My obsession

[DEdwards]

I would try and see how much flow you are getting at the sand bed. That's where you will end up with the dead spots and detris can build up in these dead spots. Most people will say that 10x's your volume is plenty for most coral. I was on that line of thinking until i did a leak and flow test and realized that my power heads just weren't reaching the bottom. Depending on your rock work and arrangement, you might have enough flow but don't be afraid to go over 20x's...guess that was the point of my earlier thread. I don't want you to feel pressured in getting a ton of flow if that's not what you want in your tank.

[CarmieJo]

My corner tank is 23" tall and I am pushing about 17x/hr. I find that this is sufficient. I have my smaller powerhead mounted about half way down in the tank. The return and the larger powerhead intersect near the front middle of the tank and the smaller powerhead intersects that flow creating good flow across the sandbed. I am going to get some Tunze Nano Streams, not for increased flow but for decreased power consumption. They will however increase my circulation from about 1000 GPH to about 1900. Once I get them I will post my impressions to my tank journal.

[CarmieJo]

Oh, and as far as clean-up crew goes there are lots of opinions out there. I use about a 50/50 mix of hermits and snails. There may also be a couple of peppermint shrimp in there but I haven't seen them for a long time.

[duke1231]

DEdwards, thanks for the comment. I think I am going to try and approach 20x turnover rate. I am waiting to hear from AquaC because UPS brought me my skimmer today and it is a HOB skimmer and I want to hang it on my sump, becuase if I have to hang it on my tank I wont have much room left over for another powerhead. Carmie thankyou for your help as well I am going to try the corners as well.

[cmay]

Hi duke1231, I've just read your journal and thought I would say how you have done a great job, being a beginner myself I have also struggled with patience (something I have learnt quickly even after 6 months research I still encountered problems.

I'm at the 5 week stage at the mo,,, introducing LR every other week and 6 man clean up crew. I cant resist looking ever hour at all the new life coming from the rock...

Good luck & Nice Job

[duke1231]

Oh tank you so much cmay I know it is amazing looking into my tank. People who do not know anything about the hobby have a hard time understanding me and laugh at me. I feel bad for them, because they are missing out on some truly awe inspiring displays of mother nature.

[duke1231]

I installed my aquaC HOB yesturday and set the collection cup high, because they said it might not produce much foam for the first week or 2, but when it kicks in it will produce a lot. Well I must be through the break in period because I cant set the collection cup high enough man foam is coming out like crazy, and I already had a tea like color in my cup this morning when I woke up. I felt like a kid a christmas. I love this skimmer.

[duke1231]

My initial aquarium breaking in cycle is complete. The reason for that last statement was to let the people with experience know that I learned a lot from them, and understand that every creature I add will bring a small cycle with it, and that the first one is by no means the end. I will tread very careful and slowly. My lights are on thier way and should be here on 1/11/07 from the good people of aquabay. I ordered the PC Currrent USA orbit fixture with 10000k white/6700k white the Actinic 03/7100k blue and the Lunar light, with fan. I probably would have had the light sooner but the Atlanta store was out, and the only one to have it was in Arizona, so waiting for the train once again. tommorow I am going to my LFS to pick up a 5 gallon bucket of RO for a water change, to get rid of my high nitrates, they are currently reading 10.