What do I need for a perfect tank?

[KLR]

So I thought my 40gal was in good condition and for once in this hobby everything was going smooth... Then BAM my tank starts falling to pieces (in a non literal sense).

This is a marineland 40gal long (48-13-16)
As of now I have a reefevo 120w pendant over it(planned on getting 2 in the future), 2 marineland magnum HOB canister filters,and some other pumps

WELL my tank is going crazy,I will wake up and a coral will be dead or browned out...it is really giving me 2nd thoughts...............:sad:

Anyways if price were not an option what all would you get to make this tank near perfect

Skimmer,Sump,Reactors,Lighting

I have a 3part doser that should be here early this week,manual dosing isnt working anymore.

Ive thought about switching to a 400w MH pendant,should I? or just keep the leds?

Any suggestion is a good one!!

 

[Tabasco1]

I would remove the canister filter and replace with a solid skimmer. If you are not spot on with maintainence those things can be nitrate factories.

Have you tried to figure out what is causing the losses or where you system is underperforming if it even is and the go for the equipment needed?

 

[Harry_Y]

Good Husbandry
Reading material
Diligence

The rest is minor in comparison

 

[KLR]

I was habing alk spikes and drops,which is why I bought the doser. But now this. I was told that it might be because I have to many corals in this size tank. I have alot of zoas and palys in here,would them releasing the small amounts of toxins they do,damage other corals since the tank is so packed?

Any suggestions on a good skimmer,sump,etc?

 

[clowns101]

I would go with a a Bubble Magnus skimmer on a tank like that,they are so nice!Adn they are priced right,personally,a skimmer is a skimmer,Ill PM you some worthy skimmers later today.

I would go get a 20 long sump and put on this tank,then give a section for skimmer,bio media,mechanical media,and return pump...that would be a very nice set up for a sump.

Not sure what else you put on a tank other than what you have,let us know what else you need!

Good luck!

 

[melev]

Without knowing what you have specifically, it's tough to help you. Water quality is the most important aspect to this hobby. Check the thread I put in the Reef Chemistry forum today because it will give you the full overview.

I'm sorry to read you are losing corals. You need to lock down those parameters as fast as possible.

Running carbon in a Phosban Reactor is a good way to pull out toxins. Replace it weekly. 1/2 cup per 50g.

 

[KLR]

Ok im moving all of the zoas out,just incase that is the true reason behind it.

But I still need suggestions on equipment


The parameters are all locked down EXCEPT Alkalinity everything else is stable, that is why im so confused. Usuaully other pars go out of wack when one does,but alk is the only thing messed up

 

[Tabasco1]

Are you running carbon in your canister? I am assuming you are, if so, how often are you changing?

 

[reefpeeper]

How often are your water changes?

 

[KLR]

Carbon is in the canister

I do waterchanges of 8-10 gal biweekly

 

[Tabasco1]

And how often are you changing out the carbon? biweekly opposite your wc? or monthly?

 

[KLR]

monthly

 

[melev]

Carbon is only good for a few days. Tech Tips & Medical Reference

 

[CJO]

I suggest you send all of your corals to me for safe keeping while you figure this out ;)

Carbon is only good for a few days. Tech Tips & Medical Reference

Thanks for the article. I only skimmed it, but I didn't see anything about it being useful for only a few days?

CJ

 

[Nicks387]

Do you have sps? because in a 40 Breeder with mostly zoas and some lps your alk and calcium demand shouldn't be too high, you may be dosing too much alk supplement at a time. As for the 400w halide, forget it. you will toast everything in that tank. In fact, even a 250w in a pendant will throw too much light in the center and not enough on the ends. In a tank that size, with alot of lps and zoas, I recommend a nice T5 fixture. Alk swings in my opinion are amongst the worse things that can happen in a tank. Try dosing less, more frequently, and only when needed.

 

[Nicks387]

Also, how are your phosphates? and what do you do to control them? How do you measure them as well? You say some stuff is browned out and it looks like you are suspecting its your lighting thats causing it but high phosphates can play a big role in corals colors as well.

I see the light is a LED unit. I had a simillar unit that was 120 w on my 40b frag tank and I didn't like it. I swapped it for T5's and am glad I did. Nothing wrong with LED's but they are not all created equal and for me it wasn't a good enough light for that tank. If you don't have a skimmer I would get one for certain. A good one for that tank is the AVAST Cone. You can get a good deal on the DIY kit one they sell.

 

[Electrobes]

I dunno what would cause your problem, but a 400W Halide, while not unheard of in a 40Br, seems WAY overkill. I would worry that maybe it was something toxic.. maybe biological or introduced by accident. Maybe a pump cracked it's casing? Who knows but I would be looking in that type of direction.

 

[Harry_Y]

I think before you run off buying more stuff you
should slow down and figure out your husbandry,

Many in this hobby have awesome tanks on minimal hardware, while
other have the latest and greatest equipment and dying tanks

I do not have a skimmer at all, I removed it and went with an algae turf scrubber
I dose nothing but Kalk in my top off water, and borderline over fed my tank.

The key is stability, do weekly water changes and be diligent
about them. That one thing alove will do wonders for your tank.

It is always best to under stock your tank. I have a 180 and
only 10 fish in it; and half of them are clown size or smaller.

I have tried an lot of things over the years and I have found that
the simple husbandry is the best thing I can do for my tank.
Simply feeding and doing the water changes do the most good.

Way to many people run their tanks too cold, with the levels off, and way underfed.
Get your levels correct (the easiest way is to do some water changes).
Feed your tank (real reefs have far more food in them than most our tanks do).

I have been in this hobby a long time and I'm still learning.
The best thing you can do is to slow down and learn to care for your livestock.

Hope this helps.

PS: We all have been there, and as we learn our tanks respond and do better.

 

[melev]

I suggest you send all of your corals to me for safe keeping while you figure this out ;)



Thanks for the article. I only skimmed it, but I didn't see anything about it being useful for only a few days?

CJ

It's in there. I don't make this stuff up. :)

 

[CJO]

It's in there. I don't make this stuff up. :)

Thanks. I'll read it through again and a bit more thoroughly this time!

CJ