Cliff’s 180 gallon reef

[Cliff]

When I not setting up grow out tanks, both of my marine tank will need about a hour of maintenace each week for various things and the weekly water changes

I think I know what you are talking about with the sumps. I've had two set-ups close to that. There is some pics in the below link

http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.co...e-sump-basics/

[~firefly~]

Wow, an hour per week is good (I spend that on my dinky little FW tanks...fiddling with them!)

[Cliff]

The key with marine tanks is stability. Once the set-up has started to mature, and you have a rotine that keeps the parameters in line and stable, it can be pretty easy.

It's taken me a while to learn what each of my tanks needed and the maintence required got less and less. I'm been pretty lucky with the 180 so far as it has not taken me as long to get that down. But it is still a newer set-up so I always have to test and confirm.

[~firefly~]

How often do you test the water? I'm always interested in how often people test mature tanks.

I don't have any marine set-ups but I tend to test my larger tank monthly (for everything) and keep a record book (GEEK!). And for the nano tank I test weekly as it's only been set up a few months.

What do you test?

[Cliff]

For the first few weeks after it is cycled, I will test 2 to 3 times a week for: ammonia, nitrite, pH, nitrate, phosphates, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.

After about 4 months or so, I will test twice a week for nitrate, calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. If any one of those are off, or if something in the tank is just not right or as it should be, I will test the rest of the parameters.

After about 6 to 8 months (assuming everything is going good) I will test weekly for nitrate, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.

Every time I test, I also check the salinity. Even tho I use auto dosing pumps on my tank, I have to keep an eye on the levels and adjust as the demand on the elements in the water changes. Actually, all of my equipment and set-up choices were aimed at helping to better stabilize the parameters. Once you can achieve that, it get a whole lot easier and your corals and fish will thank you for it

[~firefly~]

That's excellent management practice, and very interesting. Thanks.

[Cliff]

The LEDs I put on the grow out tank are a little better than I thought they would be. I'm actually impressed for the price I paid for them. The light isnot good enough for corals, but it sure fits the bill for a fish only set-up.

[ibuyen]

What kind of led did you get?

[Cliff]

I have AI SOLs on the main tank, and a cheap overseas knock off LED fixture on the grow our tank I bought off of E-bay

[Westbeef]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread, loved to see the progress from start to finish. I just hope one day I have the knowledge (and wealth ) to have my own aquarium like this one. Really find it fascinating how much effort and care it takes just to run one of these tanks!