Need to brainstorm a new project... ALL OPINIONS WELCOME:)

[Troy Valentine]

Looking to make some major changes, and I need your input.(good-bad-whatever)

-Current system
Oceanic 240 (8x2x2) with matching Oceanic Stand. est. 8/04
Mixture of Zoas, LPS, SPS, and Clams
approx. 50g sump with built in fuge and 2-6"x30" skimmers

-Problem with system
My large Gigas Calm is blowing water out of the tank regularly now, and I am tired of cleaning/drying it up. And if this water happens to hit my light fixture it could be dangerous if my children are near it.

-My Idea
Get rid of the 240 tank, and go to a 150 (4'x2'x31")and put 2 freshwater Starphire 80 (2x2x31") to bookend the reef. I have never really had a freshwater tank, and I would like to do a nice planted Discus and German Blue Ram tank. I will keep the same Oceanic stand, and all of the filtration will remain the same for the reef tank.

- Some Questions for MAASTards
Should I drill the freshwater tanks, and incorporate a sump with them?
Can I use DI water in the freshwater systems?
What are some challenges to lookout for with freshwater planted tanks?
When is it necessary to dose CO2?


Troy

[LuckySingh]

No experience with the fresh water so cant say anything..
but thumbs up for that clam...That is a gigantor clam....ans should be awarded as Maast clam of all time....Sorry for goin off topic....
Hey troy i am sure all of us here wants to see the pic of that clam....

[Scream311]

Id drill the tanks. As it will look and operate cleaner. Besides you'll get wayy more flow versus Those hang on filters . They are for the birds.

I don't see an issue with using di water

Problems I have faced with planted tanks are the many hitch hikers that come with them. Snails can reproduce and take over a tank like crazy

Good luck friend. I'm in on the move when your ready

[bryancb]

For my fresh and brackish tanks i just use HOB filters especially a bio-wheel. I looked into using a sump but didnt seem to be as beneficial as with salt
For the water i switch my DI off and go with RO but even then youll have to add stuff to get the water right for fresh, i dont have discus so not positive but i think they require a few more additives if you use RO. And honestly my challenges are with saltwater, fresh seems to be more forgiving, the only thing ive had to worry with fresh is some initial die off with plants as they are added and those nasty snails that will hop on them. I setup a fresh planted for my nephew, whos 8, and its pretty stocked with plants but havent had to dose or add any CO2 for him and in 6 months he hasnt had a piece of algae. With my brackish its also stacked but i did dose and have a small DIY CO2 system i use sometimes to push growth. Now with the 36 bracksih i did have big algae outbreak till i trimmed the plants back and poof its gone. Got some really nice plants from Pollys and Gabe, and yes i feel stupid but bought one from petsmart which then died and gave me 5 bad snails

If you do find those snails call me and ill take them, my puffer loves nasty lil snails lol

[aquasport24]

I would keep the 240 and connect a separate cube just for the clam by itself.

[Scream311]

Got the perfect tank for that idea if troy was to go that route. 90 gall coming down soon. 28" tall

[Troy Valentine]

James and bryancb: Does surface skimming benefit a freshwater tank? Is there an issue of proteins/organics gathering on the surface that are difficult to remove without a surface skimmer? Or is carbon the answer to this problem if the system is without a surface skimmer?

[Troy Valentine]

I would keep the 240 and connect a separate cube just for the clam by itself.

I was actually planning on doing this originally, but my OCD kicked in, and I realized I need to keep the room as symmetrical as possible. I have a real weird issue with things that are not symmetrical. I'm strange I know

No experience with the fresh water so cant say anything..
but thumbs up for that clam...That is a gigantor clam....ans should be awarded as Maast clam of all time....Sorry for goin off topic....
Hey troy i am sure all of us here wants to see the pic of that clam....

I will take a more current photo>

[txmike]

Surface skimming will help on the FW setup .I would drill and use a wet dry for the FW .To preventing the hitch hikers on the plants put them in a RO/DI and bleach mix for a bit then you move them into RO/DI and change the water a few times and the plants will be clean of hitch hikers .When you set up let me know I will get the bleach to RO/DI mix from my wife for you ,She did this in all the FW planted that we use to have.As far as C02 not sure on that as we never stocked the plants that hard in any of our tanks.

Mike

[bryancb]

I dont think freshwater lifts the proteins like salt
Ive never had anything on the surface except the first few days from not rinsing the sand enough
Since i have HOB filters i use carbon and they keep the surface agitated enough