Hmm oh yea, the library, lol. Personally I seem to always get to the library when books are out *like i said earlier, I have bad timing*, but i think i'll try seeing if I can find those books in the library cuz they sound great!! *bombed with info and people helpin me* :mrgreen:

TKS guys, I think once I design a final system I'll scan that in and run it by u many reef owners out there *echo echo echo*

Oh yea keep checkin back here cuz I'll likely run ideas by u guys for a while till I've finalized everything. *being the noob at this that I am*

*checks box*

WoW first time threadin on this website and I've got a 5 page one-tks guys!
 

Sigh, I totally missed that, your right :surprise: *tks man I woulda killed coral if i set everything up*this ammo-carb is for freshwater tanks, hmm whats its match for saltwater tanks?

Live Rock and occasional Carbon

Whats the difference between just "carbon" and ammo-carb and why only occasional carbon?

*thinks of running water through large rock*:lol:

The ammo carb has an ammonia removal agent in it that does not work on SW.

I say occasional because Carbon strips out a lot of things and I dont think it should be run 24/7 unless you do a ton of water changes. (You should be doing a 5-10% water change minimum, weekly)

hmmk.....y so many water changes?

Water changes lets you remove larger debris that your protein skimmer (assuming you use one) can't remove. It also replenishes trace elements, and any major elements that may have become depleated, such as calcium, or magnesium.

Hoestly man. I say this as nicely as I can...

If you are still at the point in your knowledge of reefkeeping that you need to ask about water changes, carbon etc, you are not ready for SPS.

I would stop right where you are and read read read. Go to www.wetwebmedia.com and read until you cannot read any more. Then buy the CMA book I recommended above and read that.

Then start putting your tank together slowly. Read the other books suggested after that.

It will only take a few weeks, and you will save yourself SO much time and heartache.

:)

ya the ''Concientious Marine Aquarist'' is a great book, packed with useful info, read it front to back, focuses on every aspect you need to know

I hear so many people saying sps is difficult to keep, I disagree. What is so hard about keeping sps? Keeping anything in a 5 gallon is tough not just sps, there's no wiggle room. A little evap and the salinity is through the roof. I think sps has a reputation for being expensive but it isn't too bad compared to some zoos, rics, duncans, acans, etc.

You guys are so funny....I can't believe you do this :lol:

Just trying to help :) I've wasted so much money on crap equipment and dead fish and corals if I can help someone keep even a few dollars in their wallet that makes me happy :)

Do what? And if "what" means "answering this guy's questions"...then why wouldn't we?

hmm k, when doing water changes is there something I should be adding to the water? Cuz the water I get doesn't contain that many dissolved minerals, elements etc.

Your salt water mix will give you most of what you need. Depending on what coral/livestock you end up keeping you may need to add suplimental calcium, iodine etc etc.

Before you go any further, I suggest you follow the advice that many people here have already given. Do your research. Here is also a good place to start.

lol
 

:lol:
Helping me some crime?:question:
:lol:

Tks for the advice and links+everything, I gotta jet for today. l8r

Maybe it's just me but I found there test kits to be on the same level as Hagen. The PO4 did not give me accurate results, and the Ca was pretty bad as well. Counting drops to only get a final reading between 400-450 isn't exactly accurate. In fact you have to buy a separate additive just to get a reading accurate to 10ppm.

With Salifert you get nice syringes which allows for much smaller drops to be added and in the end you read the syringe. Theirs no way ELOS can compete (IMO).

I guess the concept behind their kits is that you really only need to know what your parameters are within those increments. I mean, really, does it make a difference whether your Ca is 400 ppm or 425 ppm? That's like a ten hour fluctuation for my tank at home...