Need advice for new tank setup

[Ed Bortoni]

Hey everyone. First of all I want to thank you all for all of your posts, they've been great to read and research my upcoming tank. I have some questions that maybe you guys can help me with. I'm currently in the buying / research phase of getting back into the hobby after 10 years of being out (used to have a FOWLR in the past).

What I have:

* 75 gal reef ready tank
* AquaC remora EV-180 skimmer
* Trigger Systems: Ruby30 sump
* Pumps and power heads
* 2 (65W) Chinese LED fixtures with custom LED config
* DIY aquarium controller / ATO system
* Heaters etc...

Goals:
* To eventually have a mandarin among fish population
* To limit water changes to 10% water change every 3 weeks to once a month
* Mixed Reef, mostly LPS and softies with few SPS

Questions:
* To achieve the water change schedule I need something that keeps my nitrates / phosphates in check so I'm contemplating one of these methods: DIY ATS, vodka / vinegar dosing, or plain macro algae in the sump.

Which of these methods would be better to go with for the long term health of the tank?

 

[Ed Bortoni]

bump

 

[4FordFamily]

Hey everyone. First of all I want to thank you all for all of your posts, they've been great to read and research my upcoming tank. I have some questions that maybe you guys can help me with. I'm currently in the buying / research phase of getting back into the hobby after 10 years of being out (used to have a FOWLR in the past).

What I have:

* 75 gal reef ready tank
* AquaC remora EV-180 skimmer
* Trigger Systems: Ruby30 sump
* Pumps and power heads
* 2 (65W) Chinese LED fixtures with custom LED config
* DIY aquarium controller / ATO system
* Heaters etc...

Goals:
* To eventually have a mandarin among fish population
* To limit water changes to 10% water change every 3 weeks to once a month
* Mixed Reef, mostly LPS and softies with few SPS

Questions:
* To achieve the water change schedule I need something that keeps my nitrates / phosphates in check so I'm contemplating one of these methods: DIY ATS, vodka / vinegar dosing, or plain macro algae in the sump.

Which of these methods would be better to go with for the long term health of the tank?

I use GFO, massive skimmers, chaeto (although my equipment tends to starve it honestly), and I used to vinegar and vodka dose (different times) and wasn't happy with the progress nor was I happy when dinoflagellates appeared for the first time in 10 years. Not sure if related but I'm done with that!

 

[lou dog420]

Being that you want to keep a mandarin, I would go with a nice healthy good sized refugium.

 

[Ed Bortoni]

Being that you want to keep a mandarin, I would go with a nice healthy good sized refugium.

That's actually a main point I need clarity on. The middle section of the sump is where I was wondering what to do. I have some LR rubble I was going to put there but in addition to that I was doubting between a DIY ATS there or some macro algae. Would any of these 2 choices in addition to the rubble hurt pod production? If they both would be ok, which would be better for my other goals?

 

[lou dog420]

I went with miracle mud and caulerpa. Have lots of copapods and amphipods in there, they love the caulerpa!!

 

[LAFANBLUE]

I am using a Ruby 36 and one thing that I completely hate about it is that my Skimmer sits right in front of the filter socks... depending on the size of the skimmer its a pain to change the socks.

 

[Ed Bortoni]

I am using a Ruby 36 and one thing that I completely hate about it is that my Skimmer sits right in front of the filter socks... depending on the size of the skimmer its a pain to change the socks.

AGREE! Even though I've yet to get my tank running, in dry fitting things that sock section is problematic. The AquaC I got is fairly large and nearly doesn't fit in that section. I'm planning on NOT running socks for this reason. I guess I'm wondering if there is some substantial advantage to running an ATS vs some macro algae and a very good grow light.

 

[beaslbob]

Being that you want to keep a mandarin, I would go with a nice healthy good sized refugium.

+1

IMHO all aquariums need plant life like macro algae (chaeto). By using a refugium you also provide a pod (food) source for the mandarin.
Macro algae consume ammonia (before nitrates), nitrates, phosphates, carbon dioxide, and filters out heave metal toxins as well. While returning oxygen and fish food. Plus it stabilizes operation to prevent tank crashes.

I personally know of no other method of nitrate reduction that does the same things.


Still that's just my .02