What should be my next step?

[TLKAg87]

I moved an existing 75 gal (given to me for free) to my house last weekend. It is already doing much better than it was before. Leather coral has color now. Mushrooms seem to be growing. One clownfish, brittle star, and I think one hermit and one snail. I have a Rena Filstar canister filter and two powerheads. Marine Orbit lighting.

In terms of upgrading, what are your recs? Protein skimmer? new lighting? (I actually like the Marine Orbit lighting, but have read on here that it gets mixed reviews) I do not have a sump, and I still don't understand what that does.. I'm learning, but have a long way to go.

 

[Zeal]

Lots of people say canister filters could be "nitrate factories" im sure theres some chemical meda you could put in it such as Chemipure blue, maybe some carbon. Someone with my experience will chime in.

Protein skimmer really helps with getting all the dirt out of your tank.

Orbit lighting is kinda meh. Lots of people dont like them I personally don't. Some people do. If I was you id get something better. Given the size of your tank 2 AI Hydras should be enough but theres other things. Really depends what you want to do.

CUC is a must snails, hermits. To keep the sandbed and walls clean of detritus

 

[cristata.reef]

Yeah invest in a really good protein skimmer which will save you tons of hours cleaning your tank. If you don't have it already some emergency equipment like a backup battery/generator and an RODI unit will set you up for success in the event of any unplanned event.

A sump is basically something that holds extra water and can be used to hold supplies and a refugium. Think of it in this way. You are trying to carry a bunch of apples but your hands are full (Display tank). If you have a backpack (sump) you can hold more. Tis pays off because the more water you have in the system the less a chemical fluctuation will affect the tank (think like one drop of poison in a 10 gallon vs 1 drop in a swimming pool). A lot of people say sumps are the best thing you can possibly get for a reef tank and I'd say they're pretty much correct. You can put all your equipment in there, it provides a safe space for dosing and water testing. You can put hitchhikers or aggressive tankmates in there, and if you have a refugium, free pods and nutrient removal

 

[TLKAg87]

So just a tank below with a pump to and from reef tank?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Don't sweat the Current Orbit light for now. They aren't great lights as the leds are weak at less than 1 watt. They are OK over shallow tanks but less effective over tanks more than 16" deep. Your tank is probably 20" deep? But the corals you have are OK with your light. Just be careful if you buy any new corals. And take your time, nothing good happens quickly in a marine aquarium! Ask questions and read, read, read. That's a big part of what this website is all about.

Good luck and congratulations on a freebie tank!

 

[cristata.reef]

So just a tank below with a pump to and from reef tank?

Essentially yes

 

[Ron Reefman]

In terms of upgrading, what are your recs? Protein skimmer? new lighting? (I actually like the Marine Orbit lighting, but have read on here that it gets mixed reviews) I do not have a sump, and I still don't understand what that does. I'm learning, but have a long way to go.

I'd look into how much room you have to do a sump/refugium. You want the biggest one you can fit. The advantages of the sump are primarily a bigger total water volume so changes will happen slower and be diluted more. The solution to pollution is dilution. It also makes water changes easier on the tank inhabitants. And you'll have a place to put a skimmer and some day a reactor for carbon, GFO or some phosphate remover. Reactors are not necessary but can really come in handy if you have a water issue that needs to be cleared up.

The refugium offers nitrate export by harvesting macro algae. As it grows it uses nitrate and phosphate from the water. And the algae also provides a place for other things like copepods to grow. They will get delivered to the DT by the return pump and your fish will eat them, good live food.

You said,"I'm learning, but have a long way to go." Don't feel bad, I've been working at this hobby for 15 years and I'm still learning new stuff all the time. That's why most of us are here at R2R!

 

[TLKAg87]

If I get a sump/refugium with a protein skimmer set up under my DT, can I get rid of the canister filter?

 

[Ron Reefman]

If I get a sump/refugium with a protein skimmer set up under my DT, can I get rid of the canister filter?

IMHO, yes! I'm running my tank right now with just 15 gallons of water in a 30g Brute and a filter sock. No skimmer, no canister filter, no carbon, no GFO, no phosphate agents... no issues. I will be upgrading to a 40g sump/refugium which will still use a filter sock (maybe 2) and I'll add a skimmer and macro algae.