First Marine Tank

by **burgerking** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:10 pm

I plan on starting with my 28, then hopefully in Spring upgrade to a 55 or something like that. So I'll be good for the size of the clowns.

So are anenomes the kind of thing you add to a tank before inhabitants?? Or is it easier to add them later??

I can't figure out what kind of filter or skimmer I should go with. Does anybody have a brand they could recomend?

by **Snowboss4492** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:51 pm

28 to 55 ....................you could get a fluval FX-5 and it will move from one to the other when you upgrade

to be honest with ya, it'll be spring before your first tank is mature, so upgrading then will almost be a waste.................can you start with a 55???

by **BurgerKing7704** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:36 pm

Unfortunately no. I have to wait until the end of the semester (which is in January), assuming I have a 75% average or better i'm allowed to get another tank. My parents feel i spend too much time on my fish tanks so they're stalling me gatting another one, lol.

If all goes well with the 28g, i'd proably use it as a grow out or reef tank with no fish. Havent decided yet.

Ps. I put a tank (any size) on my christmas list, It'll be for some of the fish currently in my 28g.

by **Burgerking7679** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:24 am

Alright, I decided to open this up again instead of starting a whole new thing for a few more questions.

My lfs now has two different protein skimmers I'm looking into; the Red Sea Prizm($150) for 100g tanks, and this little one built for tanks up to 29g($60). I dont really know which one to get. I'll also need powerheads/wavemakers to create water flow for the corals, what GPH should I go for with the powerheads?

Since I'm looking into corals for the future, I want to have everything ready for them once Im ready.

by **Snowboss4492** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:38 am

if you have the money, go here save on the skimmer and order a couple power heads and other goodies if you like as well........the more you can get the less in shipping ..........good luck

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=7928

by **Burgerking7679** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:21 pm

Thanks, now I want to spend crap loads of money on neat gadgets, thanks. My lfs has a crap selection compared to this site.

lookin around that site I noticed this...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=18381

It looks pretty decent. I'd also throw on powerheads just to increase the water flow, as this wont reach everything. Has anyone bought this product?? Or know someone wih it??

I'm still curious to how much flow(gph) a reef tank should have. I've looked at the equipment used by some people but cant really find a common amount of flow used.

Also, they ship to Canada, but dont list the prices of shipping, kinda dumb. Any Canadians order from them??

Thanks again Boss

by **fihsboy** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:55 am

Go big! The bigger the better. I have a 29 gallon reef. I have a mag 5 as a return now... and a koralia 2. Sounds like a lot ehh??? its not. About 900 gph total. Just the right amount. Because BOTH are a very distorted and broad flow it makes everything come in a wave effect. I built a sump that would filter a 125 if I hooked it up to one...good movement a filter sock and a good skimmer is all you REALLY need. As far as other filters......you can get them, but they wont do a whole lot for you. if you have those three things. I will take filter socks to my grave....HOLY @#$@ these things are honest to God better at filtering than ANYTHING for saltwater. :)

by **Pasfur** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:47 am

I have used both the skilter and the Prism. Both of these units are very inadequate skimmers with a lot of flaws. You will be sorry you wasted your money, especially when you can find quality skimmers for a similar price.

When shopping for a skimmer you need to think about "contact time". Meaning how much contact does the water have with the bubbles inside the skimmer chamber. The skilter has less than 3 inches of contact. The prism is slightly better, but still inadequate.

If you are looking to save money, for your tank size I would suggest one of the SeaClone models. http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/198276/product.web
I used this unit for several years on a 55 gallon fish only and again on my 37 gallon reef.

On the subject of filtration, you do not want any other source of filtration. The use of mechanical filter pads, bioballs, wet dry filters, etc will only make it more difficult to keep Nitrates and Phosphates low. By using a 3'' - 4'' aragonite sand bed, live rock, and a protein skimmer, you can achieve a balanced system. The skimmer will remove the majority of the organic waste directly from your aquarium, without breaking the waste down into NItrate. The live rock and "DSB" (deep sand bed) will break down any other organic waste, as you are familiar, Ammonia > Nitrite > Nitrate, and then process the remaining Nitrate into Nitrogen Gas, which leaves the system naturally. The end result is zero Nitrate.

This same theory in marine fishkeeping should be used for any aquarium containing live rock, be it a fish only, invert, or reef. I am in the process of setting up a 10' x 14'' x 24'' display in the dining room of my new condo. It will utilize these same principles.

by **Snowboss4492** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:16 pm

i will agree with Pasfur..............i had very good luck with my prizm skimmer on a 20 long ........but i have heard other people complain about them, i would say it's a crap shoot with it, but i liked it...................live rock and sand is an awsome filtration system and very natural.................be careful, though because the key word here is "ESTABLISHED" my 20 long is a year old and im pretty much running with no filter now { i have a wet dry on it but its only has a thin filter floss pad for chunks of gunk, then a carbon basket and then a rubble {live rock} basket, so nothing inorganic or chemical in there..it brings my 20 to almost a 28 gallon system and the skimmer on it is junk but my paramiters are fine so im not worried about right now - -i have algae crabs, snails and lots of pods that keep things clean

BUT

6months ago....theres no way this tank would have survived like this {with out a mechanical filter}, to much changing, new fish added etc etc etc .....would upset a very delecate balance

so run a filter for now to help with the swings.............but yes your system will become self supportive in time

Boss

by **Pasfur** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:29 pm

To expand...

A lot of people make the mistake of using to much "base rock" and thinking their aquarium is ready to support life. If you want to use base rock to save money, and only use say 25% live rock, then you will have to wait for the base rock to seed, along with the sand bed.

However, if like myself, you are willing to only use 10-25% base rock and stock the aquarium with cured live rock from your pet shop or a fellow reefer, then your system will be ready to process waste within just a few short days. The key here is that the live rock needs to be fully CURED. If the rock just arrived at your LFS, then the rock will need time to cure as waste dies off after the long journey from ocean to LFS.

If you are going to go with a true reef, then i would avoid using a biological filter at all, even in the early stages. Instead, be patient and only stock your aquarium when it is ready. For FOWLR aquariums, if your system allows for a biofilter, it won't hurt to use the biofilter during the live rock break in period. Just follow up with a large water change to bring Nitrate below 10ppm and remove the biofilter completely after 3 or 4 months.

First Marine Tank

26 posts • Page 2 of 3

First Marine Tank

26 posts • Page 2 of 3