need input/75gl reef

[Dave E]

I have a 75gl acrylic tank with built in filter system(overflow and chambers) started out as a fish only but i'm turning it into a reef tank instead.I have about 75lbs LR in tank and another 40 curing in my rubbermaid.About 50lb LS,corallife light,redsea skimmer.tank been going sense Jan.2003

Is this type of tank ok before i get in to deep and what else do you think i should do.

Tank mates:
Brown/tan tang
Pair clown fish
bubble coral
Green rose
flowerpot coral(8mnts) :?:

[steve1s]

Is this type of tank ok before i get in to deep and what else do you think i should do.
The tank size is not all that important as far as having a reef set-up. It has much more to do with stable parameters, chemistry of the water, lighting and filtration. So far what you have sounds fine except for not knowing more about the coralife light specs and what types of corals you wish to keep. Is the Prizm skimmer the standard model or the Pro? How much GPH does the tank have?


flowerpot coral(8mnts) :?:
You lost me with that part....


http://members.shaw.ca/steve-s/welcome.gif To ReefLounge.com

Cheers
Steve

[Dave E]

Sorry about the Quote,not sure what i keyed in. Everone tells me a flower pot coral only live about 2 mounths in a marine tank, I've had mine 8 mounths.

Right know i have a corallife light 175watts,plan on switching to mh lighting after first of year.The skimmer is a Berlin air-lift.

Not sure howmuch movement, built in overflow uses a Rio 2100 and i use 2 CAtilina1200 for movement.

Also if you can help me with another ? I have,I have a GE-RO smart water system at my kitchen sink. It is a 10gpd system that i would like to use for tank fills and top off,problem is that when I tested the water output the alk. was to low. Is this normal, is there a additive I could/should use or stay with store bought water.

[steve1s]

Well at 8 months your doing well but are you sure it's not an alveopora?

The light upgrade is a step in the right direction but be sure to acclimate the tank to the new lighting and ease the existing livestock to the new intensity. Limit the duration per day as well as possibley shading the light some to prevent bleaching/burning corals and coralline.

You GPH does sound a little on the low side. If possible, I would suggest a few additional PH's inside the tank. The rio if used as the return pump from the sump will be reduced depending on the vertical head pressure. At 0' head pressure the flow is about 700 GPH so any water that must be forced upward will reduce it's efficiencey. Rio's are also not the greatest pumps for this. Just a guess but I'd say you where in the shy side of 10x GPH, I am unfamiliar with the 1200 you mention.

Also if you can help me with another ? I have,I have a GE-RO smart water system at my kitchen sink. It is a 10gpd system that i would like to use for tank fills and top off,problem is that when I tested the water output the alk. was to low. Is this normal, is there a additive I could/should use or stay with store bought water.
The low alk in the RO is of no concern, in fact the lower the elements you find the better. For top offs, there is little impact on the system as a whole since the additions are minor. When doing water changes, the salt mix you use should correct any variations neccessary but I would always recommend testing the mixture after it has had time to be adjusted to proper salinity and temp to verify proper chemistry.

Cheers
Steve