need a little more info

[bigdawg]

Hi All

I have been tossing around a while now of this.I have a 120 with a 75 gallon sump with a mixed reef.Now I am going to upgrade the tank in a few months and wonder if the time is now or wait till I get the 300 to start?

I just never can get the nitrates to go to zero to keep the reallygreat sps.I can keep soft and lps and some of the really hardy sps but not most of them.I will hook the new tank in with the old one and sump and let themall run about 3 weeks before Istart moving things to the new tank to helpbacset up in the new tank before I move any fish or corals

Ron

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

bigdawg ...



It's great to see you here!

Hi All

I have been tossing around a while now of this.I have a 120 with a 75 gallon sump with a mixed reef.Now I am going to upgrade the tank in a few months and wonder if the time is now or wait till I get the 300 to start?

I just never can get the nitrates to go to zero to keep the really great sps.I can keep soft and lps and some of the really hardy sps but not most of them. I will hook the new tank in with the old one and sump and let them all run about 3 weeks before I start moving things to the new tank to help bacset up in the new tank before I move any fish or corals

Ron

What a great question ... pity I don't have a great answer. This seems to me to be one of those "philosophical" judgement calls which confront us from time to time. Personally, I would choose to run the new tank as a zeo-system for the first 3 weeks independently of the existing tank ...

... ... JMO.


HTH

[Aged Salt]

Hi Ron, & welcome to ZEOvit.com. If you plan to connect the tanks, one might as well improve the water quality of your present waters before mixing waters with your new system, but as Gary mentioned one can wait...it's a personal choice. Bob

[bigdawg]

the only reason in hooking the tanks together I don`t have to cycle the big tank and go thru all that again and have to wait that much time.I really wouldn`t mind starting it early but I dont want to loose and of my corals in my 120 to start off.If you all can lead me in the right direction I wouldn`t mind may be going ahead before i get the new tank

Ron

[bigdawg]

and thanks for the welcome

[bigdawg]

i just emailed madsion on a reactor,would I just use the basci4 with startup2?

[Orion76]

JMO but I would start the new tank as a separate system and do it right with fresh properly cooked LR.

If you have nutrient problems in your current system then these nutrients will only contaminate the new system and in the end you will spend much more time creating a low nutrient environment in the new system you are about to establish.

[Orion76]

My advise above of course does not mean that Zeo won't benefit your current system. Get a good supply of Start2 if you have nutrient problems, the stuff works like magic

[Aged Salt]

Hi Ron, I don't disagree with Gary & Timon, as it is easier to do as they suggested. My point only is valid if these "old" reef tanks will remain connected or if you wished to cycle the mew tank more quickly. If you decide to begin now, plz. fill out the sticky questionnaire near the top of this forum, "tell us about your tank" Bob

[bigdawg]

have to put things on hold my alk hit the floor and have to see what the problem is with my reactor before I do anything.If I start now hook up the new tank run it for a month then shut it down will it mess up the progress?

First tho I have to get the alk back up and find out what is wrong with the reactor

[Aged Salt]

Ron, on & off ZEOvit, that's not the best idea. With your parms not stable, I'd wait to start ZEOvit when the new tank is a reality. Bob

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

Hi Ron, I don't disagree with Gary & Timon, as it is easier to do as they suggested. My point only is valid if these "old" reef tanks will remain connected or if you wished to cycle the mew tank more quickly. If you decide to begin now, plz. fill out the sticky questionnaire near the top of this forum, "tell us about your tank" Bob

And I don't disagree with Bob either ... ... ...

My twisted little mind's decision rubric went something like this ...

"Pros" regarding Connecting with Existing System
Gain experience observing zeo-system behavior;
Gain experience "dialing in" zeo-system dosing;
Creation of an "established" zeoreactor;
Reduced "cycling" time for new system (with low pre-existing N & PO4 loads);
Improved water quality of existing/combined system;
Potential to establish a more diverse bacterial guild;
Potential to establish "richer" overall bacterioplankton biodiversity;
Less stress when transferring coral specimens.

"Cons" regarding Connecting with Existing System
More variables;
Potential to disrupt equlibria of an already stable system;
Slightly more expensive (Bigger system = more media, etc ...);
Unknown "pre-existing" nutrient load (if any) could extend "cycling" time;
Unknown "pre-existing" PO4 load (if any) could extend "cycling" time;
Dosing of connected system different than dosing for new system;
Potential for transfer of pathogens.

Isn't the "theory meets husbandry" interface of reefkeeping great? ...

Ron, on & off ZEOvit, that's not the best idea. With your parms not stable, I'd wait to start ZEOvit when the new tank is a reality. Bob

Indeed.


JMO ... HTH

[bigdawg]

got the alk fixed.I did a big water change everything was fine till then.I didnt test the new saltwater i had to switch brands since I ran out and didn`t get any online I got some from a lfs a different brand

I know not to do that but was in a fix