Hi everyone! I am kind of new here. Been a member for a little while but i very rarely come to the site as I usually look at others threads for info. I have had a 180 gallon dream tank setup for almost a year now. FOWLR for now but am going to move into that coral life shortly. (as soon as i save enough money for those crazy LED lights).
Quick breakdown of my tank:
Multiple tangs that are super playful with each other such as Tomini, Blue, Sailfin, Lavender.
2 Ocellaris Misbar Clownfish, Koran angelfish, Foxface rabbitfish, Neon dottyback, Longnose butterflyfish
Cleanup Crew such as cleaner shrimp, fighting conch snail, blue hermit crabs
Equipment: 39 sapphire sump trigger systems, reefwave 25 x2, cor20 return pump, sapphire ato 10 with apex atk, apex v2, pentair smart UV 40, apex afs, red sea skimmer 300, apex Dos+reservoir (ready whenever), carbon/phosphate reactor BRS, reef octopus biopellet reactor 1000ss, reef octopus algae reactor 150, orbit usa lights 36-48 x2 (will obviously upgrade to something that actually has par like the sky or kessil 360).
Filtration: 3-4 inch sandbed, lots of copepods from algaebarn, ~20 bioballs, carbon and phosguard, chaeto, 2-3 filter socks (may remove).
I think that's everything to give the rundown of the tank. So now to suggestions from you all. I have done lots of research on everything so far and continue to do so as I love learning about my 2nd favorite hobby (besides gaming). I have seen that copepods can replace mechanical filtration but I am hesitant to remove my filter socks, (mainly because i had spent 100 dollars on 5-6 sets from trigger systems because that's the best one that actually fits their sumps) and the fact that my water is so darn clear from the mechanical filtration doing so well.
If i am to remove these for better copepod populations, (granted I don't have to if you all suggest otherwise), what should i add instead to the system to keep my tank going really well?
Should i get another reactor that can help with low levels of nutrients or what? I am always interested in finding more and better equipment for my tank as i still want the best for my pets.
One note...i don't do water changes very often at all because i test my levels and all my equipment seems to keep everything really low at all times. (please don't tell me to do changes as i am happy with how the levels are for now). I also tend to use nitrate reducers etc every so often just to help, and i obviously do my best to clean out reactors when i need to. my pumps could use a bit of cleaning but I am doing my best in the time i have when not at work or taking care of my family (very busy life).
Quick breakdown of my tank:
Multiple tangs that are super playful with each other such as Tomini, Blue, Sailfin, Lavender.
2 Ocellaris Misbar Clownfish, Koran angelfish, Foxface rabbitfish, Neon dottyback, Longnose butterflyfish
Cleanup Crew such as cleaner shrimp, fighting conch snail, blue hermit crabs
Equipment: 39 sapphire sump trigger systems, reefwave 25 x2, cor20 return pump, sapphire ato 10 with apex atk, apex v2, pentair smart UV 40, apex afs, red sea skimmer 300, apex Dos+reservoir (ready whenever), carbon/phosphate reactor BRS, reef octopus biopellet reactor 1000ss, reef octopus algae reactor 150, orbit usa lights 36-48 x2 (will obviously upgrade to something that actually has par like the sky or kessil 360).
Filtration: 3-4 inch sandbed, lots of copepods from algaebarn, ~20 bioballs, carbon and phosguard, chaeto, 2-3 filter socks (may remove).
I think that's everything to give the rundown of the tank. So now to suggestions from you all. I have done lots of research on everything so far and continue to do so as I love learning about my 2nd favorite hobby (besides gaming). I have seen that copepods can replace mechanical filtration but I am hesitant to remove my filter socks, (mainly because i had spent 100 dollars on 5-6 sets from trigger systems because that's the best one that actually fits their sumps) and the fact that my water is so darn clear from the mechanical filtration doing so well.
If i am to remove these for better copepod populations, (granted I don't have to if you all suggest otherwise), what should i add instead to the system to keep my tank going really well?
Should i get another reactor that can help with low levels of nutrients or what? I am always interested in finding more and better equipment for my tank as i still want the best for my pets.
One note...i don't do water changes very often at all because i test my levels and all my equipment seems to keep everything really low at all times. (please don't tell me to do changes as i am happy with how the levels are for now). I also tend to use nitrate reducers etc every so often just to help, and i obviously do my best to clean out reactors when i need to. my pumps could use a bit of cleaning but I am doing my best in the time i have when not at work or taking care of my family (very busy life).
