need help setting up, Fired ***** guy

[brianc60]

Ok I always wanted a sw tank. I have had a fw for years. Anyway, went into lfs and hired them to set up and maintain my tank. The guy said I read to much. I always had questions for him on why and how he was doing something. My 72 bow is up since 3/5. I have 60 # live rock and Two bags of live sand. I have a eheim II canister & a w/d I also have a seaclone that came with this used setup. The ***** guy did not want to put this on but I did. I just put in a korilia #3 this past wk. I think I have enough movement. My questions are, the w/d. He put carbon in and that is all at the bottom. How often do i change this? Should there be a foam filter also? At the bottom of the balls there seems to be a lot of crap. Do i leave it in or try to wipe out? On top only a 12" x 12" white pad. How often to change. He has only done it once so far on 4/10. What if anything should be in the eheim. I know he only put a filter pad in. Should anything else go in?
I have put in 10 turbo, 10 scarlet and 1 horse shoe on 4/14. ( first time I saw the shoe crab today since i put him in.) on 4/15 I started the skimmer not the best but it seams to pull crap out every couple days. On 4/17 I added 5 peppermint shrimp. I just got my ro-di and wanted to do a wc but I also wanted to add some more live rock. Can I add the rock when I drain the tank for the change or should I wait? I have a qt set up since 4/10 I have not added anything(shrimp) and have not tested the water yet, but if I take out from my dt can or should I put it into my qt?. I would also like to add some more snails or something to help with the sand. What do you thik I should use? Any help would be great. As you can see I said good riddens to the ***** guy. I know I can do this but I just need a little help from you all.

 

[rdm]

Anyone who says "you read too much" is uneducated and ignorant. Good choice in ditching the ***** dude!

 

[emilaya101]

Congrats of the firing

I recommend you buy a saltwater test kit, salt, and a hydrometer, or a refractometer

 

[ophiura]

I can't answer everything right now

but will hit a few points and I am sure others will pitch in.
First is that carbon is fine in a system...but if you have a canister you should have it in there (IMO). But I think you are asking for trouble with a canister and a wet/dry. I think it is both overkill and a recipe for a nitrate issue unless you stay on top of it. The fact that you have sludge on your bioballs is already a problem. There should be a sponge filter somewhere before the bioballs to catch that stuff and needs to be cleaned regularly. You will need to rinse the bioballs to get the crud off - but only use old tank water when you do that. Keeping them clean is critical to success.
The filter pads should be rinsed every few days at least. That can be in tap water as it is not the key part of your biological filter.
What are your specific tank parameters??
Is the LR cured?
A water change is fine just about any time, IMO. You may wish to do it after you add the LR because it will probably stir stuff up.

 

[fats71]

That many snails will probably starve if your running two filters. I run a fluval fx5 and a wet/dry on my 75 and I have to feed my snails algae sheets and I only have 2 turbos and like 4 other different snails. I have never had a diatom bloom nothing. I am growing coralline algae and a little algae on the back glass thats but not much. Adding more snails seems like way too much unless your having problems. The canister filter is more off a polisher anyway so some people do not understand fully what they are saying but it is overkill but nothing wrong with that IMO which does not mean much.

 

[brianc60]

i have test kits , refrac everything. The creud is not on the bio balls. It is underneaththe egg crate at the bottom. It is not alot but some is at the bottom. There is a pad on top of the unit.

 

[brianc60]

how do you use alge sheets? do you just dorp it in or use a clamp? How much and what kind should you use?

 

[fats71]

Originally Posted by brianc60
http:///forum/post/2595880
how do you use alge sheets? do you just dorp it in or use a clamp? How much and what kind should you use?
I use red and green the red is like tobacco strips and I dislike it. I mostly use two seperate clips break one strip in half and one on each side. I then get lazy and just hang one whole strip over the side and use the egg crate to hold it in place..