burnnspy
Active Member
I have been on this BB fo a while and have noticed a trend in people new to reef systems or converting a FO system to a reef. It just occurred to me why I may have had success without suffering new tank syndrome.
I set up my reef backwards!
What I mean is that I went about my setup from a different direction.
Did weeks of research into filtration, lighting and corals.
Decided on a plenum system with skimmer and MH lighting, wanted to maintain most corals without upgrading(wasting money).
Started saving to get the MH lighting, gravel, LR and corals.
Found from locals that the tap water had phosphates, so I got a purifier, phosphate and calcium test kits.
Installed the plenum with 3" Seaflor aragonite and Natures Ocean LS some semi-cured LR(~10lbs) from LFS, waited 2 weeks to complete cycle.
Ready to add livestock, did massive water change with DI water and adjusted the water to quality chemistry. Ordered and added 3 corals, very small cleanup crew and 45lbs of cured LR, no cycle(nitrates peaked at 5ppm).
A month later after the tank was stable(nitrates dropped to zero), added 10 more corals. No algae or slime blooms. Nitrates and phosphates stay zero, assumed the plenum was working to breakdown nitrates because gas bubbles can be seen rising from the gravel on ocassion.
Last step(fish): added a Mandarin fish when the copepods and amphipods swarmed the tank glass during the day.
Currently investigating adding another fish to the reef that will not affect the balance.
BurnNSpy
I set up my reef backwards!
What I mean is that I went about my setup from a different direction.
Did weeks of research into filtration, lighting and corals.
Decided on a plenum system with skimmer and MH lighting, wanted to maintain most corals without upgrading(wasting money).
Started saving to get the MH lighting, gravel, LR and corals.
Found from locals that the tap water had phosphates, so I got a purifier, phosphate and calcium test kits.
Installed the plenum with 3" Seaflor aragonite and Natures Ocean LS some semi-cured LR(~10lbs) from LFS, waited 2 weeks to complete cycle.
Ready to add livestock, did massive water change with DI water and adjusted the water to quality chemistry. Ordered and added 3 corals, very small cleanup crew and 45lbs of cured LR, no cycle(nitrates peaked at 5ppm).
A month later after the tank was stable(nitrates dropped to zero), added 10 more corals. No algae or slime blooms. Nitrates and phosphates stay zero, assumed the plenum was working to breakdown nitrates because gas bubbles can be seen rising from the gravel on ocassion.
Last step(fish): added a Mandarin fish when the copepods and amphipods swarmed the tank glass during the day.
Currently investigating adding another fish to the reef that will not affect the balance.
BurnNSpy
