Reds 55gal reef setup with 20lg sump and refugium

[Reddareefer]

 

[pluikens]

Welcome to R2R! Looks like you have a nice start there! Very lively refugium in your sump too.

 

[Reddareefer]

Welcome to R2R! Looks like you have a nice start there! Very lively refugium in your sump too.

Thank you im new to this hobby and have been gathering info like crazy on how to setup a good running system

 

[pluikens]

Thank you im new to this hobby and have been gathering info like crazy on how to setup a good running system

You're in the right place to learn from so many people's experiences.

 

[Reddareefer]

You're in the right place to learn from so many people's experiences.

Im loving the site so far. Question when and how will i know when my tank is ready for coral

 

[pluikens]

Im loving the site so far. Question when and how will i know when my tank is ready for coral

I'm sure there are some threads dedicated to that question. I think I waited about a month or two before adding Green Star Polyps. Once I saw that cover an entire rock island in my sand bed, I found some 10-15 dollar frags that I was told were hardy and tried those. I lost some at the beginning but now almost everything including some acros are successful in the tank that's coming on a year old.

 

[Reddareefer]

I'm sure there are some threads dedicated to that question. I think I waited about a month or two before adding Green Star Polyps. Once I saw that cover an entire rock island in my sand bed, I found some 10-15 dollar frags that I was told were hardy and tried those. I lost some at the beginning but now almost everything including some acros are successful in the tank that's coming on a year old.

Ok thank you ive had my tank up and running for almost 4to5 months now and have added three full bottles of one and only bene bacteria and in the sump o have bio balls carbon pad ammonia pad nitrate pad and phosphate pad reducers

 

[pluikens]

Ok thank you ive had my tank up and running for almost 4to5 months now and have added three full bottles of one and only bene bacteria and in the sump o have bio balls carbon pad ammonia pad nitrate pad and phosphate pad reducers

What kind of pads are those? Many, myself included, will stay away from pads as they can become nitrate factories if left too long capturing detritus.

 

[Reddareefer]

What kind of pads are those? Many, myself included, will stay away from pads as they can become nitrate factories if left too long capturing detritus.

they are all deep blue

 

[Johnson556]

Are those lava rocks?

 

[pluikens]

What are your phosphates and nitrates at? I think you should be able to reply on your refugium for Nitrate and phosphate removal, especially since your bioload is so low. If your phosphate rises too high, I'd suggest GFO in a reactor over a pad. As for the ammonia pad, you live rock should be able to handle any ammonia almost immediately so I don't see a need for this.

 

[Reddareefer]

Are those lava rocks?

Yes a few

 

[Reddareefer]

What are your phosphates and nitrates at? I think you should be able to reply on your refugium for Nitrate and phosphate removal, especially since your bioload is so low. If your phosphate rises too high, I'd suggest GFO in a reactor over a pad. As for the ammonia pad, you live rock should be able to handle any ammonia almost immediately so I don't see a need for this.

I will test my water parameters and get back to you on the levels

 

[Johnson556]

Well, from what I've heard in the past lava rocks are notorious for leaching phosphates/heavy metals into your tank and should never be in a reef tank. If your going fish only you might be ok but if I where you I'd get rid of all those rocks and throw in some live rock or dry rock and restart the tank. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[Reddareefer]

What are your phosphates and nitrates at? I think you should be able to reply on your refugium for Nitrate and phosphate removal, especially since your bioload is so low. If your phosphate rises too high, I'd suggest GFO in a reactor over a pad. As for the ammonia pad, you live rock should be able to handle any ammonia almost immediately so I don't see a need for this.

Nitrate is 10ppm or less and phosphate is 0 to 0.25ppm

 

[Reddareefer]

Well, from what I've heard in the past lava rocks are notorious for leaching phosphates/heavy metals into your tank and should never be in a reef tank. If your going fish only you might be ok but if I where you I'd get rid of all those rocks and throw in some live rock or dry rock and restart the tank. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, hopefully I'm wrong.

Tanks been running for 4to5 months now and my phosphates are between 0.25ppm

 

[Johnson556]

Do you plan on putting corals in this tank?

 

[Reddareefer]

Do you plan on putting corals in this tank?

Yes