I NEED ADVICE.HERS WHAT I HAVE,I WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER!

[fredso2003]

I HAVE A 110 GALLONS COMPLETLY ROUND ACYRILIC TANK.THE DEMENSIONS ARE 48" HEIGHT AND 38" WIDTH IT IS A CYLINDERWITH NO SEAMS.IT WAS ORIGINALLY AN INCUBATOR FOR A HOSPITAL.THE AQUARIUM IS NOW 7 MONTHS OLD.THIS IS MY FIRST SALTWATER/REEF AQUAIUM.I AM A ROOKIE. MY WATERTESTS :NITRATES.02PPM,NITRITES .02PPM,AMONIA .00,SPG 1.024,CALCIUM 550,THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS 76".
1 FLUVAL 203 FILTER, 1 MARINE LAND 300 FILTER,BOTH HAVE CARBON AND FILTER MEDIA IN THEM THAT I HAVE CHANGED 1 TIME.
1 RED SEA PROTIEN SKIMMER(HANG ON BACK MODEL)
4 400GPH. POWER HEADS 2 ON THE TOP AREA AND 2 ON THE BOTTOM AREA,THEY RUN CONSTANTLY.1 400 WATT M/H .1 40 WATT ATENIC.ON TIMERS. LIVE STOCK:120LB LIVE ROCK,30 SNAILS, 40 HERMITS,2 STAR FISH,4 CLOWNS,2 CHROMISIS,2 DAMSELS,1 FROGSPAWN(TURNING BROWNISH RECENTLY BUT HANGING ON)1PAGODA (OK) 1 CANDYCANE(NEW GROWTH)1BUBBLE(DYING) AND 1 I BOUGHT 5 WEEKS AGO THAT IS THRIVING(I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS!)I ALSO HAVE A HAITIAN ANEMITIE THAT IS GROWING HUGE! MUSHROOMS AND BUTTON POLYPS THAT SEEM TO BE DOING GOOD. 1 CLEANER SHRIMP AND 1 URCHIN,I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH LIGHT THE CORALS NEED AND PLACEMENT AS FAR AS HOW CLOSE TO THE LIGHT AND WHAT CHEMICALS TO ADD. MY FUNDS ARE VERY LIMITED.MY M/H BULB IS 7 MONTHS OLD AND I BOUGHT IT AT A WHOLESALE INDUSTRIAL LIGHTING SUPPLY PLACE,I DONT THINK THE BULB IS THE RIGHT KIND? ITS REALLY WHITE AND BRIGHT AND LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM :lol: I NEED ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS,I DIDNT PLAN THI TANK IT JUST KINDA HAPPEN AND I DONT HAVE ALOT OF MONEY,I AM ALSO USING TAP WATER (CARDINAL SIN) I NEED TO FIND A CHEAP RO SYSTEM! I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR READING ALL THIS!

 

[hdtran]

WELCOME, FRED!

FIRST THING, PLEASE TURN OFF THE ALL CAPS. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ (ALSO SLIGHTLY ANNOYING, LIKE SHOUTING).

Then, browse to the library (reefs.org/library, I think), and read the new reefkeepers' guide. Then, spend the best $50 you'll ever spend, by purchasing either Bob Fenner's "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" or John Tullock's "Natural Reef Aquariums." And if you want your corals to be happy, spend another $30 or so to buy Eric Borneman's "Aquarium Corals".

Hope this is helpful!

 

[vair]

Sounds like a cool set up. Light bulbs can make a big difference, might want to do a search and find the proper bulb, they are generally replaced every year any way. Really depends what you want to spent on other stuff: bigger skimmer, sump and calcium reactor are the things I would say you want.

As far as how much light the corals need and placement generally soft corals would be at the bottom and hard corals should be fine mid to top. This really depends on 'your' set up and height of your lights off the water. You have a deep tank with a 400 watt bulb so things could be all over the places sticking with the hard higher, soft lower theory. Then with in soft and hard corals some like more light/less light, more water flow etc..... Do tons of reading on this site, buy some books. I recommend the following starter books: The Reef Aquarium (two volume set) and Reef Invertebrates.
This place is very helpful full of knowledge so don't be scared to ask.


Good Luck

Dave PS. no yelling... CAP LOCKS