statistical analysis my 75 gal

[Eashton123]

Ok I setup a 75 gallon saltwater about 2 months ago. I want some info on what you guys think i can do with what i have in my setup and what you think i might need.

I have a 75 gallon tank with a 3 inch thick sandbed. Your guess is as good as mine on the live rock its stacked about halfway up the tank and covers atleast 3/4's of the sand bed.

For lighting I have two 175 watt Haliad Bulbs about a foot or so above my tank.

I have no filter I dont know I have heard the live rock takes care of filtration.

I have a SeaClone Protein Skimmer.

I have two water pumps in the sump tank each pushing 780 gph. I have two Sieos 600 in the main tank each pushing 620 gph.

My questions are I want a reeftank What are some good corals and such i can put in my tank. Also what else do i need or to improve on for my tank Or add to my tank.

[Z-Man07]

Please don't take this as being rude. I think that you should do a lot more research. Again, sorry, not to be rude. Some of your questions suggest that you maybe jumping into action a bit soon.

I am by no means an expert. I have had my tank since May. I got it after about four months of research. If I were to do it all over again. I would be just now, starting to build up my equipment and I prolly would not even have water yet. Take the time to learn lots and lots to avoid headaches and unnecessary purchases later.

Don't know how big your sump is, but it seems as though 1400gph flow may be exessive.

If I am way off track here, I apologize. Take it as a bump. Or if you have questions, ask, and I will try...

Jay

[Eashton123]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=974769 in this post for instance this guy has 6000+ GPH in his 90 gallon tank.

I have all together 2800 GPH in my 75 gallon tank .. which im not quite sure but i dont know if thats enough

Im sure i dont know plenty but thats why i ask questions on here :)

[Z-Man07]

I meant excessive for your sump. What is the volume of your sump? I made a mistake at first with this. I have since made my design as such: 300gph through the future sump (to cut down on bubbles). Then my closed loop will be 2500gph as soon as the pump arrives. Don't count on your sump for most of your flow. What the concensus seems to be is 3-5x turnover in your sump (of your sump's volume), and 20-30x turnover in your display (of your display volume).

[Z-Man07]

Also, I suggest that you supplement your MH lights with actinic lights for coral growth and you can create a dusk/dawn effect with them.

[mwwhite]

Amen!

I wish I'd done a lot more research before buying anything. I'll recover, but I'm behind the 8-ball at the moment. No doubt it'll cost more money in the end than it should have (I prefer to think of it as "tuition money"), but I'd rather not harm any innocent critters because of my ignorance.

[Eashton123]

bubbles in the sump are bad? can you give me more info on this please?

[chem-e]

Another thing to do is test your water conditions (ie. pH, salinity, Ca, alk, mag, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate). Depending on how clean the water is and what your calcuim/alk levels are, will influence what you should and shouldn't stock.

[bertoni]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

That article covers all the water parameters, including supplementation guidelines for corals.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890087483/reeflink" target="_blank"><b>Aquarium Corals</b></a><br>Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History<br><i>by Eric Borneman</i><br><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890087483/reeflink" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1890087483.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg"></a>

That book is very handy for choosing corals. Depending on the exact lighting you have, there's a wide range of animals that you could grow. If you like mushroom corals or zoanthids, those are some good starter corals, in my opinion, although there are lots more. Most any soft coral with photosynthetic symbionts would be easy to grow.

That skimmer doesn't get very good reviews. You might want to start saving for an upgrade.