB or sump and if you don't maintain them properly they dump nitrates into your tank.

Are you using tap or RO water?
 
Ecoscape Reef Rock
I'm using tap but I'm adding a solution to get rid of all those bad elements. But I know an RO is next on my list I think. What would you suggest sump or hob? If sump I'd have to drain my entire tank n drill it out for a sump?
 
A HOB would work fine. You can get hang on overflows for a sump. The advantage to the sump is you can put equipment in it. I found it hard to find a sump for 55s.
Tap water is a major source of phosphate and nitrates. Water conditioners remove chlorine ammonia not all the other impurities. You would be better off investing in a basic RO system. Or stores like Walmart have self serve RO water dispensers at 37 cents a gallon not as good as your own system but many times better than tap water
 
I'm not familiar with hob overflows for a sump? So I would not need to drill out my tank? Ya I know RO system is a must. What would you suggest for both pieces of equipment?

Do you have links I could look at n read to more understand these pieces?
 
No. Not necessarily the best option but they work. I use an eshopp overflow on my 40. They sell them on Amazon. I originally bought it for a 55.
Bulk Reef Supply is a good place to look for RODI systems. They have very basic systems all the way up to very fancy set ups.
 
Do basic RO systems do just as well as the fancy? What's all included in the fancy one?

What's not the best option?
 
There are more filters on the fancy systems, pressure gauges, booster pumps. It kind of depends on your water. I use. Basic 4 stage. Sediment filter carbon block filter reverse osmosis filter and deionizing media.
You can get a copy of water quality test results from your local water company. The system you need will depend on your water.
 
Avast
Thanks for the help! So you guys think RO for sure then a sump n skimmer? Those things will help me get on the right track?
 
You could use hydrogen peroxide to help with the hair algae 1 ml for every ten gallons. But it won't help with the nutrient issues. Plus I would get a lot more live rock in there. You can use distilled water to probably better then tap. Don't give up think off it as a challenge. My son has a 55 gal with a snowflake eel and a Niger trigger and all he has is a hang on the back filter. Also it could be you have your lights on way
8003cb2d8ad2007aaac46b8a760fb724.jpg
to long that also contributes to the algae issue
 
AS
How long should I keep the white led on? How long should I keep the blue led on? And how long should I keep no lights on?

I know RO system is a must. Now I am thinking that my canister filter is the problem with the messed up water chemistry. Do you have any experience with sumps? External sump or HOB sumps? I am reading that hob sumps are very dangerous due to overflows. I already have my tank setup. Would I be able to drill and make an internal sump setup without completely tearing down my tank?
 
Blues eight hours whites I would only do 4 to six. Depends on your lights and and how well your coral does( I see you have a softy).i keep my lights low when I'm at work and turn them up when I'm home. I would do two hang on the back filters. My son has the penguin 400 I believe easier to clean and replace the filters. If you don't want to go the sump route. The live rock I think is your biggest problem not enough biological filtration plus your water. Do you have any clean up crew in there snails or hermits, they would also help with your algae. 5 snails and 5 hermits will do. I like you have been in this only a year I have a 90 gal mix reef and it took me awhile to figure out what I'm doing right and what I have done wrong. Over feeding is the biggest problem I think we all go though and the biggest problem with water quality. Feed in small doses and watch to see how much they are eating and how much cuts floats around. Also remove all the bad algae you can by hand. Killing it will just release the bad stuff back in your tank.
 
Erick Merfeld said:
How long should I keep the white led on? How long should I keep the blue led on? And how long should I keep no lights on?

I know RO system is a must. Now I am thinking that my canister filter is the problem with the messed up water chemistry. Do you have any experience with sumps? External sump or HOB sumps? I am reading that hob sumps are very dangerous due to overflows. I already have my tank setup. Would I be able to drill and make an internal sump setup without completely tearing down my tank?
Click to expand...
I don't think that you can drill the tank with your livestock in place! If you decide to go with a drilled tank, you can place your livestock, rock & existing salt water into totes with heaters, lights and power heads. Here's how I did mine while we drilled my tank! I had my livestock in a 29g tank with a HOB filter, but I do know that you can also place them in totes.
LiveRockandChaetoHoldingtank.jpg


I also agree with the above post that you need more live rock. How long has your tank been running? Do you have test kits? It would be helpful to know what your parameters are.
 
Tidal Gardens
I ran 55g sumpless for about a year, until I upgraded to my 120g.

You don't have to have a sump, especially if you have a stock stand it will be difficult to fit a sump in there. I ran an aquaclear 70 hang on back for chemical filtration - basically if I wanted to run carbon - your canister filter will fill that role.

And a hang on back protein skimmer. I used the eshopps hang on back and like it, there are other models that seem more popular as well.

And an ATO, I was able to rig the avast marine ATO so only a small amount of a black plastic tube was visible in the tank. The smart ATO may be another good option for sumpless, though I have used it.

First thing though is to get a RODI filter.
In the mean time, do you have a local fish store that sells ro water? If so start using that.

Something to think about with your tap, besides the unknown stuff that's in there. Is if you city uses chloramine (basically, chlorine and ammonia bonded into a molecule) the conditioners (if they work on chloramine) just break the bond and you could be adding some ammonia with every top off, and water change! Even if your water conditioner detoxifies the ammonia, it still goes in the tank and can contribute to the nitrate cycle.

Oh, and that spectrapure rodi @twilliard linked up is a good deal, I would jump on it!
 
Tidal Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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