Need Advice For Maintaince On Large Marine System

[xxBarneyxx]

Well as most of you will know I have just set up 150g ish system (including sump). I have kepts marines for almost two years now but never on a large system.

On my previous tanks I would do a 10-20% water change once every 1-2 weeks and that was pretty much it (other then cleaning powerheads when needed, topping up, etc). On a system this size though that isnt really going to be possible (on a water meter so will cost a fortune). From what I have read its not really neccersary either.

I do have a skimmer but its only a nano skimmer. I will be doing a DIY job on a new skimmer though which while it might not be as effective as top line production models it should still do a fairly good job. I'm also going to DIY a phosphate reactor and have a remote DSB and fuge so hopefully this should help with keeping the water in good condition.

Mag and Calc may be an issue later on (once its more fully stocked) so will have to dose the tank with this and possibly a buffer as well.

Just wanted some advice and opinions on the ideal maintaince for a large reef system. should I still be doing regular partial water changes or should I just set up the biggest skimmer and fuge I can and dose anything that is needed?

 

[mixmaster jay]

Well as most of you will know I have just set up 150g ish system (including sump). I have kepts marines for almost two years now but never on a large system.

On my previous tanks I would do a 10-20% water change once every 1-2 weeks and that was pretty much it (other then cleaning powerheads when needed, topping up, etc). On a system this size though that isnt really going to be possible (on a water meter so will cost a fortune). From what I have read its not really neccersary either.

I do have a skimmer but its only a nano skimmer. I will be doing a DIY job on a new skimmer though which while it might not be as effective as top line production models it should still do a fairly good job. I'm also going to DIY a phosphate reactor and have a remote DSB and fuge so hopefully this should help with keeping the water in good condition.

Mag and Calc may be an issue later on (once its more fully stocked) so will have to dose the tank with this and possibly a buffer as well.

Just wanted some advice and opinions on the ideal maintaince for a large reef system. should I still be doing regular partial water changes or should I just set up the biggest skimmer and fuge I can and dose anything that is needed?

I dont know much about marines but if you get a waterbutt and kit it out with a high flow pump with in line uv and filter you can mix you own water up from tap and rain water thus costing less (just an idea) or use a top up tank as soon as the main tank water goes lower than desired it will auto fill i think it uses some kind of small ballcock or float like a toilet systern. as for mag and calc im not sure mate
I have a few ideas on how to make a topup system if interesded have a look at my profile and get my email adress and mail me if you want.
I hope some of this may be usefull

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thanks mate.

For the marine tank I already have an auto top up unit that tops up RO water as it evaporates. The bigger problem is doing large salt water changes on a regular basis as the cost of RO and salt when doing a 20g WC every couple of weeks would be really high.

Because its a reef tank I cant use ages tap water or rain water because of the sensitivity of corals to things like copper, phosphates and nitrates.

If it was a large FW tank though then that would certainly work and I know people that use similar systems on large discus tanks.

 

[rabbut]

For ALK and Ca buffering, on a larger system, a Calcium reactor may be a worth while thing. Fiddly and expensive though the initial outlay is, once its off, you are only supposed to need to touch it every few months to add more calcium carbonate media to it, or replace the CO2 bottle

For Mg, buy Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Sulphate and non-chloride salts for balling. You mix them in RO (6 part non-chloride salts, 16parts Magnesium Sulphate and 114 parts Magnesium Chloride). This costs very little (about £50 for enough to keep me going on a 70l for a couple of years) and is easy enough to do

You can do a similar thing with Calcium (Calcium Chloride) and Alkalinity (Sodium Bi-carbonate/carbonate) for supplements, but a Calcium reactor on paper works out a tad cheaper to run...

If Mg, Ca and Alk are maintained via additives (or dosing pumps + reactors once you know the dosage rates for Mg, Ca and Alk) you next worry is Phosphate and Nitrate. Enough flow and LR in combination with removal resins will keep that in check though. If P and N are not running away, and Mg, Ca and Alk are being maintained by buffers, the final thing you need to worry about is trace elements. This is the only thing left you need to worry about, and the only thing to water change over in a large well ran tank Ski does (I think) 40% once a quarter for trace elements only in his system, and this is what I'm going to aim for with mine in the near future

HTH
Rabbut

 

[seffieuk]

Really good question Rabutt - I will also be reading the replies with interest

Seffie x

 

[ben1987]

it depends what thes stockings like barney. If the nitrates dont go sky high then you can buffer or use reactors.
You could alos read up on zeovit tanks, those guys tend to do few water changes.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well Barn, you could do what I do. 45g waterchange on a 70g system quarterly (4 times a year) with calc/alk/mag suppliments as-needed as rabbut mentioned along with a LOT of skimming and refugia. Works great for me. Now that you mention it, it's time for my spring change... Time to make water

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thanks guys. Think I will just watch the water stats and go from there. Ideally as suggested with just dosing when needed but if the N and P start creeping up I will work out what water changes need to be done to keep it stable.

 

[ben1987]

one thing though, dosing gets rather expensive on that sized tank after a while. Especially when you buy a few more corals. Maybe look into reactors.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah reactors will be the way to go eventually. However its not likely that the coral stocking is going to get to a point where dosing is going to be needed much for a long time (stupid lack of money ). I mainly have softies in there now and it will mainly be softies that I will be stocking with to begin with as they tend to be easier to get down here and grow quicker too so will help fill up the space until later

 

[SkiFletch]

one thing though, dosing gets rather expensive on that sized tank after a while. Especially when you buy a few more corals. Maybe look into reactors.

Indeed, that's why I dose cheap solids instead of the expensive prepared liquid suppliments

 

[ben1987]

i dont know how they can charge £10 for 500ml of ca buffer. blatent rip-off imo