Clown79 Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 3 hours ago, 1st reef said: Thanks for the tips. What did you plug the lower hole with? I have a heater with the return pump. I kept the black sponge in the chamber with 1 bio media bag and 1 carbon. I should replace the sponge with floss? The light Im getting is a 14k. Where do I find a better pump to fit in the tight space? I got more questions than I thought. Lol Will check it out. Thanks. Heaters shouldn't be in the same chamber as the pump. Its dangerous. That chamber the water evaporates plus the heater being near the return hose can possibly damage it. Most don't use sponges. Those are for freshwater biological filtration. Most use floss because its meant to just trap particles but it needs to be changed(discarded) twice a week. We all buy floss in bulk. Pump wise, you need to measure and search for one. I used an aqueon. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 2 hours ago, 1st reef said: Can't you just rinse the sponge every week? Yes, but it never gets clean enough. Even with freshwater, it needs replacing. Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 53 minutes ago, Jakesaw said: Sure, When you rinse the sponge you don't get everything out, you get most out ( whether that be good or bad ), and I was rinsing sponge in sink. Created alot of brown water in sink as I rinsed, squeezed, rinsed some more, but I didn't know if my sink water was going to be bringing chlorine / chloramines, etc over slowly into my tank. Filter floss is easy toss and go, and when bought in bulk and cut to size it's pretty inexpensive. Had been using it 2 weeks and I like the process of remove and swap vs clean sponge. At the moment I'm trying no filter pad at all as I attempt to raise nitrates in my tank. I got this stuff. comes in a rolled sheet and you cut it to dimension for use. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0765BK73V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I'll be rinsing with ro water but might just do the floss and carbon. As for the nitrates... Some try to lower them other try to increase them lol. What's the target? Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 8 minutes ago, Clown79 said: Heaters shouldn't be in the same chamber as the pump. Its dangerous. That chamber the water evaporates plus the heater being near the return hose can possibly damage it. Most don't use sponges. Those are for freshwater biological filtration. Most use floss because its meant to just trap particles but it needs to be changed(discarded) twice a week. We all buy floss in bulk. Pump wise, you need to measure and search for one. I used an aqueon. Thanks. I get flossing then lol. The heater isn't close to the return tube and the bottom of the heater is covered as to not damage anything it touches. Quote Link to comment
PeterU Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 23 minutes ago, 1st reef said: As for the nitrates... Some try to lower them other try to increase them lol. What's the target? 5-10 is my understanding. Quote Link to comment
Jakesaw Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 22 minutes ago, 1st reef said: As for the nitrates... Some try to lower them other try to increase them lol. What's the target? As a fellow newbie, who just started testing them regularly, my initial target is 2-5 range. There's a bit more to it with phos / nitrate ratios but I'm not at that level yet. So for now, I'm just trying to get things off of zero to a level to for coral health. Other more informed reefers can inform beyond that. Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 So, I removed the sponge and just dropped the carbon in the chamber and also moved the heater there. Will go out and get a small pump for increased flow (approx 200gph) how much floss should I add? Quote Link to comment
Jakesaw Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 12 minutes ago, 1st reef said: how much floss should I add? When I asked that question I got alot of answers and made the decision as to what fit my filter best. I had a whisper 20 HOB filter so I cut a square pad to fit the size of filter frame so all the water flowed through it. If you have a chamber and media basket your water all flows through, you could cut it to that size. Others with your tank setup can give other suggestions. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 31 minutes ago, 1st reef said: So, I removed the sponge and just dropped the carbon in the chamber and also moved the heater there. Will go out and get a small pump for increased flow (approx 200gph) how much floss should I add? I cut my floss to square size to fit in my media basket Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 Thanks. Will just shove some floss in there till I make a basket. Quote Link to comment
ReefTaco Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 4 hours ago, 1st reef said: Thanks. So I should remove the sponge and replace it with floss only? Change the floss weekly? Look into a media basket first pulling wet floss out by hand out that small chamber can be cumbersome. Like I said before most people either get the intank aquatics basket or do a DIY basket usually out of eggcrate. Quick Google search you can copy some designs. Hope that helps 1 Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 Is 110 gph enough for filtration? It's over 20 times the turnover. Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 Just added a 240gph powerhead. Should I put it right under the return spout but pointing to the rocks? Quote Link to comment
Jakesaw Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 3 hours ago, 1st reef said: Just added a 240gph powerhead. Should I put it right under the return spout but pointing to the rocks? Those small rocks sure do look interesting. Any rock would be a great frag plug to attach a frag to. 1 Quote Link to comment
Seadragon Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 7 hours ago, 1st reef said: Is 110 gph enough for filtration? It's over 20 times the turnover. 3 hours ago, 1st reef said: Just added a 240gph powerhead. Should I put it right under the return spout but pointing to the rocks? Let me know how this turns out for you. Oddly enough, I'm going to end up using this exact configuration, but different brands, roflmao. A Sicce Syncra Nano Pump (110 gph) and a Hydor Koralia Nano Circulation Pump (240 gph). I will put the Hydor Koralia Nano in the opposite corner diagonally of the output nozzle and point it straight across so that it skims right below the waterline and this will make the water current move in a clockwise fashion in the tank. 1 Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 Yeah.. Will leave it under the return pointed at the rocks since I don't want to have the cable hanging on the other side. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Powerhead placement is different for everyone as aquascape and coral placement determines where the powerbead should go. You want to aim for no dead spots I've made a few media baskets and i preferred the ones made out of craft plastic mesh to eggcrate. Its cheaper, easier to work with, easier to clean. 1 Quote Link to comment
filefishfinatic Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 On 9/11/2021 at 6:07 PM, 1st reef said: thats dry rock. get live sand Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 2 hours ago, filefishfinatic said: thats dry rock. get live sand 2 big pieces in the center are from my lfs. They keep "live" rock in a basin. Took the myself out of the water. The rest are dry rock. I checked ammonia yesterday but the water was very hazy. So I checked nitrite. It was at 1ppm. Will continue to ghost feed and monitor. First the fish will go inside. How long after should I add corals? 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 2 hours ago, 1st reef said: 2 big pieces in the center are from my lfs. They keep "live" rock in a basin. Took the myself out of the water. The rest are dry rock. I checked ammonia yesterday but the water was very hazy. So I checked nitrite. It was at 1ppm. Will continue to ghost feed and monitor. First the fish will go inside. How long after should I add corals? Nothing should be added until the tank is finished cycling. 1 Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 Well, I'm ghost feeding for now. Once cycled, can I add 1 fish and 1 coral? As for the light, it's going be the 11k that comes with the evo. What corals can I even consider based on this set up? And will 10hrs be too much on time for the light? 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 10 hours ago, 1st reef said: Well, I'm ghost feeding for now. Once cycled, can I add 1 fish and 1 coral? As for the light, it's going be the 11k that comes with the evo. What corals can I even consider based on this set up? And will 10hrs be too much on time for the light? I would look at softies and lps as your first corals, maybe not a euphyllia straight away as they can sting other corals and with a small space thats not a lot of fun. 10 hours should be fine for teh light cycle, most people seem to run lighting between 8 and 12 hours Quote Link to comment
1st reef Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 2 hours ago, Ratvan said: I would look at softies and lps as your first corals, maybe not a euphyllia straight away as they can sting other corals and with a small space thats not a lot of fun. 10 hours should be fine for teh light cycle, most people seem to run lighting between 8 and 12 hours Just trying to avoid algae outbreak. But as this is a new setup, I'm sure it'll go through its ugly phases as it matures. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 11 minutes ago, 1st reef said: Just trying to avoid algae outbreak. But as this is a new setup, I'm sure it'll go through its ugly phases as it matures. yeah i run mine at 10 hours on, trying to burn off the uglies asap Quote Link to comment
Jakesaw Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 55 minutes ago, 1st reef said: Just trying to avoid algae outbreak. But as this is a new setup, I'm sure it'll go through its ugly phases as it matures. It's a balancing act. I'm 8 mo into hobby and I started as a fish only system w/ standard florescent aquarium light for a few months to let tank stabilize a bit before adding reef light and never really had an ugly stage or algae breakout. Got some algae coloration on rocks ( started white and are now a shade of light green ish brown ), but never a bad outbreak of any sorts. Recently I got a dino issue I'm working through, but it's largely due to a low nitrate environment that I am correcting by raising nitrates. I wasn't testing any parameters for a long time prior to dinos. 1 Quote Link to comment
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