What's your secret weapon?

[andrew james]

Whenever I see a really awesome tank either in person or online I always wonder, "What's this guy's secret." Usually it comes down to patience and good husbandry but I've also found that nearly everyone has some odd ritual or unusual setup that makes their system unique.

I'll start, I think I do a couple of weird things some of them have really positive effects.

1. I run three reactors the first two are pretty standard but they third is something most people dont do. 1. GAC 2. algae 3. cuprisorb. My tank had alway had an issue with Tin. I tried everything from replacing parts to switching our rock and sand, nothing worked. I decided to run a reactor full of cuprisorb full time and that's when my tank went from barely keeping corals alive to having them thrive.

2. I run a diatom filter on my saltwater storage container. After I make a batch of salt water I turn on the diatom filter and set it to run for 4 hours. What I've noticed this does is remove all the anti caking chemicals and silicates from the water. I've noticed no actual benefit from doing this, do it anyway.

3. I don't run this as much since adding the algae reactor. I have lanthanum chloride on a doser that doses .1 ml directly into my skimmer. With this setup I'm was able to adjust the dose and keep my p04 and a super steady .2 ppm. Since adding the algae reactor I now only run it if I have a spike

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I keep it simple and don't sweat the little stuff.

 

[Mikedawg]

I keep it simple and don't sweat the little stuff.

Yep, and enjoy "tweaking" an unwanted situation rather than thinking of it as a problem to be fixed.

 

[Salty1962]

We always think there's a better mouse trap. That's when the fun starts,lol...

 

[kireek]

I am a avid practitioner of the K.I.S.S. method myself.I would also say carbon dosing.I don't know how I managed without it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I am a avid practitioner of the K.I.S.S. method myself.I would also say carbon dosing.I don't know how I managed without it.

That's next for me.
But I'm afraid of ...

We always think there's a better mouse trap. That's when the fun starts,lol...

 

[kireek]

Don't be afraid.Just start slow and keep a eye on your nitrates.Back down once in a while.

 

[Mikedawg]

Don't be afraid.Just start slow and keep a eye on your nitrates.Back down once in a while.

Yep, I'm at maintenance dosages now and, like you, have had good results. Haven't read much about long term effects or strategies; any more advice?

 

[kireek]

As far as long term effects I don't know.It would be a good question for the chemistry forum.

 

[thaitopher]

Macroalgae

 

[thaitopher]

Consistent water changes

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

One of the nicest tanks I have seen has a meticulous weekly water change, and schedule for cleaning equipment that the owner doesn't miss! @Brad Syphus

 

[jrwoltman]

10% weekly water changes.
Change filter pad 2x week.
Chemiclean elite and purigen.
Tons of live rock.
Skimmer connected to outside air.
Manual topoff and dosing.

 

[Animal Chin]

Electric toothbrush! You can clean anything from powerheads to fragpulgs and you can get in the nooks and crannies of rock if you need to. Just get a rechargable waterproof one, mines Oral b. Seriously, they are the best tank tools ever...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Electric toothbrush! You can clean anything from powerheads to fragpulgs and you can get in the nooks and crannies of rock if you need to. Just get a rechargable waterproof one, mines Oral b. Seriously, they are the best tank tools ever...

My wife is going to be so mad at you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

2. I run a diatom filter on my saltwater storage container. After I make a batch of salt water I turn on the diatom filter and set it to run for 4 hours. What I've noticed this does is remove all the anti caking chemicals and silicates from the water. I've noticed no actual benefit from doing this, do it anyway.

How could it remove soluble silicate? If anything, I'd actually expect it to add silicate as the silica dissolves slightly.

What salt mix are you using, and how do you know what is being removed in an anti caking agent, as opposed to some precipitated calcium carbonate? What do you think it is?

 

[Mikedawg]

Electric toothbrush! You can clean anything from powerheads to fragpulgs and you can get in the nooks and crannies of rock if you need to. Just get a rechargable waterproof one, mines Oral b. Seriously, they are the best tank tools ever...

Great idea, I'll give it a try as soon as I can get mine back from grandkids who use it on the dog!

 

[reefNYC]

This might sound really bad but I put an airstone in my reef tank to reduce my algae growth which was uncontrollable.
Luckily it does not inhibit my coral growth, since my frags are growing nicely.

I just added a protein skimmer because People swear it removes waste however I have not been able to set it correctly. since I need a larger sump.

Also I belive the correct sump size is beneficial to great aquariums. I currently have a 75 gallon tank with a 5 gallon sump. This is clearly wrong because all the waist is n0t being filtered out.

I am upgrading to a 21 gallon sump and hope it will fix many of my aquarium problems which include
1) algae growth on rocks
2) reduce nutrients in water
3) prevent infection
4) reduce water changes
5) Also I want to make a refugium in the sump and add copepods.

I am definitely asking for too much, does anyone have advice on sumps?

 

[mtraylor]

Keep my water quality up. That's about it.

 

[ciscomania]

I am upgrading to a 21 gallon sump and hope it will fix many of my aquarium problems which include
1) algae growth on rocks
2) reduce nutrients in water
3) prevent infection
4) reduce water changes
5) Also I want to make a refugium in the sump and add copepods.

I am definitely asking for too much, does anyone have advice on sumps?

Upgrading to a bigger sump will only fix #5 and nothing else imo.