Upgrading From Brackish To Marine

[timmystood]

Thanks for the PM Chac - I will definatley look at that for my live rock source!

Also, thanks for the advice Neale. I think I might find a home for the Ceylon Puffer then because I really really want a reef tank!

 

[timmystood]

Got a bucket of salt - £50 today and an extension lead!!

It's Seachem Reef Salt which is what I use in my Brackish tank except I got the big bucket one so that it's air-tight and doesn't go lumpy and undissolveable like my current bag

I've started!!

EDIT - Another question has come up... how often do YOU do water changes on a reef tank with LR, coral, filters and a skimmer?

 

[Chac]

Got a bucket of salt - £50 today and an extension lead!!

It's Seachem Reef Salt which is what I use in my Brackish tank except I got the big bucket one so that it's air-tight and doesn't go lumpy and undissolveable like my current bag

I've started!!

EDIT - Another question has come up... how often do YOU do water changes on a reef tank with LR, coral, filters and a skimmer?

Personally I do mine once every 2 weeks or so

 

[SkiFletch]

I do 10% 3 times a month

 

[timmystood]

So it's not quite as intense (water changes wise) as tropical? I do my tropical and coldwater tanks once a week. Will every fortnight be ok with a reef tank then? The problem I would face with doing water changes every week is the cost of salt and RO Water because I don't have/want an RO Unit!

Also, I've got the sand and a seio pump lined up as soon as I have the money...

Is this ok to store RO water in? I'm assuming RO water is a must for reef tanks?

 

[SkiFletch]

Pretty much any plastic container that has not had chemicals in it during its lifetime will be fine. Food containers, storage bins, etc are all good options.

RO is a must if you want to be able to control nuisance algae

 

[l337dave]

So it's not quite as intense (water changes wise) as tropical? I do my tropical and coldwater tanks once a week. Will every fortnight be ok with a reef tank then? The problem I would face with doing water changes every week is the cost of salt and RO Water because I don't have/want an RO Unit!

once a week or so works for me - I do 2 ehiem externals full (ie lock and remove the pipes and top pump bit and let water drain from the output in the tank into the bucket bit to save disturbing stuff) every week or so which works out at 14ish litres on a 125 litre tank - more the first few weeks I added fish to keep the nitrates down ~5

Also, I've got the sand and a seio pump lined up as soon as I have the money...

If you are anywhere near sheffield (south) and you don't need a lot then I have some you can have, after I got all the rockwork in place and filled the sand in around it I used about 7 handfuls out of a 20litre bag! it covers the floor around the rocks to about 1 - 2cm which seems to be is plenty for my ceriths and nass to hide in!

'cause I only have a small tank I didn't want a DSB taking up loads of room (I've planned one into the sump I'm going to build) the stats don't seem to have suffered so I'm happy ('corse I'll love the nitrates to read 0.0 ...)

Is this ok to store RO water in? I'm assuming RO water is a must for reef tanks?

You are going to be topping up with RO everyday or two so I also get a small container, I have a 5 litre one for daily top ups, I found it really difficult to lift a full 6 gallon container to shoulder height and not make a mess everywhere! a little one is much easier to manage.




dave.

 

[timmystood]

Thanks very much for the offer but I live a little too far from Sheffield

I think i'll do water changes once every 2 weeks once the whole system is set-up and running.

Thanks again