What to do with my 150

[PhilipB]

Well its been a long time since i've posted. Sadly my work has consumed me for the past two years. Hope everyone is doing well and your tanks are better than mine. Here's the story...Ive had my 150 up and running for just over 4years now. 60 gallon sump protein skimmer 1/2 hp chiller 3 400 watt MH 200 pounds of live rock 150 pounds live sand. We had three hippo tangs a yellow tang orange shoulder tang fox face rabbit two clowns and our corals were finally starting to grow and do well. Again my work started to consume me so I didn't spend as much time watching after things. But than again I never really did I just had good luck with water changes and a healthy tank, Within 48 hours all our fish died. Except one clown. All the coral wigged out and the tank basically took a dump. This was 6 months ago. So now all that's in it is a clown a flame hawk and some green chromis. I'm going to add a UV light and am even thinking of not running a skimmer! Yeah buddy I'm going skimmerless. I may get rid of one of the Halides because three 400's is alot! I mean alot plus I may go LED one day. Or maybe i'll rock the 1200 watts and watch my meter spin lol. My question to you is can you give me some ideas to which route to go? I like corals and will continue back with some. This time however I'm thinking of going predator reef! Lion fish Triggers larger tangs. I know shrimp and crabs will be fish food. I think I know my risks and what i'm asking for but that's why I'm here...to get your opinions. What would you put in and how would you stock it in order i guess. Or maybe you have a different crazy idea! In case anyone asks and I know you will the answer is no I never discovered what crashed my tank. But I did a 90 % water change and turned the lights out for about a month to 6 weeks. Whatever happened im blaming on my old job and work schedule. Or my deodorant from when id mess with the tank.

[350gt]

It all depends on which way you want to go.... Or which way your wallet wants to really go... Both will cost but a reef will cost a bit more......I'm sure you know that..

If u wanted to do just a predator tank, you could do a 2 led strips.... Saving a ton on electricty and heat...

Running a tank with no skimmer is risky, I tried it on a 20 gallon and let's just say I would never do that again... But there are some that are running no skimmer and doing just fine......

[Zack]

I ran no skimmer on a 10 gallon for 5 months and had no issues, although I was doing twice weekly 2 gallon water changes

[reefreak]

I am skimmerless on my 55g and my 10g no problems at all and doing 20g water changes every 3 weeks

[PhilipB]

Yes I am very familiar with the costs of going reef since I was there before. Im surprised by how many people are admitting to running without a skimmer. I was thinking since its a larger tank that might help with not needing one? Ill try and post a pic tonight of the current status of the tank. What fish would you recommend and what stocking order? Im getting a little buzz just thinking of starting to go shopping!

[reefreak]

Ace's 250g is skimmerless but has a a dsb.

[350gt]

Idk if you have been to elegant yet, but Louis is very helpful and honest and will point you in the right direction.... Alamo is cool too, I got a purple from them awhile back and it's been doing well.... There's a new shop off of bandera and I believe reindeer trail Inbetween huebner and echert rd. I stopped in there once but it was barely stocking up but it was a real clean shop.....

[350gt]

I ran no skimmer on a 10 gallon for 5 months and had no issues, although I was doing twice weekly 2 gallon water changes


Some ppl dont have that kind of time to commit to twice a week.... I was doing once a week 5 gallons, and I skipped one week and issues started..... Not saying that will be the outcome for all but I would never chance it again... Plus I am LAZY! Lol

[350gt]

Ace's 250g is skimmerless but has a a dsb.


Ace's tank is amazing, no questions about that...

I can't believe how simple his set up seems but I believe he said he was also doing 1 or 2 changes per week... I'm sure he will chime in... But if I was to go skimmerless, he is one I would ask for help....

[hobogato]

yep, two changes a week @ 5 gallons each on the 250. two changes a week @ 2 gallons on christy's 29. both have dsb for filtration but no sump/skimmer. diligence is key, missing one water change doesnt do much, but if you miss two in a row, it shows in the tank. we went on vacation and the tanks went 10 days without a water change. even tho i doubled up on the water changes before we left, i could tell the tanks were not happy when we returned. they are just now hitting their stride again - almost two weeks later. if i were planning to go skimmerless on a predator tank, i would definitely incorporate an algae turf scrubber in the filtration.

[rrasco]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I just sold all the stock in my 150 all male hap/peacock tank and am thinking about going FO predator tank on it. It's already got a sump and I could easily build some LEDs for a FO. I was also thinking about just running a big ATS in the sump as well instead of a skimmer. FWIW, my 29 gallon (now QT) is skimmerless. I had a marineland 100 gallon on there but it stopped working and instead of replacing it I just waited for the move to the 105, I had just dropped some cheddar on a NAC9 so I didn't feel like fixing/buying another skimmer. I've heard lots of good things about ATS, but I've never used one myself.

[PhilipB]

I have looked at the scrubbers. Seems like a way I may go. I havent been to those shops yet. Ive planned on trying elegant. They're on Bandera and eckert correct? Ace what are using for filtration? 10 gallons a week is not unreasonable. In fact very doable with my setup. I have my sump plumbed through the garage wall for very easy water changes. Thats where im planning to put a new R/O D/I unit. Maybe I increase my sand bed by say another 50 pounds and try that? That may be a good idea. Time to rearrange the rock work anyways. My only worry with going predator reef isnt so much with the corals but more of fish compatibility and clean up crews and so on. Triggers Ive read like to rearrange rock and sand?? I think with enough input I may add some sand and redo my rocks this weekend? I could use some sand what I have now isnt really that fine stuff. Than next week Ill start looking for fish! Maybe even a frag or two....maybe some 5-10 dollar specials and get the salt running through my veins again! Man I feel it already What should I get????

[PhilipB]

Has anyone tried the shop near Walmart by rolling oaks mall?

[350gt]

I have and the guy seems alright... I went a little after the new guy bought it.... He said the shop was a mess and he was going to get things in order and fixed up nice.... I went a few weeks ago and there was a bigger mess than before.... It was a maze going through there..

The shop has potential but I walked out empty handed....

[350gt]

Elegant is off 281 n nakoma......

[rrasco]

The shop at Bandera/Eckhert is Phenomenal Aquatics. If you go today they should have new stock, they usually do on Wed.

Elegant Reef is off Nakoma.

Reefs2u if by Rolling Oaks. Never been there, but I've talked to Paul a few times and he was more than willing to answer any questions I had at the time.

[PhilipB]

Hmm i havent seen that one. Pricing and stock pretty nice? I think ill go tomorrow. I havent been to any shops in about 6 months. The last time was Texas Tropical.

[ErikH]

Hmm i havent seen that one. Pricing and stock pretty nice? I think ill go tomorrow. I havent been to any shops in about 6 months. The last time was Texas Tropical.

Louis is the man and his shop is awesome. It's well worth the trip.

[rrasco]

If you want my opinion....

Alamo has good fish prices.
Elegant has good coral/food prices and equipment you won't find at any other LFS. The cleanest store in town for sure.
Texas Tropical has good tank prices.
Phenomenal has good fish/coral prices but their stock goes quick so they never seem to have much by the time I stroll in.

[hobogato]

i run a carbon reactor on each tank that has filter pad. the filter pad gets changed out every time i do a water change and the carbon is changed every two weeks. the sand bed in the 29 is just a little over 4" deep because there are only two fish in that tank (besides the corals). the sand bed on the 250 is much deeper, almost 8" deep in spots. keep in mind, it is not 10 gallons a week, but 5 gallons twice a week. it does make a difference to do the smaller water changes more often for some reason. also, for the dsb to be the most efficient, the rocks should not be resting on the surface of the sand. i used columns of rock buried in the sand to suspend the majority of rock several inches above the surface.


...Ace what are using for filtration? 10 gallons a week is not unreasonable. In fact very doable with my setup. ...

[PhilipB]

8" is a very DSB! Im maybe at 4" Im going to check out elegant tomorrow. Looks like I have my project starting. Any fish recommendations out there?? Ace you close to my area? Im right behind the Lowes at 35 and Oconnor.

[PhilipB]

16085160861608716088 Heres some pics of my sad tank. If you can call it that. But after this weekend it'll look much better hopefully!16089

[350gt]

I really like that stand......


If I could offer any advice, it would be to open up the rock work a bit... I dont know how much space is behind the rock but more space is helpful for flow. And when you get some fish in there they will have more hiding spaces.... its very beneficial.....

I would definitely get a few tangs to help with that LHA or maybe a lawn mower blenny....

I would personally love a blue spotted jaw fish.......... But thats me.



GL!

[hobogato]

yep, i am off of stahl rd between oconnor and judson. i agree with tony, that is a killer stand/cabinet!

go get a few large turbo snails from elegant reef, they will take care of that algae in no time. as far as fish go, i think you need to decide if you want to have triggers first, because that will drive what other fish you can keep. triggers like to pick on other slow moving fish, so that usually means they dont mix well with lion, puffers, eels, or sharks and rays.

with that being said, if it were me, i would do a small clown trigger

http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-74955-trigger.jpg

a mystery wrasse,

http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-74562-wrasse.jpg

a red coris,

http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-24060-coris-wrasse.jpg

and a harlequin tusk

http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-75839-harlequin-tusk.jpg

[PhilipB]

Great suggestions!! Im positive I am going to go predator reef. I will be going to Elegant today at lunch. I'm going to get a few snails and maybe maybe a lawnmower but probably just snails. For fish I would love a clown Picasso or blue trigger some larger tangs. Definitely a Lion. The Tusk is awesome and one that's floated around since the tank crashed actually plus angels. Im going to run this thread by Louis after I introduce myself of course LOL. Thanks for the comments on my stand. I'll upload some other pics tonight that show how I did it and how I am able to simplify or at least not make a mess during water changes.

[PhilipB]

Went to Elegant last night, met Chris. Hes a super nice and patient guy with a ton of knowledge. So far my wife and I halong with Chris's input have decided on a Niger trigger a Sweet Lips and a Harlequin Tusk. We know we want a Lionfish but havent picked which one. My wife wants a Bamboo shark egg and Chris thinks it will work if we swap him out about every year to year and a half and start over. Im liking the big Maroon Clowns and Panther Grouper also but..... I still havent decided on a protein skimmer but am going to order a GFO system after seeing Chris's and the benefits. Were going to add some fine sand and redo some of the rock work to "Open it up a little" which was a great idea. So i have plans for this weekend. Im going to head over to Elegant saturday morning and pick up a few things.