Converting A Juwel Rekord 70 To Marine

[deucebrennan]

I want to convert my rekord 70 into a marine tank. The plan so far is to leave the internal filter in and remove the blue sponges and use live rock for filtration. I will add two Koralia hydor 2 pumps and a V2 Skim 120 nano skimmer. I was thinking that for lighting I would remove the hood and get an Arcadia 30cm overtank lumanaire with 2 marine T5s.
Would this be ok. I am thinking of keeping a pair of Red sea Clowns and a cleaning crew of shrimp. Only 70 litres you see.

Any thoughts people?

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

hi, i converted the rekord 60 so here goes:

i would remove the internal filter imo, this is because as it gets covered in coraline algae it looks horrendus and that is no joke. Also, if you remove it, there will be more space in the tank as you have a v2 nano. If you want a filter, then the best way to go is to get HOB filter and then convert it into a fuge (i did this), this means you still get your water filtered but you only have to look at a small pipe not a hige internal, better still, an external filter could be used...

Now to the hydors, i have a koralia 1 and that provides me with 25x flow, with my 680lph filter i have 38x flow. If you get 2 koralia 2's then you are going to have about 70x flow, this will probably too much, if i were you, i would get 1 koralia 2 or koralia 2 and a koralia nano. The koralia 2 will give you 36x flow and the latter option would give you 39x flow. However, the 2nd option would give you a more random flow than just one koralia...

With regards to the lighting, i have the 60cm 4x24watt t5 luminaire and this means i can keep most corals (including sps), if you had the 2xt5 you could keep most lps and all softies which look nice and it would do you fine. Im not familiar with the 'red sea clown' so i cant advise you on that..

Your clean up crew should be something along these lines:
5 turbo/astrea snails
5 hermit crabs- red/blue legs
2 cleaner shrimps (i have 2)

thats about all i have to say

Hope that helps

Will

 

[deucebrennan]

Thats great. just what i needed...

If you want a filter, then the best way to go is to get HOB filter and then convert it into a fuge.

Ok so i know HOB is ''hang on the back'' but i dont know what you mean by convert into a fuge?

Because of the location of the tank i think that i will be best with an external filter. Can you recommend a suitable one?
Also, due to the cost of all this kit coming in at around >£500.00, could i start with the internal and later upgrade to an external or does the media need to mature like in a tropical tank. (was planning on having as much cured live rock in as i could)

Thanks again

Chris

 

[deucebrennan]

Is the 4 tube Arcadia thing able to switch tubes individually?

 

[SkiFletch]

Is the 4 tube Arcadia thing able to switch tubes individually?

You mean as in change tubes? Yes

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

Is the 4 tube Arcadia thing able to switch tubes individually?

there are 2 switches to control 2 tubes each, i personally use one switch for actinics and another switch for my white lights

 

[deucebrennan]

Do i need a sump? Im worried that i might get too much evaporation and on such a small volume of water the salinity will suffer. would a sump stop this or will it still happen just to a lesser extent? I don't want to drill my tank and add a sump if i will still have to keep topping up.

Also, If i use a HOB or a external filter instead of the internal will i still need a protein skimmer?

One more question, (sorry but i don't want to jump into this without all the correct info) If i am going to keep some live rock and a few anomies with a pair of small clowns in and a CUC do i need the Arcadia overtank thing or can i just use a marine T8?

 

[SkiFletch]

No, you don't need a sump, they're just helpful if you want to really go down the hard coral route.

HOB filters and skimmers perform different functions, so one cannot replace the other. HOBs can either be used for chemical filtration (phosphate remover), biological filtration (processing ammonia/nitrite to create nitrate), or both. Skimmers remove dissolved organic proteins that can lead to increased phosphates, nitrates, and slower growth rates for hard corals without one.

If you want a nem, you'll need at least something like the Arcadia overtanks

 

[deucebrennan]

Ok thanks Ski!

So will 70L be enough water to house 2 clowns and the other various CUC and the anemoe?
I have to get the arcadia overtank fine. can i make a clear perspex lid to cover the top of the water below the luminarie to reduce evaporation as long as the light can get thru ok or will the lamps melt it?

How does the fuge thing work? Im sorry about all of the questions

 

[SkiFletch]

You can probably get away with clowns and CUC in a tank that size.

You'll actually want an open-top to prevent overheating in the summer months

Refugiums typically house macroalgae to grow and prevent the buildup of phosphates and nitrates in the tank.

 

[deucebrennan]

You can probably get away with clowns and CUC in a tank that size.

You'll actually want an open-top to prevent overheating in the summer months

Refugiums typically house macroalgae to grow and prevent the buildup of phosphates and nitrates in the tank.

Ok cool. Will i need a refugium as well if i have a skimmer and external filter running? or does the external filter get used as a refugium? Do they need lights and or substrate inside as well?

 

[SkiFletch]

If you're planning on keeping hard corals, I'd get an HOB refugium, if not, don't bother

 

[deucebrennan]

No im not. Just live rock and some soft polyp type things and an anemoe for the clowns. Is the fuge to grow algae then for the hard corals then. As i understand it, corals have algae which live in its pores and is a food source. I know they also feed directly from the water.

Is this correct?

Thanks again

 

[SkiFletch]

The fuge is to keep nitrates and phosphates down simply and naturally. If you are dead set on an anemone, I'd go with the fuge. They don't like dirty water