Inevitably getting back in to the hobby

[jesserettele]

Like Rob I only use the fuge and skim. When I first started I had no idea what people were talking about with the calc reactors and Ozone, phosban reactors, dosing strot and Iodide, reverse cycle, two part something........ all I wanted to know was "when do I add salt to the water".

Now I have a fuge that incorporates a bare bottom macro, a semi deep sand bed (with more macro), and a cryptic fuge (not a hundred percent dark but never gets any light). I use a skimmer, a small one that was modified.

Now a year later I've started toying around with phosban reactors and have even built my own skimmer (not very effective but it worked) and plan on building a top off water supply with a Kalkwasser chamber. I understand the ozone and even when they start talking about alkalanity and ph levels.

don't get me wrong, I'm still scratching my head when the guys really get into the details.

Oh yeah, your question. I would start where you are comfortable, and don't worry about dosing until it either becomes a problem or you want to go in another direction that you feel is the right direction. If you keep up with the water changes you should have the majority of what you need as far as minerals to negate any supplementation.

Of course this is only my own newby opinion and others are welcome to point out the weak points of my approach.

I used the HIATT HDL anerobic filtration system before with success but think I will take a more traditional route this time. Thanks for the input and experiences. I think I will run a fug and skim. I still have three huge custom made reactors with all the media in them that I will have to bring myself to parting out though.

[jesserettele]

Actually I have some SPS! My blue polyps are still blue, my green polyps are still green, the pink are still pink. I did kill a green confusa I think but 3 out of 4 SPS are still alive and growing.

Like Allan though I am still waiting for them to do something exciting (other than keep the color they're supposed to be)

Mixed reef is definitely the way to go for me

My favorite that I had was my bubble that was a pig. I would blend up a delicious frozen concoction and use a turkey baster to watch him eat.

[Bill S]

This is EXACTLY what you need to get back into the hobby:

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56269

[jesserettele]

This is EXACTLY what you need to get back into the hobby:

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56269

NICE, $1200 for all including sump? You don't have to answer, I am not financially ready, not to mention authorization from the boss lady, besides I don't have a place to take advantage of the double sided view aquarium. But you are right the way your tank is set up makes me chomp at the bit to get back in.

[jesserettele]

so I am getting a free light hood, stand, sump, pumps, skimmer, and plumbing from ctcoral, now I just need a 75 gallon reef ready starphire rimless.

[Double-O-Zilch]

Glad to see you getting back into it Jesse, between you and Ben I should be able to learn a few things.We're going fish store wondering if you can get out later today, you know you want to go!

[jesserettele]

here are the pics of the used 75 gallon drilled tank I picked up for $100. it is a little rough but I am thinking about trying to fix it up. I would like to remove the plastic brim that is cracked and unsightly. People say DON'T DO IT! I would like to add a top cap out of acrylic to brace it up a bit but just don't know what chips and unpolished edges are under that nasty black trim.

It looks like I will also have to drill a couple more holes in the back because of the pump that I want to run (pan world 200ps). (thanks corruption for the help with sizing my overflow drain)

[Mr Cob]

Man, great job getting everything together. I love watching tanks come together from the ground up, especially like this.

Once you get all your parts together I would start a new thread.

Also, thanks for the comments on my tank.

[corruption]

Heya Jesse! Glad to help! With the position that the holes are currently in -- you should be able to simply plumb them up for returns... I was picturing them much closer to the center of that back pane... Just build the Calfo where the 1" bulkheads are outside of the overflow, and drill for your needed drainage within the area between those two existing holes..

-Justin

[jesserettele]

Yes I really like your rock work Rob and would like to do the foam and rock aquascaping to add some character like you did.

Thanks corruption that is a good idea, do you think I should drill two 2 1/2" holes or bigger to handle a pump rated at 1750 gph.

I will start a new thread once I really start going and hopefully I can make progress to show results.