90 gallon build for no water changes

[Mikosreef]

Hi All,
I was in the hobby about 8 years ago and had a 90 gallon. Now looking to get back in.

Just purchased the following
- RO/DI unit
- 90 gallon marineland tank and stand with corner overflow
- 20 gallon tank to be used as sump
- sycce syncra 5 return pump
- clearwater 200 algae turf scrubber
- caribsea special grade reef sand 2x40lb bags
- instant ocean reef crystals
- dead rock and coral skeleton

Wondering if anyone here started a tank from scratch with only an algae turf scrubber as the only source of export/filtration.

I would like to/aim to:
- NOT use a skimmer
- NOT do any water changes EVER or once a year

Planning on
- Starting the tank with a sandbed
- Starting the tank with dry rock (not live rock)

I heard from the local fish store that there are ways to kick start the cycle using ammonia and fritz nitrifying bacteria.

In the past, we just threw in a damsel to kick off the cycle.

Couple questions i have
1 - Should i go with the damsel or the 'no fish cycle' method
2 - anyone have experience using just an algae turf scrubber from day 1

Thanks for all the responses ahead of time y'all.

Lastly i plan on documenting everything on youtube.

 

[It’sMeCoryT]

Hey, sounds interesting. I’m going to tag along in this journey. Yeah I’ve always cycled with plain ammonia, and seed it with something from an established tank.

 

[Mikosreef]

Hey, sounds interesting. I’m going to tag along in this journey. Yeah I’ve always cycled with plain ammonia, and seed it with something from an established tank.

Follow me on instagram. @Mikosreef

 

[Brett S]

One thing to consider is that water changes provide more than just waste export. They also provide trace element import. I suspect that with your turf scrubber and all you probably won’t have much of a problem with the waste export side, but you may wind up with trace element depletion. Take a look at the triton method though. I don’t know a lot about it, but it is a no water change method.

 

[Mikosreef]

Yes, i heard/read triton method provides you with testing and recommendations of dosing.

Thanks for the recommendation.

I am sure others on here have done this before. Aka start with just a scrubber. Would like to hear from someone who has done it.

 

[Brett S]

The other question is... what do you plan to keep in the tank? If you’re going fish only then trace elements probably won’t be much of a problem. If you’re planning to go reef then I think you may have issues down the line.

 

[Mikosreef]

Heres what i am thinking for the setup.

Let me know if anyone has any recommendations on anything

 

[tony'stank]

I have a RSR450 (93G) and I don’t do water changes. I started with the Triton method but switched to the ATI essentials. The Triton method has very specific requirments with regard to return pump flow and refugium size and manageme. The Triton additives are mor concentrated and leave little margin for error. I found the ATI essentials easier to use. Both methods depend on frequent ICP tests to find out and correct water components
Good luck

 

[Mikosreef]

Here's an update.

Tank has been up from January 2021.

No water changes so far.

2 false occelaris clowns (1 died of brook, 1 is in quarantine from brook and is healthy and recovering)

1 blue tang (had ich for a bit on and off but now ich free, did not do any treatment, just feed selcon with new life spectrum, fresh crushed garlic soaked new lofe spectrum, nori seaweed, mysis shrimp)

1 flame angel

1 cleaner shrimp

20-40 hermit crabs

no skimmer

no algae turf scrubber

1 sponge filter

about 60 lbs of dry rock

chaeto in the sump



Bunch of coral frags

Xenia - shrunk recently (not sure why)

Clove polyps - doing ok, spreading but not all polyps are open all the time, seems to be doing ok

Green star polyps - doing really well, growing steadily about 1" per month on all sides

Red monti - turned pink... looks to be fading but not bleaching (not sure whyn suapecting low nutrients or trace elements)

Green monti - growing slowly, has white rings,

Sunset monti - growing slowly and doing well

5 different kinds of zoas - doing well, not sure if its growing but seems healthy

Red mushroom - doing well growing slowly

Dosing
Magnesium - none
Calcium - abput 5ml per week
Alkalinity- about 10 to 15 ml per day