OK. Newbie to Marine Aquariums. Bought 2 books, visited 3 local Aquariums Stores, been online here and at Fish-Forums.com and Fishforum.com. Recieved lots and lots and lots of at times conflicting opinions. Trying to form a Meta-Analysis for clarification. A little about my tank.. I have a 90 Gallon Tank w 110 Gallon Sump w a Megaflow Model 3 w Mechanical filters X2, Chem Pure and Chem Pure Elite Chemical filters with BIOBALLS REMOVED. Have a Rio 2500 Pump (640 Gallons/Hour). Also bought a MaxJet 1100 Powerhead (294 Gallons/Hr) and will eventually put my Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel (up to 125 Gallon) Protein skimmer in before adding Livestock. Have a 3-4 inch base of Live Sand and 90 Lbs of cured LR purchased from an established Reef Tank w almost no transit time from Aquarium to home. Used Seachem Prime Day #1 and have been Using SeaChem Stability. My Salinity is 1.019, pH 8.2, Temp 78F, 0ppm Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS SEEM TO BE GENERALLY REGARDED AS TRUE. PLEASE CORRECT/EDUCATE ME FURTHER IF YOU DISAGREE!
1. Rio pumps are unreliable and cycling 6X/Hr is underpowered for a Fish Only tank (Mixed Community), and Really, Really, Really underpowered if I ever go Reef.
Can the addition of my Powerhead for a Fish Only make up for this? is another 294 Gallons/hr enough or should I pick up second (or Third) powerhead?
2. Protein Skimmers are a good idea.
3. BioBalls are a bad idea, especially if using Cured, LR as a Biofilter.
3a. Fish Cycling is out of date.
4. I should have a back up Heater (currently have (1) 250Watt heater; Purchased a second yesterday that I'll put in as a backup).
5. Slow and steady wins the race.........
6. I Need a QT Tank (how many gallons? Does it get cycled (Cured LR as well)? What type of filter (Please don't say it should be drilled like the big tank and have an expensive Wet/Dry filter also)?
7. A DwarfLionfish can go w a single larger Clownfish as long as the clown doesn't fit in it's mouth and a single snowflake Eel is compatible w the former 2 fish (See part about Clownfish size and Eel mouth).
8. Slow and steady wins the race..
9. Finally, Fish should be added one at a time, least aggresive first, weeks apart.
Should they each be put in the QT Tank prior to addition to the main tank? How long (In General) would they stay in the QT tank before addition to the main tank?
9a. People keep using the general rule 1inch fish/gallon tank.... Is this based upon the size when you purchase them or the potential eventual size (If I put 90 inch newborn fish I think it will eventually be a problem <Obvious sarcasm here>).
THANK YOU FOR ANY OPINIONS. YOU'VE ALL BEEN GREAT.
1. Rio pumps are unreliable and cycling 6X/Hr is underpowered for a Fish Only tank (Mixed Community), and Really, Really, Really underpowered if I ever go Reef.
Can the addition of my Powerhead for a Fish Only make up for this? is another 294 Gallons/hr enough or should I pick up second (or Third) powerhead?
2. Protein Skimmers are a good idea.
3. BioBalls are a bad idea, especially if using Cured, LR as a Biofilter.
3a. Fish Cycling is out of date.
4. I should have a back up Heater (currently have (1) 250Watt heater; Purchased a second yesterday that I'll put in as a backup).
5. Slow and steady wins the race.........
6. I Need a QT Tank (how many gallons? Does it get cycled (Cured LR as well)? What type of filter (Please don't say it should be drilled like the big tank and have an expensive Wet/Dry filter also)?
7. A DwarfLionfish can go w a single larger Clownfish as long as the clown doesn't fit in it's mouth and a single snowflake Eel is compatible w the former 2 fish (See part about Clownfish size and Eel mouth).
8. Slow and steady wins the race..
9. Finally, Fish should be added one at a time, least aggresive first, weeks apart.
Should they each be put in the QT Tank prior to addition to the main tank? How long (In General) would they stay in the QT tank before addition to the main tank?
9a. People keep using the general rule 1inch fish/gallon tank.... Is this based upon the size when you purchase them or the potential eventual size (If I put 90 inch newborn fish I think it will eventually be a problem <Obvious sarcasm here>).
THANK YOU FOR ANY OPINIONS. YOU'VE ALL BEEN GREAT.
