Setting Up A 55g Fowlr, Couple Of Questions.

[vonjankmon]

I had some interested in starting a Saltwater tank after keeping several freshwater tanks for a while so I started doing some research into it, got two very good books on the subject, The New Marine Aquarium b Michael S. Paletta and The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert M. Fenner. I've been reading through these books and doing some research for a few weeks now and wanted to ask a few questions that I hope people can answer for me.

I have a 55G tank that I am hoping to turn into a FOWLR tank, for mechanical/chemical filtration I was planning on using a Rena XP3 canister filter with a Rena Smarter heater, the heating element in those is on the inside with a tough plastic outside preventing breaks while in the tank. I have a 260 watt power compact lighting fixture (4 65 watt power compacts) with 4 blue night LEDs for lighting and a glass cover for the tank. I also already have a powerstrip, GFI, and stand for the tank as it was previously a high tech planted freshwater SE Asia biotope tank.

And this brings me to my first question, would it be fine to use the Rena canister filter for the mechanical/chemical filtration? Just about everything I read online recommends a sump filter system be used, so I am a bit concerned to get some input on this.

The second thing is that I could really use a good recommendation for a hang on skimmer. I can't really seem to find a good set of reviews of any and the prices on them vary so incredibly I am a bit lost here.

I am planning on doing a DSB also, I'm thinking about 3 inches along with live rock for my biological filtration. Which leads to me 3rd question. Do I need to be concerned about mixing different types of live rocks? Such as mixing Fiji with Tonga branch live rock? They're from different areas so is there any kind of conflict/incompatibility that can arise from the different types of life on each rock? I don't think I've read anywhere that mentions any, but at the same time I haven't read anywhere that talks about mixing live rock.

My planned list of live stock is below:

6-8 Nassarius Snails

6-8 Nerite Snails

6-8 Trochus Snails

Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs (Was thinking only a few but not sure what a good number would be for a 55G)

Peppermint Shrimp (Same as above)

1 Yellow Watchman Goby w/ accompanying pistol shrimp friend

1 Firefish

1 Pearly/Yellow-head Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)

A pair of either Brazilian Reidi Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) or The Black Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)

1-2 Orange Sea Stars (Echinaster sp.)

A couple Feather Dusters

Possibly a Dragonface Pipefish (I've read that they are difficult to keep so this would possibly be an addition 6-8 months after everyone else has been added to the tank and I can better judge whether I could provide proper care)

My girlfriend really wanted Seahorses so I've more or less designed the live stock list around them as they are for the most part the limiter to what I can get. I am also not overly familiar with the general consensus (if there is one) on live stock bio-load in a saltwater tank, I don't think I would be over crowding with this planned list but confirmation of this would be good. Also if anyone catches in incompatible species above please say so, I've tried to avoid it but I may have missed something and better find it now rather than later when something becomes dinner.

I also need to get some powerheads for water movement, and while I don't want as much water movement as some tank due to the seahorses the canister filter won't provide enough, any recommendations on a good powerhead to move water around would be welcome also.

Thanks for reading my long post and for any help/advice/warning that you may be able to provide.

 

[bollands]

dont get sea horses they are hard to keep and really appreciate a species tank

 

[rabbut]

If you want to keep Seahorses, you need to go species only realy, especially as a first time Seahorse keeper. They are very difficult to feed, and the feeding problems realy show their ugly head when they are kept with fish, as the fish invariably get to the food first. The Seahorses will require 4-8 feeds daily (usualy only taking live food) to sustain them also, so are rather high-maintanance. The only way arround this issue is to "overfeed" leading to ever ending algea issues and poor waterquality as a result If going with Seahorses, I'd go Bio-mechanical, as they don't like flow and the Featherdusters + Live Rock need flow...

This said, CUC with Seahorses is fine

All the best
Rabbut

 

[SkiFletch]

to the salty side of the hobby

You've gotten some good advice on seahorses thus far. They really do need a species tank. As for the rest, if you're only going FOWLR, no skimmer is needed, and that much PC lighting is actually overkill. You'd probably be better off using half that lighting or less for FO.

LR can come from wherever, you can mix and match as you see fit

Again, if you're only going with fish and no corals, a sump isn't necessary, although if you fancy corals maybe in the future, I'd set one up.

Good luck

 

[BigC]

Are you UK based....
If your totally set on seahorses (you will be, she said so)
Then look no further than
http/www.simplyseahorses.co.uk/
ATB

 

[TigerIssey]

Are you UK based....
If your totally set on seahorses (you will be, she said so)
Then look no further than
<a href="http/www.simplyseahorses.co.uk/" target="_blank">http/www.simplyseahorses.co.uk/</a>
ATB

Thats why I like you Big C, you always bow down to what the women says she wants.

I have to say if she is like me you will not be able to change her mind.

Have a look at the marine journals section to, there are two, connorsbala and keloo (something like that) that show you some great environments for sea horses, well worth a read.