Brian110
01-31-2007, 08:31 PM
So I got in to saltwater tanks november 04. I kinda fell into it. My sister's boyfriend was selling his setup for $200! 110 gal, Iron stand, overflow, 2in. crushed coral bed, wet-dry sump, 2 ft. T-5's and about 10lb of rock. he also had a bubble wand on it, going the entire leingth of the tank. there were chemicals he told me had to be dosed all the time and the fish stock... a tomato clown (now gone) a bi color angel, a domino damsel also gone. Both those fish were killed by a niger trigger who snapped and went on a crazy frenzy when he started getting teeth. he also ate a blood shrimp and an emerald crab. So basically after a little over a year of undoing all of his bad, and I mean BAD advise, I've begun to realize why he sold me the tank. He had no clue as to what he was doing. Not that I do, but he told me the tank was reef ready! It didn't even have 1 power head in it. I've been doing what I can to get the tank to reef capable standards, and have a few things on my list to buy.
1) RO/DI filter... he told me tap water was fine... right.
2) a deeper sand bed... Once those bio balls are out I need to re think the de-nitrification.
3) bigger sump/fuge... it only has a 10 gal!!!!! barely fits the wet/dry, skimmer and return pump.
4) more flow... I have now about 800 gal/hr. of powerheads. plus return pump (500/hr - head loss).
5) more rock... Currently I have 50-60 lbs and am talking to LFS about getting some base dead rock. I'm gonna cook it and cement it to a nice rock setup, try and make it open and well flowing.
What to do first????
I have a very limited budget,(single dad, bankrupt, dead beat mom not paying support, long story.)
I'm looking at the ro/di as the first one. but the sump is a close second. I can do that cheeper. My nitrate levels kinda peak at 40ppm or so and drop after I do a water change, (once a month 20 gal). I have a host of things to do. the biggest thing is that I do have some fish,(bi color, 2 dominos, 2yellowtail damsels) 20 or so snails, and 15 hermet crabs.
kind stumped. any Ideas where to start? I know what I want to do but just kinda looking for a push in the direction to start with.
Thanks, I think this is a great little community that is more about growing the hobby and education than the other site I was with before. I'm looking forward to being a part of it!
1) RO/DI filter... he told me tap water was fine... right.
2) a deeper sand bed... Once those bio balls are out I need to re think the de-nitrification.
3) bigger sump/fuge... it only has a 10 gal!!!!! barely fits the wet/dry, skimmer and return pump.
4) more flow... I have now about 800 gal/hr. of powerheads. plus return pump (500/hr - head loss).
5) more rock... Currently I have 50-60 lbs and am talking to LFS about getting some base dead rock. I'm gonna cook it and cement it to a nice rock setup, try and make it open and well flowing.
What to do first????
I have a very limited budget,(single dad, bankrupt, dead beat mom not paying support, long story.)
I'm looking at the ro/di as the first one. but the sump is a close second. I can do that cheeper. My nitrate levels kinda peak at 40ppm or so and drop after I do a water change, (once a month 20 gal). I have a host of things to do. the biggest thing is that I do have some fish,(bi color, 2 dominos, 2yellowtail damsels) 20 or so snails, and 15 hermet crabs.
kind stumped. any Ideas where to start? I know what I want to do but just kinda looking for a push in the direction to start with.
Thanks, I think this is a great little community that is more about growing the hobby and education than the other site I was with before. I'm looking forward to being a part of it!