Finally...I went "all-in" on a salt tank!
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- Thread starter All-in Salt Tank
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I never finish anythi
Valuable Member
Welcome to R2R. Dog face puffer fish are amazing. Good luck with the tank.
I think with canister filters and quite a few fish especially the puffer you are gonna have to be on top of the maintenance or the nitrate is going to be a constant battle. Do you have a skimmer running?
I think with canister filters and quite a few fish especially the puffer you are gonna have to be on top of the maintenance or the nitrate is going to be a constant battle. Do you have a skimmer running?
OP
OP
All-in Salt Tank
Community Member
Thanks! Yes..."Pluffer" as my kids have named him is super cool! He's very active and always comes right out from under the rocks to say hello when we walk up to the tank. I know he's just hoping it's feeding time, but we like to think he's happy to see us!
Yes...running a protein skimmer. I have been successful in getting the nitrates down to where they are now, but they're sort of hovering at 40-50. I'm hoping there is something else I can do to help reduce them further.
Gumbies R Us
Certified Noob
Welcome to Reef2Reef!
OP
OP
All-in Salt Tank
Community Member
Thank you! I LOVE it! Just noticed last night, though, that someone went to town on my tulips! I think it was the puffer, as I've seen him nibble at it before. Oh well! Hope it will grow back.Welcome to R2R. Your tank looks great.
I have found the fluvals don't do much. You have a pretty big bio load at least I think so. I have a 40 with only one clown in it. Same thing My Son bought it from a friend. He was a big doser. The tank came with all of his problem children, and was full of hair algae, Took me six months to correct. Among other things seemed to have luck with a media crystal called Nitra- Guard which goes in a bag and into your FluvalHello, Reef2Reef.
After more than 3 decades of having all sorts of aquariums, I finally went all-in and purchased a complete salt tank! I've had the 100G TruVue tank for many years, but I've never made the leap to salt. After lots of online research and conversations with local salt specialists, I decided to purchase a complete set up from someone that was getting out of the hobby. It was literally a crash course in managing a FOWLR system with absolutely beautiful fish! It's been a very interesting journey, but so far...everyone is doing well and very happy in their new home. The tank has been up and running since mid-January and I'd like to think I'm finally getting a handle on all of this.
Here is my biggest issue, though. Had a big nitrate storm after the move. Or...it was already there when I acquired the set-up. The previous owner assured me it was an established tank and low maintenance. I quickly realized there's no such thing as a "low maintenance" salt tank! We moved all of the coral, rock, fish, filters, etc. in one day, and everyone survived the move.
My system is not typical and I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible...
Running:
- Two Fluval FX6 canister filters
- Protein skimmer
- Two wave-makers
Other than a nitrate spike after the move, the tank is looking great and the fish are all doing awesome! I've been doing weekly water changes with RODI water (I installed a system) and I got the nitrates down from over 100 to within the 40-50 range. I'd still like to get them lower, but hoping I can back off on these weekly water changes. They are very time consuming, expensive, and are not what I had expected. I'm doing what it takes, though, as I LOVE these fish and want a healthy tank.
I'm stocked with:
- Large blue hippo tang
- Large yellow tang
- Med/large domino damsel
- Med/large dogface puffer
- Med fairytale wrasse
- Med coral beauty
- Sm/Med striped damsel
- Urchins X 2 (one is a pencil urchin) and a turbo snail
Being brand-new to salt, I'd love some suggestions on managing the nitrates. Please keep in mind that I'm a newbie with some experience and I'm really hoping to keep this set-up as simple as possible. My local resources and friends in the hobby have told me I'm doing great so far. Would love some more advice and I'm looking forward to being a member of this forum!
Cheers!
Buckster
2500 Club Member
Hello and Welcome to R2R and the salty side of the hobby. I change water in my 180 every other week at 35gal per change. I use to check the percentages and stopped. Everything in the tank looks great and grows well. Some people try to chase numbers but I don't change things if the tank is doing well.
FreeEnergy
Community Member
welcomeHello, Reef2Reef.
After more than 3 decades of having all sorts of aquariums, I finally went all-in and purchased a complete salt tank! I've had the 100G TruVue tank for many years, but I've never made the leap to salt. After lots of online research and conversations with local salt specialists, I decided to purchase a complete set up from someone that was getting out of the hobby. It was literally a crash course in managing a FOWLR system with absolutely beautiful fish! It's been a very interesting journey, but so far...everyone is doing well and very happy in their new home. The tank has been up and running since mid-January and I'd like to think I'm finally getting a handle on all of this.
Here is my biggest issue, though. Had a big nitrate storm after the move. Or...it was already there when I acquired the set-up. The previous owner assured me it was an established tank and low maintenance. I quickly realized there's no such thing as a "low maintenance" salt tank! We moved all of the coral, rock, fish, filters, etc. in one day, and everyone survived the move.
My system is not typical and I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible...
Running:
- Two Fluval FX6 canister filters
- Protein skimmer
- Two wave-makers
Other than a nitrate spike after the move, the tank is looking great and the fish are all doing awesome! I've been doing weekly water changes with RODI water (I installed a system) and I got the nitrates down from over 100 to within the 40-50 range. I'd still like to get them lower, but hoping I can back off on these weekly water changes. They are very time consuming, expensive, and are not what I had expected. I'm doing what it takes, though, as I LOVE these fish and want a healthy tank.
I'm stocked with:
- Large blue hippo tang
- Large yellow tang
- Med/large domino damsel
- Med/large dogface puffer
- Med fairytale wrasse
- Med coral beauty
- Sm/Med striped damsel
- Urchins X 2 (one is a pencil urchin) and a turbo snail
Being brand-new to salt, I'd love some suggestions on managing the nitrates. Please keep in mind that I'm a newbie with some experience and I'm really hoping to keep this set-up as simple as possible. My local resources and friends in the hobby have told me I'm doing great so far. Would love some more advice and I'm looking forward to being a member of this forum!
Cheers!
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