Fish only set up questions...

[BlueDSM]

Im going to be setting up a 50 gallon tank as a fish only set up.

I have an emperor 400 filter, and will be running an oversized protein skimmer.

Ill have coral sand as the substrate 2.5-3" deep, as well as "dead" rocks/corals (base rock) in the aquascaping to make caves, and Ill probably add a few live rock here and there a little at a time to add to the visual appeal.

Lighting will be from NO fluorescent, 1 actinic (to bring out more colour), and 2 6500K.

Ill be keeping around 3-4 fish, including a small puffer.....so in any case corals and inverts are out since he'll eat them

Will the tank be okay with this set up?

I was told in another forum that Ill *need* 1-2 pounds of live rock/gallon, which sounds like a high figure, and in Robert Fenners book he didn't mention that.

Its my first marine tank, I have kept fresh, and currently have a brackish, but I want to try and avoid any sudden deaths in my new tank....

Can anyone tell me if Im missing anything? Any words advice?

Thanks

 

[Hazmat]

It sounds ok but i would tend to agree about the live rock. The live rock will help the water quality, I know it's expensive but it is worth it IMO.
Also make sure u get a min. 300w heater and a powerhead or two for water movement.

 

[kmurph]

It sounds ok but i would tend to agree about the live rock. The live rock will help the water quality, I know it's expensive but it is worth it IMO.

I understand the idea of using live rock to help out with bio-filteration, but for a fish only set up I would disagree that you NEED it. For a fish only set up I would think that it comes down to the individual's preference.

 

[Hazmat]

Your right you don't need it but I would still recommend to get it if you can afford it.

 

[Adrinal]

You absolutly do not need it!
I absolutly suggest getting it.

a ton of live rock is just a little more than an expensive can filter.
Thing is ... you may want to do reef later... I am so regreting not getting enough LR now. Its much easier to get it set up right at the start.

If you are sure you will do FO it really doesnt matter... infact it kind of takes up swimming space IMO.

Its a hard choice for sure. hope you can find the right answer for you.
GL!

 

[BlueDSM]

I was aware the live rock adds to filtration, I just wasnt sure if its a neccesity or not, thanks for clearing it up for me Hazmat, Adrinal, Kmurph

Hazmat: Thanks for telling me about power heads, I forgot about those and I looked on local forums after and happened to find 2 Hagen 802's for 40 bucks!
Keep in mind all funds are in Canadian dollars.

Ill probably be adding live rock periodically, its just that it sells for 6-8 bucks/pound ....60 lbs of live rock will cost me around 360-480 bucks and right now Im finishing up university so money is kind of tight. Everything else thus far has been budget (tank:$30, filter:gift, skimmer:$40, lighting:$50, stanIY $20).

Adrinal: With this tank, I don't think there will ever be a chance of a reef happening because puffers REALLY do eat everything, a nice little hermit crab is a snack, as are worms, shrimp, and most corals.

Ive heard that the bio-wheels on the Emperor 400 cause high nitrate levels, is this something to worry about?

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

From my experience, any biological filter can cause high nitrate levels, because of the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle. That's one of the big advantages of live rock; it acts as filtration without being a nitrate factory, and my reef tank was the only time I ever had 0 nitrate levels. Having said that, nitrates don't stress fish as much as they do inverts, so I would go along with the others' comments that live rock is beneficial but you don't *need* it for fish-only. Good luck!

 

[Landlocked]

I was told in another forum that Ill *need* 1-2 pounds of live rock/gallon, which sounds like a high figure, and in Robert Fenners book he didn't mention that.

Robert Fenner's book is one of the best!

Live rock is useful because it also helps to cycle your tank. It brings in bacteria that you would have to grow on your own otherwise.

If you make good water changes (20% fortnightly), then you'll take a lot of the nitrates out of the water. This is how a lot of people keep their nitrate levels down. You should be doing the water changes anyway, so it's all good.

Good Luck!

 

[Hazmat]

Way to go on the Hagen 802's
My first marine tank was a 65g fish only with an Emperor 400 i did have about 60 to 70 pounds of live rock but the Emperor filter worked fine for me.

Good luck and post some progress pic's if ya can.

Hazmat

 

[Adrinal]

I really want to get mangroves... and probably will get some in August or so... but they are so damn expensive!!!
I plan to start by plopping them in the over flow and go from there.
I really like natral stuff, and if it works will do it over asthetics. If I can get them to propagate I plan on putting beta boxes or some such thing along the back wall and have them grow out of there. That would do a number on those nasty nitrites (er nitrItes is the one at the end of the cycle right? ).

Correct me if I'm wrong but letting a refugum/ sump or whatever you want to call it get loaded with a 24/7 light full of algea then scooping out the algea periodically would take out them bad chems no?

 

[BlueDSM]

Cool Thanks again guys

I really want to get mangroves... and probably will get some in August or so... but they are so damn expensive!!!
I plan to start by plopping them in the over flow and go from there.
I really like natral stuff, and if it works will do it over asthetics. If I can get them to propagate I plan on putting beta boxes or some such thing along the back wall and have them grow out of there. That would do a number on those nasty nitrites (er nitrItes is the one at the end of the cycle right?  ).

Yeah Ive read a bit about mangroves too.....they seem really cool. Apparently when the mangroves reach a good size, the protien skimmer stops turning up sludge and becomes obsolete. So I guess in theory you could have a tank with just live rock, some powerheads and mangroves....All natural Providing you have enough light.

Anyways, if youre in Canada, or even if youre in the USA, this place in British Columbia sells mangrove pods @ $15 CAD each.

http/www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/shopping...ogno=i-mangrove

Maybe you can buy them from there?

 

[Adrinal]

http/saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/o...%2FMangroves%2F

In a rush.. I think its cheeper here... will have to wait till summer