Coming back after 5 yr hiatus... (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

Hi, Marshians!

I'm back. I had to give up reefing to take up the new hobby--changing diapers. But now the kids are old enough to be interested in aquatic life, so I'm setting up the hardware and getting ready.

But I just remembered: I friggin' forgot what I'm doing. HELP!

I'm starting from scratch so I'm gonna need some friendly advice for getting things started.

Right now, I've got a bare 72 gal bowfront reef -ready system with a trickle filter sump. It's got a skimmer built-in but I'm thinking it might be better to get better one.

So here's what I'm contemplating and I was hoping to get some opinions:

Should I do a plenum or ug filter?
Should I also attach my Eheim canister filter?
Where am I gonna get 65-70 gallons of RO-DI water to fill this big boy?
(should I just mix my tap with the salt and hope for the best?)
What's new to the hobby? I haven't had a reef in about 5 years so I'm way outta date.


Lessons learned for me: If water changes are a pain and messy, the less frequently I'll do them.

So, I'm plumbing through to the bathroom so I can at least discharge the waste water through a line to the bathtub or toilet (beats carrying buckets through my new house). I've setup the return pump with a t-joint and 2 ball valves on each side so I can redirect the water out the discharge tube.

I'm still trying to figure out how to manage the top-off reservoir with fresh water and the vessel for mixing and returning new water. The more I can do this without hauling buckets, the more likely I'll do it. I may need to build a stand for it that gives me more room below than the standard stand that came with it.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any meaty tips!

Bill in Pearland.

 

[jdeveaux]

First let me welcome you back to the obsession

Second - Dump the idea of a trickle filter. Bio-balls = Nitrates

You can still use the filter body as a sump though. The built-in skimmer can get you buy while your tank cycles and you get back up to speed.

There are lots of sources for RO or RO/DI water. I wouldn't use tap water or you're going to have a nutrient problem that drives you crazy.

• RO and RO/DI sources
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• Water machine at grocery store
• Water mill found in random parking lots throughout Houston
• Any LFS will have some of your best water and you can even go with premixed Saltwater
• Get an RO/DI system from one of our RO/DI sponsors.

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I went to the Tractor Supply store for my RO tank and mixing tank then plumbed them up with an old pump to push the mixed and top-off water in from the garage.

Now my RO/DI system connects directly to my main system through a kalk reactor by the way of 3 electronic servo's for redundancy controlled by float valves and my ACIII Controller.

We are working to put together a tank tour on the SE side for the weekend of the 19th which would be a good opportunity to see some setups and ask questions. Also depending on what side of town you are located on you can find some local reefers to meet up with and check out additional setups.

welcome to MARSH and good luck,