New setup questions

[ClearlyConfused]

I'm after a bit of advice for a new setup.

I have a reefer 170 arriving in the next 2 days and am looking at adding either a rw4 or sw4 both are about the same but i think the sw4's are updates to the rw4's, although i might be wrong. My question here is would i be ok with just the 1 or would 2 be better? they would be place either side of the weir on the back wall of the tank.

As for substrate i only want a thin layer probably about 1cm deep, i have been looking at the reeflowers 1-1.5mm grain size, is this stuff any good or would i be better with a something else?

I am going to be transferring rock (key largo marco rock that is in another tank that has been running for just over 6 months) and the livestock / couple of soft corals (xenia, kenya tree, long polyp toadstool) to the new tank once it is setup, can i just move everything straight over or is there a better way of doing the transfer? the tanks will be side by side.

Would i be ok to put say 120 litres of new salt water in the reefer, then add water from the old tank across to fill rest of the way?

Any recommendations on a decent magnet cleaner?

Im sure i will think of more, so will ask when i remember.

 

[pelici25]

About the sw4 pump, I think it has a newer controler with the Aqualink S1 possibilities. I'd would prefer 2. I placed mine on the back, is more difficult to get the right 'wave' but I don't have to look stread at the pumps in a side view.

Finer the substrate is very beautiful, but with a thin layer it can be blown on a ''mountain'' an you have a look at a bare bottom. Lol.

It can be profitable to use these rock, but it's not sure you make a ''clean'' start. Algeafases, new nitrate peak, etc... And what about PO4 in that used rock? I'd prefer a new start with new fresh rock, and new water (fresh seawater) and run all starting fases... It takes more time and patience but... it will be less fustrating when the start up with used rock doen't go like expected.

I use does orange magnets from fishstreet...

Good luck with the start up, patience and commom sence and everything will be just fine.

Sorry for my g- translate English

 

[Bluez_01]

As above really Big Thumbs Up

 

[CEECH]

As above 2 would be fine but they are more powerful than you think. On my rsm i had 1 as with 2 it was just too much. I setup on the side of the tank and had the return flow in the opisite direct and had no dead spots. Currently on my new setup i have 1 duck bill on the return and 1 spray bar which give a nice flow around the tank and also a vortech MP10 on the side on pulse mode. But i wanted to be careful as i have LPS and dot want it blown around too much. I cant see an dead spots in my tank where i am not getting flow.

 

[ClearlyConfused]

Thanks for the replys, i should have said the rock is in a tank i already have that i'm moving it from, the rock was new when i originally setup the other tank 6/7 months ago, The P04 in what will be the old tank is 0.01 according to my hanna checker. The reason for moving to a new tank is the reefer comes with a sump so i can hide equipment out of site and hopefully make things easier, although the old tank isn't much smaller in display tank volume the added volume of the sump might help a bit too, also i'm beginning to hate the bow front of my boyu and trying to reach to the back filter compartments is becoming a real pain.

Ok with regards to the SW4's i take it i would need to maybe run them at just under half power, or would i be better with 2 SW2's and run at nearly full power?

As for the substrate, iv'e never used wavemakers so didn't even think about it getting blown around, i currently have about a 1 inch depth on the old tank and i feel that something around that depth is good for me, just wasn't sure if i would be better with a shallower amount.

The lighting on the old tank will be moved to the new one but i will have to upgrade it if i try any of the more demanding corals in the future, the lights are currently a AI primeHD which cover my old tank well so shouldn't be an issue on the 170 for softies.

 

[ClearlyConfused]

@cheech i did look at the MP10s but was put off due to them being suitable for 9.5mm glass, and the reefer being 10mm just a bit concerned they might not hold properly (yes, my luck sucks and i'd be the one that gets a poor one)and they wouldn't replace stating that im using it on an oversized glass thickness.

 

[ClearlyConfused]

[MENTION=24344]pelici25[/MENTION] with your pumps, what mode do you have them set on and what power output?

 

[CEECH]

@cheech i did look at the MP10s but was put off due to them being suitable for 9.5mm glass, and the reefer being 10mm just a bit concerned they might not hold properly (yes, my luck sucks and i'd be the one that gets a poor one)and they wouldn't replace stating that im using it on an oversized glass thickness.

MP 10 work fine on the reefer so they do [MENTION=21336]merser[/MENTION] has had mp 10 on his 350 and my glass is 12 mm and it works fine.

 

[CEECH]

Thanks for the replys, i should have said the rock is in a tank i already have that i'm moving it from, the rock was new when i originally setup the other tank 6/7 months ago, The P04 in what will be the old tank is 0.01 according to my hanna checker. The reason for moving to a new tank is the reefer comes with a sump so i can hide equipment out of site and hopefully make things easier, although the old tank isn't much smaller in display tank volume the added volume of the sump might help a bit too, also i'm beginning to hate the bow front of my boyu and trying to reach to the back filter compartments is becoming a real pain.

Ok with regards to the SW4's i take it i would need to maybe run them at just under half power, or would i be better with 2 SW2's and run at nearly full power?

As for the substrate, iv'e never used wavemakers so didn't even think about it getting blown around, i currently have about a 1 inch depth on the old tank and i feel that something around that depth is good for me, just wasn't sure if i would be better with a shallower amount.

The lighting on the old tank will be moved to the new one but i will have to upgrade it if i try any of the more demanding corals in the future, the lights are currently a AI primeHD which cover my old tank well so shouldn't be an issue on the 170 for softies.

AI prime are a good lighting unit and you should have no issue growing any type of coral under them.They pretty much have all the same lighting as a radion just in a different shell. I know people who have full sps tanks under ai prime hd , it will also depend if the light is covering the whole tank with no shading. If this is the case then you could have problems with this unti for SPS. My mate has full coverage on his tank and no shadowing.

 

[ClearlyConfused]

Has anyone used the TMC coral sand? could i do this with maybe adding some of my existing sand to the new sand or should i just go all new?

 

[pelici25]

[MENTION=24344]pelici25[/MENTION] with your pumps, what mode do you have them set on and what power output?

I run a rw15 at 80% pulse and a rw20 at 50% in combination of the S1 wifi controler...

I think I would prefer the sw controler, manually straid away, with all the same settings... no diferent wifi connection, no wet fingers on your cell, if you cell is empty, syncing isn't that easy, etc...

It's 600 l tank. (70 x 70 x 130 cm, 67 wh) When I turn them at 100% it's sunami time. Slower running is less noise, because they have a little zzzzzzz.

Every 2 months I place them in vinagar overnight or 2 or 3... to clean them easy.
That's the reason I bought 2 pairs, they aren't that expensive and there is no quick quick thing to do...

I ordered in the same time some spare propellors and all types of rubbers they are used in an on the pump.

 

[merser]

I can confirm I've used mp10qd on my reefer 350 but only on the sides! The glass is thinner.

I use that fine reef flowers sand. I bloody love it. My advice would be don't mix it with any other grade of sand. The larger sand will work its way to the top and I personally like the fine stuff. Plus I like my wrasses and they prefer it to sleep in. No good for wrasse at 1cm deep mind mate!


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[ClearlyConfused]

Cheers for the info on the mp10qd and the reeflowers [MENTION=21336]merser[/MENTION].

Today has been a good day the reefer turned up along with the skimmer/return pump and so i spent the evening building the stand and putting it into position, just have to level it now which will be a job over the next day or two depending on work. I have also ordered 2 SW4's and have gone for the seaflor special grade sand, should be enough for around 2cm depth.

When i do a leak test can i just use plain tap water? and do i leave it for 24 hours?

 

[merser]

Cheers for the info on the mp10qd and the reeflowers [MENTION=21336]merser[/MENTION].

Today has been a good day the reefer turned up along with the skimmer/return pump and so i spent the evening building the stand and putting it into position, just have to level it now which will be a job over the next day or two depending on work. I have also ordered 2 SW4's and have gone for the seaflor special grade sand, should be enough for around 2cm depth.

When i do a leak test can i just use plain tap water? and do i leave it for 24 hours?

Is the tank new mate? If so, all reefers are leak tested at the factory I believe. That said if you have issues levelling it then it may be helpful to level once you see how it sits full. Whatever you do, tap water will do the business no issue.

Jamie


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[steve861uk]

I opted for a mix of live sand (base layer) with lots of TMC Medium Gravel on top. This option might not be good for Wrasse' but the main benefit is that it doesn't get blown around and my mechanical digger (Tiger Pistol Shrimp) loves it :w00t:

 

[CEECH]

I would think with a new tank you should have no issue with it leaking. at all.

 

[merser]

I opted for a mix of live sand (base layer) with lots of TMC Medium Gravel on top. This option might not be good for Wrasse' but the main benefit is that it doesn't get blown around and my mechanical digger (Tiger Pistol Shrimp) loves it :w00t:

As I mentioned before the larger grade of gravel/sand will work to the surface. Presuming the gravel is bigger than the sand it should be sweet. Id never suggest gravel would be good for sand dwelling wrasse though mate. Haven't seen the particular brand in real life though. So could be wrong.


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