SW n00b: A 75G revitalization.

hul kogan

hul kogan

New Member
Hey all, the name is Chris. I am new to SW, but not to fishkeeping. I am a huge cichlid fan, specifically Tanganyikans. I lurked around on here for a month or so before I registered earlier this month. Since then I've been reading/searching and digesting all sorts of great information.
You might be asking why I am here...? Well, I recently bought a house and the previous owner left behind his SW setup. The last time I dealt with any SW was when my grandparents had a 90G, but that was years ago, so even that experience is fuzzy. So, I decided to take the opportunity to delve into the SW world for myself, rather than convert it to FW. After all, I still have room for other tanks.

The setup currently consists of:
- 75G DT (lit with Coralife 48" Double PC strip)
- 35G sump (lit with a two PC strip fixture)
- Figi live rock (not sure of how many lbs, but certainly enough)
- (1) mature Yellowtail Blue Damsel (around 2.5-2.75")
- (1) Striped Damsel (around 1.5-1.75")
- and a whole mess of Asterina stars
The previous owner said the system has been running for around 10 or 11 years and has gone through a number of phases. Aggressive, reef, etc. The current phase is something that came about with him loosing interest and wanting hearty fish, I assume. The tank glass was pretty well covered with algae when we bought the house and I have since scraped clean the front pane (much to the dismay of all the Asterina), but I like it on the sides and back. I did water tests on Sunday night and all the parameters are in check, as I would expect with a seasoned system like this. The only thing thing that was just a bit higher than I would like were the nitrites, but I assume a water change will right that.
Over the past weeks I have been preparing a list of changes and improvements that I will be making to the system. They are currently as follows:
1. Acquire RO/DI setup for water changes and top offs, previous owner said he always used tap water and clearly it has worked out just fine, but I wanted to utilize RO/DI moving forward. Then I can do my first water change. I am currently honing in on two different brands, but your opinions will certainly be taken into consideration.
2. Add a Skimmer in the sump. I'll be taking pictures of the sump so you can get an idea of the space I will be working with. Hopefully some of you will have some brands/models for me to look at, because that is one area I haven't had a lot of time to research yet.
3. Replace all bulbs (since I have no idea of current age).
4. Open up the strip fixture on the main tank and see if anything obvious is causing 3 of the lunar lights to not work, then replace non-functioning LEDS, if necessary.
5. Create a new plexiglass cover(s) for the DT and sump.
6. Add two Powerheads to the tank, it currently only has one undersized running from the corner.
7. Possibly turn the middle section of the sump into a fuge. I haven't read a ton on this, so I am not entirely sure what all would be involved.
Then, as far as livestock:
1. Catch and trade in Damsels at LFS.
2. Assemble/buy a good CUC. Suggestions are needed here. I think I'll be after some sort of snails and hermits. Not sure if I want to to go with Emeralds or a SLF, either. Any good CUC fish that I should consider? Help me out here!
3. My favorite saltwater fish has always been the Purple Tang, so I'd love to have one (even if it meant less other fish, or limited choices) but from what I have read my tank may be too small for anything in the surgeonfish realm.
Thoughts?
4. So because of that I am still up in the air on the rest of the stock list. Feel free to lend your suggestions!
Sorry for the long-winded first post but I wanted to really lay out what I am working with and my plans so you all could lend your advice, opinions, etc. I foresee this thread morphing from an intro to a progress thread over the coming weeks/months...and I'll certainly have more questions and be looking for additional input. So, thanks in advance!
 
hul kogan

hul kogan

New Member
Today I'm focusing in on two things; a top for the DT/sump and also tracking down some good skimmer options.
TOP FOR DT AND SUMP
I was actually at a hardware store last night and ready to buy a sheet of plexi (or lexan) when I decided to come home and research it a bit more. Come to find out that a lot of people don't recommend using a 'solid' cover like glass and plexi because it cuts down on gas exchange and can raise temps, but it does have the benefit of really cutting down on evap. The tank currently has plexi covering the top of the DT and sump, but it is warped and generally annoying to work with. I attribute this to it being 1/16", which allows the heat from the lights to 'curl' it.
So, I'm trying to decide what route to take. The setup is in the basement so I don't see a solid cover being a huge temp issue, but should I be worried about the gas exchange? Would I be better off taking the eggcrate/bird netting route OR stick with plexi and remake the tops with thicker material?
SKIMMER
There seems to be all sorts of brands and styles out there. As I mentioned in my first post, I want to place it in the sump (which is 35G and has 3 'chambers'). What are some good brands and sizes to look at for the size of my setup?
I took pictures of the DT, sump, and inhabitants last night. So I hope to post some up later today...
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by hul kogan
http:///forum/post/3121739
Today I'm focusing in on two things; a top for the DT/sump and also tracking down some good skimmer options.
TOP FOR DT AND SUMP
I was actually at a hardware store last night and ready to buy a sheet of plexi (or lexan) when I decided to come home and research it a bit more. Come to find out that a lot of people don't recommend using a 'solid' cover like glass and plexi because it cuts down on gas exchange and can raise temps, but it does have the benefit of really cutting down on evap. The tank currently has plexi covering the top of the DT and sump, but it is warped and generally annoying to work with. I attribute this to it being 1/16", which allows the heat from the lights to 'curl' it.
So, I'm trying to decide what route to take. The setup is in the basement so I don't see a solid cover being a huge temp issue, but should I be worried about the gas exchange? Would I be better off taking the eggcrate/bird netting route OR stick with plexi and remake the tops with thicker material?
SKIMMER
There seems to be all sorts of brands and styles out there. As I mentioned in my first post, I want to place it in the sump (which is 35G and has 3 'chambers'). What are some good brands and sizes to look at for the size of my setup?
I took pictures of the DT, sump, and inhabitants last night. So I hope to post some up later today...

WELCOME!
How wonderful, you have a new home, and a new fully established tank!
You can keep a small purple tang for awhile anyway...like 2 years in a 75g
I know nothing about sumps, I always used canister filters, so I am no help there. LOL...My skimmer choice..Let’s just say.. My choices there isn't so hot either...I don't like mine.
Are you going to do a reef? If so, you need better lights altogether, and not bother with the bulbs.
For an idea on a CUC...look under reef packages on SWF.com ..Check out what they offer for a 75g and plan from that, or just get the package.
If you use regular PC lights for a fish only set up...you will be fine to cover the tank with the glass. However, if you do a reef, you will need better lights and they run very hot and you won't want a cover then.
Personally, I like a glass cover, not Plexiglas if a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) is what you choose.
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
my tank came with a glass cover and I switched it to pond netting, so that I dont have to worry about fish jumping or my eel escaping. I did notice a huge difference in evap.
for a skimmer look into ASM skimmers. you will have to check the amount of space that you have in the sump before buying one tho.
 
markw

markw

Member
If FOWLR, the top and lights dont matter. When you start getting into the realm of corals, you need better lights. I would say at least t5s because youre going to want corals eventually and youre going to want to upgrade. Its inevitable. Im setting up a 75g also and Im choosing between the Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 lunars and Nova Extreme Pro 6x54W. The Pro has individual reflectors so the light goes into the tank much better. As for skimming, Im getting the ASM G2. Rated for 200gal so it is great for a reef of this size (You can get them relatively cheap. PM me if you want a link.). If FOWLR, get the ASM Mini G. Rated 75g so you dont have to spend the extra money and FOWLR doesnt need as adequate skimming. If you do go the reef route, Id say get eggcrate so you can make sure ALL of your light gets into the water and onto the corals. So, to wrap up:
FOWLR:
Lights--PCs or anything really will suffice. Its your call here.
Skimmer--ASM Mini G. Cheap and effective.
Top--Any will suffice. Its your call again.
Reef:
Lights: AT LEAST T5s definately. Nova Extreme 8x54 and Nova Extreme Pro 6x54W are great models to start looking with. TEK makes good lights also.
Skimmer--ASM G2 is great and people swear by the ASM models.
Top--eggcrate or something that will allow air exchange and wont block the rays of your light. (not worried about shade here, but the actual rays that feed your coral, so dont worry about the 'lines' in the eggcrate.)
Hope this helped. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Mark
 
marchingbandjs

marchingbandjs

Member
Ill add my 2 cents...
1. For RO/DI there are no really better things, they all do the same job. Personally i would spend more money on things that are rated better, but you can get low end ones for the tank.
2. Def need a skimmer but what size is what matters. You want one rated double for reefs and rated the same as your tank for FO... I have Coralife Super skimmer rated for double my tank.... it does a wonderful job... but i also dont have a larger tank ...yet... I would say you should get an ASM if it fits...
3. Lights is a big controversy. Whats your wattage per gallon?... People swear that you need MH or t-5 for corals... You dont... There are many tanks in which tons of corals do good with just PC... I have PC... A lot of corals can do fine in Low light... you just wont get explosion of growth.. you might get moderate growth.. And unless the coral is rated for high light you wont get much bleaching or browning.... Some corals need med light.. you can always place them higher up in the tank.. BUT seeing as you have a deep tank your going to need to have like 7-8 watts of light to have low light at the bottom.. mine is shallow so i have low light at the bottom and med light at the top... See what your wattage would be per gallon .. try to get it at around 7 for a low light at bottem and med light at top.. Although if you have to buy lights go with MH...
4. Hood.. i would go with pond mesh.. i have no hood right now but i wanna make a pond mesh one... I suggest you do the same thing.. MH will raise ur temp like no other.. with my PC if i forget to take the hood off ( story time) then it heats up... my tank hit a crazy 92 degrees after merely 10 hours with the glass hood on.. MH would make a hottub out of ur tank. So go with pondmesh hood... Also get some small computer fans or some kind of fans to blow across water at top to dissipate some heat.. your still going to have a few degree rise and fall each day.. With most lights though you wont need a heater until dead of winter.. My house is kept at 68 degrees in the summer so im well A/C ed .. my temp goes form 79-81 everyday..
5. Powerheads a must.. i would get 2 Koralia #3 for opposite corners... and one #2 for the center to blow across for gas exchange up top..
You can keep your fish just you have to watch him once he gets older and bigger you will have to trade him in. Make sure u get him juvenile though... Fish are what you want though
For CUC... look at reef packages like said before... Basically it will be Nas, turbos, i think hermits, and some emeralds... Thats what i do minus Turbos because they are very finicky...
Alright thats all i can think of.. im kindof new to the hobby but i have read a lot of books and have some exp.. well a little..
 
hul kogan

hul kogan

New Member
Thanks for all the great responses and feedback everyone! I have been busy every night with the tank. Now to respond to some of you:
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3121763
How wonderful, you have a new home, and a new fully established tank!
I know, being a fish keeper already, I was thoroughly excited to see the tank built into the wall with a great platform to build and improve from. Plus, it gave me a reason to dive into the saltwater world!
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3121763
You can keep a small purple tang for awhile anyway...like 2 years in a 75g
I was afraid that might be the answer. I absolutely love purple tangs, so it would be disappointing if I can't have one. I also want to be fair to the fish, though. You don't think it is possible for one to live out their entire life in a 75 (with ample swimming area and hiding places) if I keep the rest of the stock list very small? Or is space the bigger issue? Tang police feel free to jump in here.
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3121763
For an idea on a CUC...look under reef packages on SWF.com ..Check out what they offer for a 75g and plan from that, or just get the package.
I had a look at their selections last week and I like most of what they say, however, I am not sure how I feel about having a SLF. From what I read, when they are smaller they are fine but as adults they can be pretty ravenous on smaller/slower fish. Thoughts?
Originally Posted by Markw
http:///forum/post/3121772
FOWLR:
Lights--PCs or anything really will suffice. Its your call here.
Skimmer--ASM Mini G. Cheap and effective.
Top--Any will suffice. Its your call again.
I will be keeping this FOWLR. He mentioned having corals in there at one point and upon looking around the tank I have seen the remnants of the last few dying corals. Judging by how dirty of light fixture was, I'd assume it was on there during the time the corals were in there. Which means he was just running PCs. That might explain the demise of the corals, especially when looking at how 'salted' up the plexi covers and fixture lens was. But to summarize, I will be keeping it FOWLR for now. When I am more comfortable with SW I may delve into the reef world. Thanks for your suggestions. It seems like ASM skimmers are quite popular.
Originally Posted by Marchingbandjs
http:///forum/post/3121787
Ill add my 2 cents...
3. Lights is a big controversy. Whats your wattage per gallon?... People swear that you need MH or t-5 for corals... You dont... There are many tanks in which tons of corals do good with just PC... I have PC... A lot of corals can do fine in Low light... you just wont get explosion of growth.. you might get moderate growth.. And unless the coral is rated for high light you wont get much bleaching or browning.... Some corals need med light.. you can always place them higher up in the tank.. BUT seeing as you have a deep tank your going to need to have like 7-8 watts of light to have low light at the bottom.. mine is shallow so i have low light at the bottom and med light at the top... See what your wattage would be per gallon .. try to get it at around 7 for a low light at bottem and med light at top.. Although if you have to buy lights go with MH...
Great info here! I am going to stick with my Coralife PC fixture. I just figured out my watts per gallon (2x65w Actinic + 2x65w 10,000K = 260...So, a little shy of 3.5 watts per gallon). Does that seem low? I mean it is only a FOWLR tank, so I'm not sure how much it matters. I just want everything to have plenty of light.
Originally Posted by Marchingbandjs
http:///forum/post/3121787
5. Powerheads a must.. i would get 2 Koralia #3 for opposite corners... and one #2 for the center to blow across for gas exchange up top..
I am really liking the Koralia powerheads. If I went with 2 - #3 and 1 - #2 that would turn the capacity of the tank over 30 times per hour, does that seem like a lot? I do like the 3 powerhead setup, though. That is what I was considering. The only powerhead in there now is a Aqua Clear Powerhead 301 (only 175 GPH!). That sucker will only be used when making SW after I get the new ones.
Originally Posted by Marchingbandjs
http:///forum/post/3121787
For CUC... look at reef packages like said before... Basically it will be Nas, turbos, i think hermits, and some emeralds... Thats what i do minus Turbos because they are very finicky..
What are the Turbos finicky about?
iv class="quote-container_container">
Originally Posted by Bulldog123
http:///forum/post/3121791
If you want a great skimmer look at the Deltec or Bubble King.
I will def check them out. I haven't looked at either company, yet.
 
hul kogan

hul kogan

New Member
UPDATES FROM THE LAST FEW DAYS:
- I bought some eggcrate and got it cut to size and on the tank. Easy project.
- Then, after the lights turned off for the night, I decided to take down the fixture (Coralife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe, 48") to clean it up and investigate the non-working lunar lights. Only 1 of the 4 actually work. Well, that was a fiasco!
I ended up tearing it pretty much completely apart. It didn't look like the thing had been cleaned in a very, very long time. There was salt creep like crazy and the two upper vents were almost completely clogged with dust and the like. The vents for the ballasts were almost completely blocked off by salt.
Turns out the lunar lights were pretty much covered in salt, which then made its way inside the fixture and onto electrical connections. As you can imagine, the LED boards were all sorts of corroded and the connections would pull right off with an easy tug. Thus the non-working lunar lights...
I tested it when I finally got everything back together after a good clean and all four bulbs were working fine, including the 1 lunar. However, I did another test yesterday morning and only the actinic's would turn on. More on that in the question below.
I'm going to order one replacement LED for the lunar light. I am going to leave the two end ones non-functioning. I feel like 4 lunars in a 4 foot tank it just too much light for ‘night’, so I will get the center two in working order. Thoughts on that?
QUESTIONS:
1. Is it better to buy bulbs locally or online? I assume I will get better prices online, but then I have to deal with possible damage in shipping. What are some good places to look online?
2. What are the 50/50 bulbs all about? Worth looking into or should I stay with (2) 10K and (2) Actinic? It seems like 10,000K is a popular bulb in the 65w CF selection. I have also seen 6700 and 14000, too. I don't think going any lower than 10K is what I want, but how much more blue could I expect a 14K to be? I'm not entirely sure what my options would be. (Bulbs have the striaght 4-pin German Style base)
3. The 10,000K bulbs are briefly flashing when powered on and then staying off. Does the fixture run as a closed circuit; whereas if one bulb is burnt out the other won't power on either (similar to cheap/older Christmas lights)? The Actinic's still power on and operate normally. So, I removed one of the 10K bulbs and put an Actinic in its place and tada...they remained lit. Does it sound like the bulb I removed is the culprit?
4. Are there better, more durable, options for the silicone retaining bands? These ones snap if you look at them wrong.
 
marchingbandjs

marchingbandjs

Member
Well... 3.5 is low but for FOWLR you could have .02.. I can gaureentee though you are going to want corals eventually.. but ya they are fine for now..
Turbo snails is a very broad category of snails.. when you order turbos you could be getting ones from colder waters or some from warmer waters... its really the luck of the draw.. and normally you have to ask you LFS where they are from.. And the batches that are made normally alternate... Also they are very prone to magnesium.. but other than that they are good.. just try to get i guess colder ones ... if your gonna do FOWLR your going to run at what 75 degrees.. actually id go with warmer water ones.. you just have to know where they are coming from.. and if they die well some hermit is getting a nice snack and a mansion to live in...
Dunno about bulb options i would switch if i knew something was better...
The 10k must be broken.. did you buy this new or used.. and just order on line they wrap it in a hella lotta stuff and if it breaks you just return and they send you new..
I ordered salt online.. it got moisture in it in shipping.. sent it back they sent me 2 buckets for my inconvenience...
search 50/50 and 14k if you wanna learn more
 
hul kogan

hul kogan

New Member
Well, from what I read before the 50/50 bulbs are half daylight half actinic. What would the advantage of that be? If you have (2) Actinic and (2) 10,000K wouldn't that be the same as (4) 50/50 bulbs?
 
hul kogan

hul kogan

New Member
No, what I am saying is if you have (4) 50/50 bulbs...that would technically equal out to (2) actinic bulbs and (2) 10,000K bulbs. Thus giving you the same result...unless I am looking at it wrong.
So, the (4) 50/50 would look like this (since power compacts have 2 sides):
Actinic - 10,000K
| |
| |
| |
| |
Whereas, the (2) actinic and (2) 10,000K would look like this (both sides of the bulb serving the same purpose, as opposed to 50/50):
Actinic - 10,000K
|| ||
|| ||
Hopefully that makes sense. I was attempting to illustrate what I'm thinking...haha.
 
markw

markw

Member
If you are buying lights, and are eventually going to do a reef, buy the lights now. You will be spending double the money if you buy a fixture now and buy a brighter fixture for the reef later. Easier to buy a good light now. Your fish wont hate you for it.

Mark
 
markw

markw

Member
With all due respect, you can get a great t5 light for $350. Yes, if youre strapped for cash, dont bypass practicality to buy the lights. It would just benefit you in the long run if you got them first (if you are for sure getting a reef), I think. Going into corals usually goes quicker than expected for any hobbiest thinking about it. JMO.
Good luck.

Mark
 
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