75 gallon keeping it simple

[saltwater addict420]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=2675&thumb=1 ('http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=2675') http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=2677&thumb=1 ('http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=2677') http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=2673&thumb=1 ('http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=2673') my 75 gallon
empurer 450 hang on
sea colon skimmer
one 950 power head and on 1050
sump in construction 11" wide 18 high 36 long makes the tank like 105 gallon fully running.
sea colon beefed up with two 100 gallon air pumps with micro stones, pound pump 800 ghr
just waiting on over flow box to come in mail, CPR Deluxe Overflow CS100 800 GPH

i started the tank in high school so its ben running for about six years never had a fish just die unless it was eating by somthing lol. but never worryed bout the nitrates and phos, cuz just had fish in the tank now im trying to turn it into a reef, and taking any tips i can git along the wayhttp://DSCN0895http://DSCN0899
http://DSCN0891
http://DSCN0819

[Sir Patrick]

You have an RO filter? Have you looked into bacteria/carbon dosing or Granular ferric oxide? All of these will help alot w/ nitrate/phosphate, and the algea that goes along with it.

1 powerhead isnt going to be adaquate for this tank. More flow can only help. If the flow doesnt keep nutrients suspended in the water column, they will not get removed w/ the protein skimmer, and will settle to break down in the tank, causing more NO3 and PO4.

Old, used light bulbs will also grow algea pretty well. Is your light fixture new or used?

So far though, looks like you are on the right track for info to getting this tank into shape! I too like the keep it simple aproach.

[saltwater addict420]

I never tryed anything to keep to get rid of all that, just water change once month with r/o water, so ill check that out asap and get another powerhead in there this weekend. besides that the lights are bran new light bulbs and fix, but i want to change the light bulbs to a diffrent brand. I was trying to find uv international bulbs but i cant find anyware that sells them. got any tips on wats a good brand of bulbs? bacteria/carbon dosing or Granular ferric oxide? wats that i never heard of it ?

[saltwater addict420]

yea i talked to the guy its just i work 2nd **** and live downriver so warren in kinda a drive on a work day, but hopefully this guy really wants this shark cuz im gona try to build a sump this week end got any tips on wat to build it out of? or pics i should look at to get a idea?

---------- Post added at 10:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 AM ----------

and ur right that shark stirs all the stuff on the bottum up into the tank so ur right not clean water was good for just fish but nothing else.

[saltwater addict420]

def dont have lot of pace old school stand, heavy duty but no room under got 11 inchs wide to work with so im gona have to crate somthin:( so im thinking 11" wide 14high and 30 long, think im gona have a night mare cuz tanks got braces in the inside that have to stay so im gona build down the middle of it so i guess my next ? is ware do i get material to do this, i have a idea how to make it just dont know wat to use any hints

---------- Post added at 11:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------

i dont get it cuz the tank is 18" wide but there is no room under there. its built out of 2x3, 2x4s but it wat free thats the catch lol

[Sir Patrick]

Be sure to click the "short demo" on the bottom left of the page-

1 Pound (453 Grams) Bulk GFO Granular Ferric Oxide - English (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/carbon-and-gfo/bulk-gfo-granular-ferric-oxide-phosphate-remover/bulk-granular-gfo-phosphate-remover/1-pound-453-grams-bulk-gfo-granular-ferric-oxide.html)

[Sir Patrick]

And here is one of the many dactria/carbon dosing products available out there-

Brightwell Aquatics - Microbacter7 (http://brightwellaquatics.com/products/microbacter7t.php)


Brightwell Aquatics - Reef BioFuel (http://brightwellaquatics.com/products/reefbiofuelt.php)


There is also this-

io Pellet Reactor and Biopellets | Bulk Reef Supply - English (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/aquarium-additives-supplements/bio-pellets)


You will want to research the bacteria/carbon dosing very well before starting. There are a few important pieces of information that go along with this process that you will want/need to be familiar with before you start.

[Sir Patrick]

And- if you decide to keep it simple, and are not ready to jump into a sump right away, there are a few HOB protein skimmers out there these days that will be far superior to what you are running right now-

Reef Octopus Extreme HOB Skimmer OCT-BH800SBS - English (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/protein-skimmers/reef-octopus-protein-skimmers/reef-octopus-extreme-hob-skimmer-oct-bh800sbs.html)


Reef Octopus Hang-on-the-Back 2000 OCT-BH2000 - English (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/protein-skimmers/reef-octopus-protein-skimmers/reef-octopus-hang-on-the-back-2000-oct-bh2000.html)


BUBBLE-MAGUS - Aquarium Internal skimmer|external skimmer|Dosing pump|Calcium reactor|Nitrate reductor/NO3 reductor|Filters|Turtle shell lampshade|Water monitor and controller|Additives|moonlight LED (http://www.bubble-magus.com/en/productShow.asp?id=968)

And there are a few others out there too.

[MizTanks]

Wow Sir-great info great links thanks!

[saltwater addict420]

def like that oct-bh2000' design. so u think my skimmer is part the prob? and yea dont think im ready to do the sump just yet, i just bout another powerhead today and got a no stagment areas in the tank but gona check more into this skimmer.

[saltwater addict420]

thanks for taking time to school me im geeked to get this tank in TO SHAPE!!!!lol

[Sir Patrick]

Any time man. I have been there and done that. Figured i would try to get ya off to a good start.

Your skimmer, on your tank, is a definite set back......

Your tank needs some time and some reading into the "pro-biotices" wont hurt.

Glad to hear ya added some more flow. What exactly did you add?

[saltwater addict420]

Any time man. I have been there and done that. Figured i would try to get ya off to a good start.

Your skimmer, on your tank, is a definite set back......

Your tank needs some time and some reading into the "pro-biotices" wont hurt.

Glad to hear ya added some more flow. What exactly did you add?

i add a 950hr pump just like the one i had but got it placed so that the hole tank is got good circulation, no ware for anything to settle down in the tank i found a 20 long that im in the process of truning into a sump, just got the glass dividers today so hopefully i can have it runing in the next two weeks cuz i see wat u were saying about not enough so def gona do it right and do the research first.:big_grin:

[saltwater addict420]

i started to get the nitrates/ phosphates under control under the and the algae is dieing off each day. Its like magic, had this tank for years never fixed that prob or at least not till i tried to turn it into a reef and it feels good to be on the right step for once thanks everyone for ur input. KISS....

started the sump build for the tank.
20gallon long/ dividers
coral reef skimmer
pound pump 900gh retrun
bio balls live sand/ rock
will have pics later today if every thing gose good should be on the tank and running by next week

only thing i need to get is overflow box for tank and dont think im gona try to build that but the rest is all DIY AKA KISS

[saltwater addict420]

hey got a quick ? i got a sea clone proskimmer and im trying to build a sump was thinking about running a air hose threw the top to the bottom of the skimmer with a micro bobble stone and using a 100 gallon air pump to bost it do u think it would work? cuz i no those skimmers suck but just have it laying around

[Sir Patrick]

I would have to say it is worth a shot. Some have had success doing this w/ some of the lower end skimmers. Give it a try.

[saltwater addict420]

Anyone no ware to buy uvl brand t5 bulbs???