zygote2k June 9, 2009 June 9, 2009 Here's my recipe for success! 1) Aquarium- your choice. 1) Vortech Pump appropriately sized. 1) Metal Halide light fixture appropriately sized. 1) Nitrate reduction system. (Skimmer or Natural System). 1) Sump with appropriately sized return pump and eductor. 1) Electrical set consisting of timers, GFCI's, power strips, etc. 1) Temperature control package consisting of heater and/or chiller. 1) R/O D/I system. 1) Salt mixture of your choice. 1) 3-part dosing system. 1) 2-4" Aragamax sand bed. 1) Batch of fresh, uncured live rock. 1) High Quality water test kit package consisting of LaMotte, Hach, or Tropic Marin. Combine water, salt, sand, and live rock in aquarium and agitate vigorously for 2 months. Bake at a constant 78 degree temp and 14/10 light cycle. Begin weekly 10% water changes using RODI. Add 3-part to maintain NSW values. At onset of cyanobacteria and/or nuisance algae, add small janitorial crew consisting of a few hermits, many snails, and a few sand sifters. Encourage growth of macroalgae with RDP cycle if using Natural System. Crunchy Coral Topping. 1) batch of Softies. 1) batch of LPS. 1) batch of SPS. Distribute corals evenly around aquarium being mindful of individual requirements such as water flow and lighting. Try to decorate in a natural fashion resembling a natural reef. Corals fight just like fish, so be mindful of future terrirtorial disputes. Yummy Fishies. 1) batch of colorful reef fishes. Add fishes in small batches to prevent recycling of bacterial stocks. Add peaceful types first, more aggressive types later. Only add enough fish that you can feed heartily without causing NO3 to become higher than 20ppm. In case of problems, test frequently and make small changes. For further help with this recipe, contact the OP.
Jan June 9, 2009 June 9, 2009 Rob, This is great! Witty, fun and useful. Could be good in the newbie section for folks that are uncomfortable asking what to buy and how to start. Add parameters and links then have it pinned. Here's my recipe for success! 1) Aquarium- your choice. 1) Vortech Pump appropriately sized. 1) Metal Halide light fixture appropriately sized. 1) Nitrate reduction system. (Skimmer or Natural System). 1) Sump with appropriately sized return pump and eductor. 1) Electrical set consisting of timers, GFCI's, power strips, etc. 1) Temperature control package consisting of heater and/or chiller. 1) R/O D/I system. 1) Salt mixture of your choice. 1) 3-part dosing system. 1) 2-4" Aragamax sand bed. 1) Batch of fresh, uncured live rock. 1) High Quality water test kit package consisting of LaMotte, Hach, or Tropic Marin. Combine water, salt, sand, and live rock in aquarium and agitate vigorously for 2 months. Bake at a constant 78 degree temp and 14/10 light cycle. Begin weekly 10% water changes using RODI. Add 3-part to maintain NSW values. At onset of cyanobacteria and/or nuisance algae, add small janitorial crew consisting of a few hermits, many snails, and a few sand sifters. Encourage growth of macroalgae with RDP cycle if using Natural System. Crunchy Coral Topping. 1) batch of Softies. 1) batch of LPS. 1) batch of SPS. Distribute corals evenly around aquarium being mindful of individual requirements such as water flow and lighting. Try to decorate in a natural fashion resembling a natural reef. Corals fight just like fish, so be mindful of future terrirtorial disputes. Yummy Fishies. 1) batch of colorful reef fishes. Add fishes in small batches to prevent recycling of bacterial stocks. Add peaceful types first, more aggressive types later. Only add enough fish that you can feed heartily without causing NO3 to become higher than 20ppm. In case of problems, test frequently and make small changes. For further help with this recipe, contact the OP.
trockafella June 9, 2009 June 9, 2009 Rob this is great.. Funny, but very useful... Im with Jan that this is perfect for newb's.. I think my favorite part is "Combine water, salt, sand, and live rock in aquarium and agitate vigorously for 2 months", Good stuff Rob.. Well done.!!
m3fan8ic June 9, 2009 June 9, 2009 Rob, Thanks for taking time to put this together very useful for newbie indeed. funny at same time
L8 2 RISE June 9, 2009 June 9, 2009 what do you mean by the 14/10 light cycle 14 hours off, 10 hours off (I couldn't figure it out at first either). I vote this for tagging in the "New to the Hobby" forum.
Origami June 9, 2009 June 9, 2009 I'd probably cut back in the light cycle - maybe even go with lower light in the intial months - to stimulate coraline algae growth.
zygote2k June 10, 2009 Author June 10, 2009 14 hours of light, 10 hours of darkness in the summer, shorter lighting periods in the winter.
smallreef March 28, 2015 March 28, 2015 Rob has lots of 'vintage' stuff, advice being one of the things... And dagnabitt, he's still right .... Most of the time...
DuffyGeos March 29, 2015 March 29, 2015 I can't believe Rob forgot the one ingredient that adds a little something extra to the recipe........You need to Pee in the tank to get it cycling!!!!!
Incredible Corals March 29, 2015 March 29, 2015 Think I'll print this out and hand it to all the new people that come into the store wanting to setup tanks. Thanks rob!!!
zygote2k March 30, 2015 Author March 30, 2015 Always interesting to see my musings from the past. Human sandpaper!
nextlevel808 October 15, 2016 October 15, 2016 I can't believe Rob forgot the one ingredient that adds a little something extra to the recipe........You need to Pee in the tank to get it cycling!!!!! Haha so true that was his advice when he did my plumbing for new build.
smallreef October 15, 2016 October 15, 2016 And everything i look at my Betty Crocker cookbook I see Rob.... Kinda scary, but dagnabitt if it ain't still current (though now we can sub many different kinds of lights... Right ?)
zygote2k October 17, 2016 Author October 17, 2016 That was an 'old skool' recipe- perhaps it's time for Betty Crocker 2.0....
Origami October 17, 2016 October 17, 2016 That was an 'old skool' recipe- perhaps it's time for Betty Crocker 2.0.... Old school still works. Maybe a few ingredient substitutions here or there....
AlanM October 17, 2016 October 17, 2016 I'm tempted to just dump the skimmate locker full of nasty from the old tank into the new tank to let it grow for a few months.. Think aiptasia bits would survive and grow in the new one?
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