Overkill? Filtration, reactors, UV

[muhnandr]

Hello,

Setting a tank back up after about a 10 year hiatus. I’m taking it slow and trying to do everything the right way. I have a reefer 450 and bought a beautiful sump and manifold from Broadfield. I will be using Marco dry rock and will add bacteria. Will have filter cups/floss, marinepure, skimmer, and 3 aquamaxx reactors on manifold in sump. I also have a twist UV sterilizer I could use if necessary. No refugium at this time. Question is whether there is any downside to running cups,carbon, gfo, biopellets, UV, and skimmer all at once? Is it overkill at all? Plan to have mixed reef (likely more lps). Thanks!

 

[Robert_ellis]

Imo, you never really know until the tank is running. Start with skimmer and your cup. If you have a hard time keeping nutrients down then add another filter source. U.v. light I wouldnt say is necessary. I havent ran one in 8-9 years and never see a difference.

 

[Crashjack]

Hello,

Setting a tank back up after about a 10 year hiatus. I’m taking it slow and trying to do everything the right way. I have a reefer 450 and bought a beautiful sump and manifold from Broadfield. I will be using Marco dry rock and will add bacteria. Will have filter cups/floss, marinepure, skimmer, and 3 aquamaxx reactors on manifold in sump. I also have a twist UV sterilizer I could use if necessary. No refugium at this time. Question is whether there is any downside to running cups,carbon, gfo, biopellets, UV, and skimmer all at once? Is it overkill at all? Plan to have mixed reef (likely more lps). Thanks!

I wouldn't make the assumption that your nutrients are going to be and remain high, ESPECIALLY WITH DRY ROCK. I made that mistake when I jumped back into the hobby 2 years ago, after a 15-year hiatus. The result was two battles against dinos. I would run the filter cups/floss, carbon (GAC), skimmer, and UV from the start (UV is just a personal preference) and then after the tank has been up and running for several months, figure out if you need to dose carbon (NoPox, vodka, vinegar, etc.) and/or run GFO and/or biopellets. I would also start testing nitrate and phosphate after the tank cycles... like at least every 2-3 weeks. If nitrate/phosphate ever measure zero or barely detectable, you need to get those levels up pretty quickly by dosing nitrate and phosphate.