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kdinkel 
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 Topic: Startup questions
Posted: January 09 2008 at 11:35am |
I decided to post it here because I didn't know where it fits in. I have been reading as much as I can before I startup, but I just want to make sure I have what I need. I hope to start my tank cycling next week (I have read the article on getting things running quick, but will test my params to make sure). So here is my setup:
150 gallon tank - Both corners drilled with overflows
45 gallon sump - mag 12 return pump
600-900 gph protien skimmer rated for a 400 gallon tank - 800 gph pump for it.
2 aquaclear 400 gph powerheads for tank current
100 gpd ro unit (new filters and membrane)
turbotwist uv sterilizer
260 watt 48" PC
150 watt MH
refractometer
Working on live sand and rock (I have about 140 lbs of sand and 100 lbs of rock)
Here is what I eventually want in the tank (I know I need to make sure the paramaters are correct, and the rock and sand are live. I will be adding things slowly as well)
1 - Snowflake eel
1 - blue spotted ray (my rocks will be suspended to make room for the ray)
1 - Dwarf lionfish
3-4 undetermined fish (still working on best compatibilty)
Soft Corals
Do I have everything I need to handle this? What can I use for a cleaning crew since both the eel and the ray like invertabrates?
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MadReefer
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 12:24pm |
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I would leave out the uv sterilizer. But otherwise it sounds like a great setup.
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kdinkel
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 12:39pm |
Thanks MadReefer. I was going back and forth on that one. I mave connect it but not run it constantly. I might use it if I get ich, etc. I have also heard it is a good idea to run one for a week or two when you introduce a new fish?
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CrimsRayne
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 12:40pm |
Sounds like a nice setup. Do you plan to have a heater or run it cool?
Do you know if the eel will have a problem with the suspended reef?
I am going to be posting a DIY for suspended reefs soon.
Talk to Dion (holdencraft33) about his spotted ray and reef too.
I love large turbo snails for cleaning up. They are too big to fit in the mouths of my ray or puffer and they do a great job. You can also train the aggressives to not go after the snails by placing empty snail shells in the tank. After enough failures of not finding a snail they stop looking.
As for other fish, obviously start with something cheap so you know the tank is stable enough for fish. If you can keep a test fish alive for a couple weeks then double check the parameters and get one of your desired fish. Take it slow and keep an eye on the tank. Other than that, have fun and happy reefing.
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"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer
"The Puffer Girl"
Zoo freak :)
West Jordan
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kdinkel
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 12:46pm |
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Thanks Crimsrayne. I was worried about that as well, so I was thinking of adding a small rock pile in the corner directly on the sand. I heard building a small tunnel out of pvc and putting it in the rocks as a cave helps as well? That is great news on the snails, thanks. I left out the heater (sorry, it is alot to remember). I have 300 watt submersable I will put in the sump (I will add more if needed). Can I do starfish or urchins with rays/eels?
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MadReefer
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 1:01pm |
 kdinkel wrote:
Thanks MadReefer. I was going back and forth on that one. I mave connect it but not run it constantly. I might use it if I get ich, etc. I have also heard it is a good idea to run one for a week or two when you introduce a new fish? |
This is a good idea I think. It should help more then it hurts. But if you use a quarantine, you shouldn't need it.
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CrimsRayne
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 1:53pm |
I have starfish with my ray, but the starfish hide under the rocks. One stays on the suspended reef and the other in the sand under a rock.  So I'm not sure if they have any effect on the tank overall.
I don't think I would add an urchin though as you will have scaleless fish and they can get hurt a lot easier if they don't see the urchin.
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"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer
"The Puffer Girl"
Zoo freak :)
West Jordan
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kdinkel
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 2:56pm |
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Good point. I will give the starfish a shot. I would assume the bigger the better? Are they safe with soft corals.
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pa_reptileman_4
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 4:15pm |
depends on what kind of starfish you get. you can go with either a brittle star or a serpent star and you should be good...
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pitiful guppy tank.
shane
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David C.
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 4:48pm |
We have a snowflake moray and a lot of rock. It slithers through all of it, all the way to the top (it actually learned to feed on pellets right on the surface). If never asked him but I can't image he cares whether there's sand under them rocks he's sleepin' on. Not that a pile of rocks in the corner would hurt, of course. 
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self appointed "Aquarium Curator" @South Jordan Elementary
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pa_reptileman_4
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 5:05pm |
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my snowflake likes to hide out under one big rock and that it, he has a little tunnel and he just "chills" under the one rock, of course there are more but he prefers that one.
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pitiful guppy tank.
shane
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Dion Richins
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 5:25pm |
MadReefer wrote:
I would leave out the UV sterilizer. But otherwise it sounds like a great setup. |
I will disagree with you on that one. I run UV on both of my reefs with NO ill effects. My pod populations are just as good as anyone. I do not have any issues with ick or any other water borne illnesses. With my seahorses its almost a necessity. One system has been up for 4 years and the other is a conglomerate of several systems that was combined this last year. (Its running a massive UV system. 1/2 of all the water is constantly passing through it.)
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kdinkel
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 5:58pm |
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Great advice guys! Thanks.
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MadReefer
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 6:57pm |
I just like the idea of natural filtration. So I would leave out the UV myself. I don't run any mechanical filter. Just a little carbon so mostly just the fuge and rock do a good job. I like the way my system is going.
But I'm a newbie and I'm sure Dion has more experience.
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Dion Richins
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 9:20pm |
MadReefer wrote:
But I'm a newbie and I'm sure Dion has more experience. |
No way. Every day is a new learning day. I have just had some very sad experiences. As A result Ive found things that I like that have always worked for me.
As a way of disclaimer. I do use carbon reactors, phosban reactors, big skimmers, Socks when needed, Rock and deep sand beds.
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Aquarium Creations
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 9:33pm |
when you say natural filteration do you mean like the ocean has? if so then look up in the sky and you will see the biggest uv sterilizer ever, 
Edited by FIRE SHRIMP - January 09 2008 at 9:35pm
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dkle
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 10:03pm |
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I am partial to ozonier. They are more expensive; but will fry any free-swimming parasites just like UV. Plus they oxidize the particulates and yellowing substances in the water. Your water will look much clearer.
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If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs!
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jonafriendj
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 10:17pm |
FIRE SHRIMP wrote:
when you say natural filteration do you mean like the ocean has? if so then look up in the sky and you will see the biggest uv sterilizer ever, |
lol exactly what I was thinking 
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Dion Richins
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 10:47pm |
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I bought an ozonie machine a while back. One of these days I need to get off of my lazy butt and hook it up.
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Mike Savage
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Posted: January 09 2008 at 11:02pm |
Yeah, mine has been sitting on a shelf for the last year too.
Mike
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