reef ??

[jinx]

i been keeping fish only tanks for awhile and i never really wanted to venture into reefs but today is a new day and i have lots and lots of questions that prolly sound stupid but hey i rather ask dumb question then do dumb things .... anyhow, UG in a reef tank? substrate is calcite ... is it best to have no substrate at all? ... is it possible to reef with floresent fixtures only? what modification do i need to do to my filters to support a reef? currently it's a wet/dry/skimmer setup with shotgun wadding as bio media... should i add a refuguim? can i use my lava rock as base rocks to build on? ....

-jinx  ???

 

[arcab4]

hey jinx,

i'll try to help with some of the questions....

in my tank, i have a DSB (deep sandbed) it's the rage nowadays over at reefcentral. and i have to say i'm a big supporter of DSB. the only filtration i have in my tank is the live rock and the DSB. no skimmer, nada. I've seen tanks that run w/o substrate and they do fine also. i don't exactly know what calcite is, but for DSB, you want really fine particles of sand. stay away from crushed coral.

i would use at least power compacts for lighting. once this hobby sucks u in, you'll want more..so if u can afford it, get MH (metal halides!) that'll allow you to keep the majority of corals in the market. and the shimmering effect is cool.

liverock is different from regular FW rocks. umm..not sure about lava rocks. hope someone else can help you with that.

refugiums are a good thing to have but not a necessity.

leme see...well..i would suggest asking alot of questions and doing alot of research before you jump in. like you said...do things right the first time.

good luck!

 

[jinx]

DSB.... is that like going to home depot and getting some silica sand, then getting some live sand from a LFS then mixing it together? how deep should it be and could i switch my filter to that now and support fish only? i have to save some $$... fuji live rock is around $13/lb @ the LFS ... i'm in a richer part of so cal. so the prices are inflated here ...

-jinx

 

[Pooky125]

A DSB is usually consitered between 2-4 inches, most people aim for the higher side of that, if not more. Stay away from crushed coral, ect. It gives you higher nitrates. I srongley suggest live sand, but, it can be made, silica sand should do just fine.. How big of a tank are you thinking about doing? If you have a bio wheel, lose it, again, nitrate factory. Refuguim like arcab said, isn't a nessecity, but its a really nice thing to have. If your looking at a reef 30 gallons and under, which would actually be consitered a nano by most. try http://www.nano-reef.com. Very helpful, you will learn alot, plus, they have some AWESOME tanks for inspirtation. If your going for more of a standard size reef, then reefcentral is the place to go http://www.reefcentral.com. Again, really helpful. For a beginner reef, start with the biggest one you can afford, live rock is a definate plus. Try going to a different LFS, aways from there, the closest LFS near me, it's 6.99/pd. Which, all things consitered, is actually a pretty good price. For all around reef/fish keeping info, I suggest Bob Fenner's website. I hear he has some awesome books, but, I've never had the chance to read any. http://www.wetwebmedia.com. Will answer personal questions, very helpful and friendly, great site! Research is a huge key in having a successful reef! You can use NO (normal output) florescents for it, but, the only things you'll be able to keep are some mushrooms and feather dusters. VHO (very high output) will give you a little more selection, but, I to also recommend pretty strongly PC lights. Buy the fixture from home depot, and get the lights from http://www.hellolights.com There really cheap. You prolly want 50/50 bulbs, for the best variety of corals. I've never kept a reef, or saltwater for that matter, but, I've done research out my ears. Expect to spend about $50/gallon, minimum.You minght want to consiter starting with a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) first, until you get the hang of everything. Read alot, learn alot, and try and buy as many different species of tank raised as possible. I've read the horrors of how the catch wild fish! It isn't pretty at all! Good Luck and tell us how it goes!

 

[jinx]

okay seems like i'mma modify my filter for now and plan on adding a seprate reef only tank to the setup later ... didn't win the lottery tonight so the project got scaled down a bit ... for now .. hehehe ..

thanks for the info guys/gal
-jinx *thumbsupsmiley*

 

[eseow]

I don't think silica sand is good idea. The silica will possibly cause brown algae (diatom algae). I would use live sand or oolite sand. It should be aragonite based not silica. You need the calcium buffering. I run 2-3 inch sand bed with a CPR BAK skimmer.  UGF is usually for Jaubert plenum system with no skimmer. I wouldn't recommend not to use skimmer unless you really know your setup. Some reefers use no substrate for easy care of corals. They try to keep the tank free of wastes which would lay in the substrate and deteriate water quality. As for wet/dry, not need is enough live rock/live sand and efficient skimmer used. Refugiums help by removing excess nutrients from the water to keep micro algae down. You can also harvest macro algae for any herbivore fish also. Lava rock from what I know is not recommended. I read that is leaches something, but I forget. IMO, live rock is your best rock to use, not decoration rock or coral looking rocks. Also the lighting also depend on whats in the tank. I say at least Power Compacts, actinic and white. Metal halides depends on if you need that much intensity, usually for corals, but heat is also an issue plus price. It will also bleach coralline algae of the rocks its too bright. Man, $13/lb for live rock is high. I would rather try buying online than pay that much. Try www.tampabaysaltwater.com . I have some of that rock. Has the most life on it I found so far. I never ordered directly from them, but got it from LFS who does. IMO, it worth it. Can be bought here in SoFla for around $4/lb to $7/lb @ LFS. Anyway, Good Luck *thumbsupsmiley*

 

[jinx]

Okay .. I did some homework... The calcite I got is from Seachem it's marine substrate for a reef ... lucky me... My filter is already setup for a DSB all i have to do is remove the bio media and fill it with sand... I'll try to keep you guys updated.. I started a new project so I doubt I'mma have time to get my hands wet for awhile ...Silica sucks? .... I have to look into that... oh and the LavaRock doesn't leech stuff. One of my buddies took it all from me and he's in the process of making it into live rock.. He told me that he's done it before and it's fairly simple... just time consuming... Thank God for friends... and the internet .. hehe .. I'll let you guys know what he does if/when he gets it done...

 

[wayne]

How does calcite reduce pH when used with a carbon filter?  Calcium carbonate (calcite) is usually associated with buffering, and raising pH, and the carbon in a carbon filter is pretty effectively inert

 

[dattack]

Jinx,
Where are you located in S. Cal?  California is one of the cheapest places to get your equipment and corals for a reef.
There are many wholesalers down here and you can get it half of what most LFS sells them.  I personally bought all my equipment online from some of the various california stores.  I sometimes go and pick it up to save money.  I have tons of caulerpa also if you are interested.

Some california online stores and wholesale places.
www.marinedepot.com
www.reeffanatic.com
www.exoticfish.com
www.hellolights.com

 

[jinx]

Yep you're right.  :-X  Calcite is okay... Mine was just not pure calcite. I took some over to the Fish Store. The guy gave it to one of his employees, actually looked like his brother. He went to the back and after 1/2 an hour came back and told me it wasn't all calcite. It was actually mixed with a buncha other stuff that had a negative effect on my aquarium.  The whole thing about carbon filters and calcite was a OPPSS!!... Happens when your prize fish dies and all I remember hearing was calcite... carbon.... and dead fish... After going back over there to confirm the problem.. He explained it as the calcite was realeasing CO2 into the water which was undissolved and prolly not escaping from the water. CO2 in excessive amounts lowers Ph. He confirmed it by asking me "Did your fish die over night.. and did you have a sudden outbreak of alge?" "Yep... but I cleaned it off and the next day it was back but I kept cleaning..." Umm guess the alge was a way for the aquarium to get rid of that excess of CO2... Supposedly there's more CO2 in the tank at night.... another ooppss.. :-X Crap I feel stupid now but I guess thats how you learn....