Reef tank maintence...

[tommyc]

Hi, I'm new here and to the hobby. I have:
125 gallon tank
Wet/dry soon to be converted to refugium
Berlin turbo skimmer (works great)
2 150 watt metal halides
2 CF 50/50 95 watt each
140 lbs of live rock.
120 lbs live sand

Question: I'm changing 25% of water a month and vacuuming the sand.
How often if ever will I need to move or remove my LF and clean the sand underneath it?
Should I be cleaning the LR at all?

[zhenya]

Hi tommyc,

Question: I'm changing 25% of water a month and vacuuming the sand.
How often if ever will I need to move or remove my LF and clean the sand underneath it?
Should I be cleaning the LR at all?

Stop vacuuming your live sand if you want your sand to remain being alive(most organisms residing in your sand bed are found in the top inch or two that you are vacuuming). And, no need to lift your live rock to clean it. In fact, try not to disturb much in your tank. ;)
If you like to clean your live rock a bit you can simply point a powerhead at it to blow it off. I do it every water change to keep stuff from settling on it for too long.

[tommyc]

Thanks for the info. Regarding the sand, that is a different opinion than I have been told.
I was told to siphon the "junk" out of the sand when doing a water change.
Do you just change out the water and that's it?

Any one else have a different maintence technique?

[charlie]

Don't be touching that sand bed, your tanks life depends on it. Like Zhenya said, if you need to clean the LR, point a powerhead at it.

[tommyc]

Roger wilco.
Thank you.

How do you feel about UV sterilizers for a reef tank?

[charlie]

Not an essential, but it doesn't hurt. I know a bunch of folks that run them.

Was it limpets?

[Doodaa]

Is the sand, sand? Meaning fine grained (sugar sized) particles? It's not crushed coral is it? If it is, then you do need to clean it.

If it is good sand then leave it alone. Do you have really good flow? If stuff (detritus) collects in an area, you can definately suck that up...just don't suck up and disturb the sand.

[tommyc]

Yes, sand. Thanks.
Flow is good. I have a little giant external pump. It "effin" rocks from what I can tell.
The sand is collecting algea on top. I stirred it up to clean it off and the whole tank was full of little white particles... Is that good or bad?
They settled eventaully.
The tank chemistry is all good.
Thanks for the input everybody.
I'm really new to this so all opinions are appreciated!
My tank is beautiful.
I will post pics tonight or tomorrow.
TC

[tommyc]

Mr. Charlie, what is limpets?

[charlie]

Believe this or not, I posted that in the wrong thread
These are limpets. Sorry if I confused you.

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001418/limpet.html

[tommyc]

ok, thanks Charlie. Check out my pics. She is a beaut!

[tommyc]

Limpets look cool. I have an electric fire scallop in my tank. Very cool. Lots o neat stuff available here in south florida.
I'm going to start up a refugium this weekend.
I'm gonna get a used one from craigslist and put miracle mud and some cheato algea in. Then attach it to my wetdry.
This hobbly is exciting and expensive.
Hey Charlie, can you loan my $1000? haha..

[charlie]

I need to loan me a grand first.

What kind of rock is that in your tank?

[tommyc]

I'm not sure what kind of rock is in there. I had a guy come in and set it up for me since I'm new to this hobby.
My 30 gallon tank has fiji rock, it's just as nice as the 125 gallon tank. The Fiji rock down here is 5 to 7 $ per pound.
Your tank is huge looking! How long is the baby?
Is 25% water change per month okay?
I should just spihon out water and replace correct? No messing with the sand bed.

[charlie]

My tank is a 300 gallon, 8 ft. long.

I change 25 gallons a week in my system, which is probably about a 400 gallon system counting the sump and refugium.

As far as telling you how much water to change, I am not gonna go there. 25% a month is fine, I guess. Alot of how you gauge water changes and their frequency depends on your bio load. For starters, I think you are OK with where you are now.

[Parrothead]

I think the rock in the 125 is some gulf aquacultured, it kinda looks like the rock I got in my 55, a little closer shot for a little more detail might help


Tanks,
Robert

[tommyc]

Thanks Charlie. My chemistry has been good, so I'll keep doing the same routine.
I'm gonna either buy a used or make a DIY refugium this weekend.
Any helpful suggestions you can think of ?

[charlie]

Just do a little searching around here on peoples refugiums, I am sure you can find some helpful info.

[tommyc]

I have a 30 gallon homemade refugium now.
One thing I can't figure out is how to plumb the refugium, wet-dry and tank all together. It's hard to get the pumps to balance properly. My wet/dry either goes dry or begins to overflow.
Any suggestions?

[charlie]

What pump are you feeding the refugium with??? Got a pic or two to help me out here?