Need help and Good advise!!

ReefTrooper

This was posted by a fellow TFK er :
i was told mushrooms are best for starters.i think you'll also need wave makers if you already don't have them.then there's calcium reactors reefs needs ca at 460.red sea pro reef salt is a very good salt mix for reef tanks.if your using a canister you'll want to use a sump.as for lighting a good blue actinic light is important some corals also need metal halides. reef supplements are also a must.

Reefing Madness

Nope. Alot of tha stuff depends on what you do with your water changes. You will need calcium, if using a RO/DI, as this strips out all of that and the salt mix will only put back in like 360-380. Need a calcium reactor, no, you don't need one. Most would use one so they don't have to dose. Watch your water parameters, only dose what your tank needs. And Calcium should be kept between 420 and 460, depending on what your keeping. No canister filters.

Reefing Madness

I would think in the end that it would cost alot more to buy all the Trace Elements and everything else that Marine Salt has in it. You can make your own salt using Non Iodized Salt. There is just way to much added in Marine Salt for you not to use some kind of it.

ReefTrooper

Thanks ill buy the salt. Now to the hardscaping of my tank- I would like to create a canyon in the middle of two heaps of rock something like this, of course not that big but just an example. Do you know how i can achieve this? Could you give me another example of a good looking aqua-scape? My tank is only 30 cm wide so ill have to keep my canyon slanting from one side to the other, Not too much of course... so that you can see the entrance clearly.
Do you think i should paint the sides of my tank black? would it add to the depth? or make it look better in any way?

Reefing Madness

The Aquascaping is a personal thing, I really can't help much there. Its all in the eye of the tank owner, just like Steve, the guy that owns Oregons Reef. Just move teh rock around until yo uare happy with the way it looks.

ReefTrooper

Here are some pics of the aqua scape. Please comment as to whether you like it what to change etc. I would love suggestions i have tried to keep it as natural as possible following this article. Please tell me what you think about my hard scape .The article is also very helpful to anyone trying to setup a reef.

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Reefing Madness

Looks good to me.

ReefTrooper

I was playing with the aquascapea bit and i suddenly stumbled upon one that i loved a lot. Ill post a few pics in 2-3 days because im not home right now. Do i need a wave maker? I found a good deal on a 6000 litre per hour one.. it costs just 20 euros!! So ill probably end up buying it. What advantages are there to having one?

ReefTrooper

Also do i need any other type of light except my 14k Metal halide one? What is actinic light ? do i need it? Thanks again for all your help reefing madness

Reefing Madness

Wave Makers mimic the natural ocean currents. No big advantage to using one.