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Unread 05/10/2013, 09:43 PM   #26
rayjay
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In 20 years of reefing, I've seldom ever used a phosphate removal chemical, and definitely not harvested macro until briefly this year on one of the seahorse tanks.
Normal water changes worked well for me, and I only got into problems when I let water changes go far more than I should.
Most times I just corrected things by doing major water changes.
I haven't, and don't test for phosphates since about the first 5 yrs of the hobby, but just assume nitrates/phosphates are the problems when algae growth gets out of hand.


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Unread 05/11/2013, 10:41 AM   #27
mtc1966
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Rayjay wish I could say the same . I am in a constant losing battle with hair algae . I know I over feed but just cant get my self to feed less for some reason. a small piece of frozen Mysis turns into some many .


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65g seahorse tank 20g sump with a reef octopus skimmer ,tlf 150 reactor, red sea ozone generator controller,cpr hob fuge with light and 2 China led lights one 42x1 w and one 24x3 w. occupied by 4 ecectus seahorses a couple small gobies and cuc.

Current Tank Info: 58g main with 20g sump
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Unread 05/11/2013, 12:56 PM   #28
rayjay
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I learned a long time ago with reef tanks, that I got rid of hair algae problems first of all by reducing the food added, whether or not you like to do it, and as well, using a gravel vac to seriously clean the substrate, a few weeks in a row.
If you don't have any other biological filtration other than the substrate you can do about 1/3 each week for about 6 weeks, taking longer but it will eventually get there. This is especially important IMO, when broadcast feeding, as I do, rather than dish feeding.


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Unread 05/11/2013, 03:13 PM   #29
TamiW
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Treyco View Post
Also when do u think I should seed it with pods? An I want to order some codiums and mayb some chaetomorpha
Also, if you add macros, you don't need to add pods. They'll hitchhike on the marcoalgae.


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Unread 05/11/2013, 06:15 PM   #30
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Ok thanx..idk if ima add live plants yet..I went lookin at some today and I was gonna get pics of the seahorses but they were behind the rack swimming an I couldn't get a clear pic..I did get the salt an a big rock so now I'm just waitin on the heater an filter to come so I can start the cycling an then in about two weeks ill buy the skimmer


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Unread 05/11/2013, 07:48 PM   #31
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So I got the tank cleaned an put a rock I bought today in it to see where ima put it but here's a quick pic ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368323289.033692.jpg also I have more rocks but I need to clean them before putting them in there as I have had them in my other setup


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Unread 05/11/2013, 09:28 PM   #32
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Seahorses need a very large capacity biological filter. It may not be enough to just have a piece of rock and the Aquaclear 70 filter.
Are you planning more live rock, or going to have substrate?
Are you still adding the skimmer?


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Unread 05/12/2013, 07:13 AM   #33
mtc1966
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I would recommend building a rock tower straight up . cemented together, then you can mount sea rods and gorgonians to it for hitching posts .


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65g seahorse tank 20g sump with a reef octopus skimmer ,tlf 150 reactor, red sea ozone generator controller,cpr hob fuge with light and 2 China led lights one 42x1 w and one 24x3 w. occupied by 4 ecectus seahorses a couple small gobies and cuc.

Current Tank Info: 58g main with 20g sump
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Unread 05/12/2013, 08:14 AM   #34
Treyco
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rayjay View Post
Seahorses need a very large capacity biological filter. It may not be enough to just have a piece of rock and the Aquaclear 70 filter.
Are you planning more live rock, or going to have substrate?
Are you still adding the skimmer?
I'm gonna have two filters an a skimmer an I will add more rocks..an I'm probably gonna get this live sand ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368368068.662595.jpg


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Unread 05/12/2013, 08:15 AM   #35
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Originally Posted by mtc1966 View Post
I would recommend building a rock tower straight up . cemented together, then you can mount sea rods and gorgonians to it for hitching posts .
What kind of cement? Cuz I love building things lol


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Unread 05/12/2013, 09:27 AM   #36
rayjay
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I'm gonna have two filters an a skimmer an I will add more rocks..an I'm probably gonna get this live sand Attachment 231192
OK, the "sand" as shown in the picture is too large a grain size and will permit too much detritus to settle into it, probably causing nasty bacteria beds.
You would be much better to go with much finer sand, but not too fine as to have it blowing around the tank.
IMO, it's cheaper to just buy the aragonite sand that isn't live as it will become populated at the same time as the rest of the tank.


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Unread 05/12/2013, 09:37 AM   #37
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OK, the "sand" as shown in the picture is too large a grain size and will permit too much detritus to settle into it, probably causing nasty bacteria beds.
You would be much better to go with much finer sand, but not too fine as to have it blowing around the tank.
IMO, it's cheaper to just buy the aragonite sand that isn't live as it will become populated at the same time as the rest of the tank.
Ok u talkin about this ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368373051.569510.jpg


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Unread 05/12/2013, 09:41 AM   #38
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Or this one ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368373280.017222.jpg


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Unread 05/12/2013, 10:31 AM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rayjay View Post
Seahorses need a very large capacity biological filter. It may not be enough to just have a piece of rock and the Aquaclear 70 filter.
Are you planning more live rock, or going to have substrate?
Are you still adding the skimmer?
Wat do u think about this skimmer ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368376295.286197.jpg


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Unread 05/12/2013, 12:55 PM   #40
rayjay
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With the aragonite, my personal choice would be .5mm to 1.5mm size.
As for skimmers, I can't help you out because I've always built my own.
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/rayjay/skimmer.html


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Unread 05/12/2013, 02:50 PM   #41
Treyco
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rayjay View Post
With the aragonite, my personal choice would be .5mm to 1.5mm size.
As for skimmers, I can't help you out because I've always built my own.
http://www.angelfire.com/ab/rayjay/skimmer.html
Lol ur reply came just in time cuz I was at petsmart lookin at sand an didn't kno which one to get..almost got the crushed coral but was gon get on an ask but seen ur reply..so I got a bag but I think ima need another but after I rinse it ima put it in the tank to see how deep it'll be an position the rocks like I want


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Unread 05/12/2013, 04:48 PM   #42
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What kind of cement? Cuz I love building things lol
http://http://www.marcorocks.com/e-marco-4005lbkit.aspx

you can buy generic but I forget what its called but this stuff works great


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65g seahorse tank 20g sump with a reef octopus skimmer ,tlf 150 reactor, red sea ozone generator controller,cpr hob fuge with light and 2 China led lights one 42x1 w and one 24x3 w. occupied by 4 ecectus seahorses a couple small gobies and cuc.

Current Tank Info: 58g main with 20g sump
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Unread 05/12/2013, 06:51 PM   #43
Treyco
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Originally Posted by mtc1966 View Post
http://http://www.marcorocks.com/e-marco-4005lbkit.aspx

you can buy generic but I forget what its called but this stuff works great
Ok thanx


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Unread 05/12/2013, 08:06 PM   #44
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Well here's another pic update..spent the last 2 hours cleaning sand an rocks from my previous tank..think ima need some more tho just to add to the visuality lol
Front shot
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368410707.855811.jpg
Side shot
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368410757.256570.jpg
I think adding the macros will make it look a whole lot better


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Unread 05/13/2013, 02:33 AM   #45
rayjay
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Are ALL those rock pieces reef rock? Some appear to be quite dense and solid, not of reef origin. If so, they won't do much for biological filtration, especially for a seahorse tank, as they appear not near as porous as reef rock can be. Even reef rock can be too dense, requiring much more to be able to do the same biological filtration that a less dense piece can do.
Also, if not reef rock, it MAY contain elements detrimental to salt water occupants.


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Unread 05/13/2013, 09:40 AM   #46
Treyco
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O no those are regular rocks an are just added for decorations..I've boiled them an cleaned them if that helps?


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Unread 05/13/2013, 10:26 AM   #47
rayjay
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Boiling and cleaning does nothing to prevent the possible leaching of things like copper and other elements from the rock in the presence of the salt water.
Also, as mentioned, they are not porous enough to have much biological filtration capacity and you certainly won't have enough with the filter.
It might be fine for some low maintenance fish, but certainly not enough for seahorse keeping.


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Unread 05/13/2013, 12:33 PM   #48
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Ok I'll take them out then..do you know where I can get some good size rocks for a low price? Cause the ones around here are pretty pricy..the one in the corner was $20 an that's the only one I bought so far

Well my filter an heater came today waitin on my other filter to come tomorrow ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368469952.515617.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368469980.479826.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368469996.696699.jpg


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Unread 05/13/2013, 04:08 PM   #49
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If there are any saltwater specialty stores near you, dry base rock normally sells for $2-3 per pound...if not, check on the forum for your local reef club to see if anyone is selling any. Or check Craigslist.


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Unread 05/13/2013, 04:28 PM   #50
Treyco
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If there are any saltwater specialty stores near you, dry base rock normally sells for $2-3 per pound...if not, check on the forum for your local reef club to see if anyone is selling any. Or check Craigslist.
Yea that medium rock in the corner was about $20 an it was like 1.99/lb but I guess I'll have to buy some. Lol an I actually just checked Craigslist


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