You have the 55 gal main tank so by a 20 gal long for a sump and divide that 20 gal long into three sections your largest section being your refugium. then the middle section will be for your equipment like skimmer, phosban reactor, heater, etc. and the last section will be to house your pump for returning your water to your main tank.
As far as what equipment you should get I would look at the list of equipment people post under thier profiles. Some people like skimmers some say if you have a refugium you do not need one. someone my not find a need for a phosban reactor and some people swear by them.
Money is always a factor no matter how wealthy you are. I suggest you go the sump route and then make provisions in your sump for a skimmer, see if you need one and if so you can add it at a later date. The one thing you can not change at a later date without wasting money are lights. I know I said this earlier but if you ever plan on having corals go with Metal Halide lights.
Starting tank?
26 posts • Page 2 of 3
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
Yeah for sure. Halides. I cant wait to hook mine up. If you can get a nice prebuilt coralife or aquamedic hood.....24/7 lighting. Which is optimal.... Run a filter sock....These things are like an AC in your car. You dont have to have it......but it sure makes things a HELL of a lot easier. When you buy the socks....buy 4-5 so you can dirty up 4 before you throw them in the washer machine. Check out some of our sumps....I have pics up....Personally I just go the all natural way of filtering... Its FREE and easy. Berlin sump....I have 60lbs of live sand in my 20 gallon sump.....its a lot..I have live rocks and my filter socks a skimmer and a return.......no chemicals at all. And everything reads out nicely in the main tank. With a reef you want to think about adding calcium...Three ways Kalkwasser(this SUCKS) two part(okay but a pain in the ass to dose everyday) or a calcium reactor(pain in the ass to set up.....but no headaches after that....ever) I use a 2 part solution because im not made of money. cost me about 50 bucks per 2-3 months. I use Oceans Blend and im getting INSANE amounts of coralline algae growth. I cant stop it from growing in my front panes....I scrape it once a week its growing so fast. Theres a shit ton more information.....GREAT BOOK....*The consctious marine aquarioust* poor spelling sorry.
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blueshoes2208 - Posts: 1077
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm
humm might look into that book...... does it take long to do the daily dosing or is it jus one of those things you just put a few drops in or whatever
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puffedupseagull - Posts: 623
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:38 am
books are good but personal experience is better. thats why this site is so good. every bodies experience all in one. books are good for pic ref but
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
That book kicks A@# for sure. I have read it at least 4 or 5 times. I agree with puff.....experience beats all.....like right now im getting red slime....joy.....so its cutting back with dosing siphon it out tomorrow....and let it go away. daily dosing is like brushing your teeth after a while.....yes its that routine. You get used to it. And when you go on vacation...ehh w/e your tank will be fine. :) haha.
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gdeeber - Posts: 113
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 12:27 pm
Hey fishboy. If you your red slime is cyno bacteria than I have a solution to your problem. I have been fighting the red slime since my tank was established and I tried everything. What worked for me was a phosban reactor and after it is installed keep the lights on your refugium on 24/7 and only turn your tank lights on for 1-2 hours per day for 2-3 days. What that does is have the cyno release the phosphates and then your phosban reactor will absorb the excess phosphates and keeping your refugium lights on all the time will have your micro algae absorb any excess nutrients. Those two things together will end the cyno cycle for good.
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
hmmm muchas gracias! I will try that out for sure. I did a water change today....so that should help as well.
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saltwaterpimp - Posts: 1307
- Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:22 am
first off 2 part i love but one thing the trace elements get high imo, or chloride ions, 1 of the 2 i am not sure, when i use just the 2 part for extended periods of time i get a slight outbreak, i now use powders inbetween the 2 part + do more water changes, never see the red stuff..so mabie it the 2 part... also i would do more waterchanges,corals produce toxins....do you have fish ?
