Ideas on what to add or upgrade/modify my reef aquarium. - Aquarium Advice

DragonForce · 11-21-2006, 02:21 AM

Hello. Currently I have a 37gallon reef with about 80lbs of LR. 3-4 inch sand bed prizm hob skimmer nano artica chiller 2 mj1200 poweheads. I would like to stay sumpless but am open to any ideas about how to make my system more stable and keep no3 down

It contains 2 true percula clownfish and 1 randalls shrimp goby
Also the inverts are;
20+ snails
8+ hermits
1 rock boring urchin
1emerald crab
1cbs
1tigertail cucumber that i never see anymore because he hides in the back of the tank and eats sand sticking a tiny bit of hit head out a hole i can barely see sometimes
2 peppermint shrimp
1pistol shrimp (not paired with goby)
1 serpent starfish

also various soft and LPS corals

I am looking to add some new things. and am open to lots of ideas of different things to add or upgrade the performance of my tank.

**roka64** · 11-21-2006, 09:29 AM

What is your No3 reading now?
How often/what/how much do you feed?
Are you just looking to get the No3 down or are you looking at adding more fish or equipment?

DragonForce · 11-21-2006, 09:36 AM

I can't seem to get it to drop below 10ppm. Maybe if I upgrade the skimmer that might helpreduce nitrates. I will probably add 1 more fish then just add corals and clean up crew as I need it. Feed every other day pellet and frozen. Doing 5-10g water changes every week to every 2 weeks.

**roka64** · 11-21-2006, 09:51 AM

Is all the food being consumed? It sounds like you might be adding a little too much food and what doesn't get eaten will produce nitrAtes. Do you have excess food on the bottom?

austinsdad · 11-21-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

can't seem to get it to drop below 10ppm

I think that's just fine. Lot's of folks would kill for nitrate that low. 20 or below is acceptable from what I hear most.

**roka64** · 11-21-2006, 10:09 AM

I agree! Sorry, I forgot to add that.

**melosu58** · 11-21-2006, 10:46 AM

IF you are at 10 on your nitrates then you are OK. Weekly PWC`s will keep it there and maybe get better but if you can keep it at 10 you`ll be OK.

DragonForce · 11-23-2006, 03:25 AM

I usually throw in a half a cube of frozen, I like to throw it in while its frozen so it breaks up slowly and then my clown fish grabs it and rubs it in my frogspawn. Much of the foot gets blown around then they go and find it.

Does anyone think a better HOB than the prizm would help my cause? i really do hate this skimmer.

Squado · 11-23-2006, 01:28 PM

Have you ever considered adding a refuge? I have had no problems with my trates after adding a fuge and noticed a somewhat better pod population in my tank as well. Def one of the better add ons to a tank imo...

brad3314 · 11-24-2006, 06:10 PM

asking silly questions here but can someone tell me how a refuge actually works and what it does

11-21-2006, 02:21 AM	#1
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	Ideas on what to add or upgrade/modify my reef aquarium. Hello. Currently I have a 37gallon reef with about 80lbs of LR. 3-4 inch sand bed prizm hob skimmer nano artica chiller 2 mj1200 poweheads. I would like to stay sumpless but am open to any ideas about how to make my system more stable and keep no3 down It contains 2 true percula clownfish and 1 randalls shrimp goby Also the inverts are; 20+ snails 8+ hermits 1 rock boring urchin 1emerald crab 1cbs 1tigertail cucumber that i never see anymore because he hides in the back of the tank and eats sand sticking a tiny bit of hit head out a hole i can barely see sometimes 2 peppermint shrimp 1pistol shrimp (not paired with goby) 1 serpent starfish also various soft and LPS corals I am looking to add some new things. and am open to lots of ideas of different things to add or upgrade the performance of my tank. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

11-21-2006, 09:29 AM	#2
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,329 Images: 12	What is your No3 reading now? How often/what/how much do you feed? Are you just looking to get the No3 down or are you looking at adding more fish or equipment? __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

11-21-2006, 09:36 AM	#3
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	I can't seem to get it to drop below 10ppm. Maybe if I upgrade the skimmer that might helpreduce nitrates. I will probably add 1 more fish then just add corals and clean up crew as I need it. Feed every other day pellet and frozen. Doing 5-10g water changes every week to every 2 weeks. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

11-21-2006, 09:51 AM	#4
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,329 Images: 12	Is all the food being consumed? It sounds like you might be adding a little too much food and what doesn't get eaten will produce nitrAtes. Do you have excess food on the bottom? __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

11-21-2006, 10:09 AM	#6
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,329 Images: 12	I agree! Sorry, I forgot to add that. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

11-21-2006, 10:46 AM	#7
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,135 Images: 76	IF you are at 10 on your nitrates then you are OK. Weekly PWC`s will keep it there and maybe get better but if you can keep it at 10 you`ll be OK. __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

11-23-2006, 03:25 AM	#8
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	I usually throw in a half a cube of frozen, I like to throw it in while its frozen so it breaks up slowly and then my clown fish grabs it and rubs it in my frogspawn. Much of the foot gets blown around then they go and find it. Does anyone think a better HOB than the prizm would help my cause? i really do hate this skimmer. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

11-23-2006, 01:28 PM	#9
Squado Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 328 Images: 3	Have you ever considered adding a refuge? I have had no problems with my trates after adding a fuge and noticed a somewhat better pod population in my tank as well. Def one of the better add ons to a tank imo...

11-24-2006, 06:10 PM	#10
brad3314 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 86	asking silly questions here but can someone tell me how a refuge actually works and what it does

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