Setting Up My New Tank

[robbhp]

Ok I have a small brackish tank at the mo, but I have just taken a big jump and going for a Marine tank. I just would like a bit of info on the stuff that I am planning on getting, and if it is needed, or if it is just nice to have. first of it will be a fish only tank, I don’t know if a need any live rock, but I would like to live with out it and put a different type in there if that is pos/wise. the tank is 110 us gals the main pump is a fluval FX 5( this thing is huge and has 3500 L flow rate or 2300 l flow rate with loads) also has loads of space for media, I have the Ehime prostat 2 bio balls(look a bit like coco puffs LOL).Also have a load of carbon just to get some of the crap out of the water at first. I will then remove this after the first couple week (unless some say sooner). I will also be getting aUV light, but I don’t know what size to go for. also a ozone generator once again don't know what size to go for, as I know too much can have a deadly effect on the fish . All this will be hooked up to some sort of skimmer, think it will be a deltic but not to shore yet, it will also be a pump driven on , not air. I have been told that the pump driven skimmers are better then air is this true ?. this would all be finished of with a nice RO unit, size wise i am still un shure so feel free to put in your input. I would also like to have the RO unit & uv on the same line. ie i don't want to put them on the filter track. I feel it would be dumb to have a fast flowing filter to just block it up with other stuff, any way I hope that is not to much to ask also the lights in the tank are normal tubes there are 2, 1 meter long whites and 2, 50cm blues, I don’t think I will be changing the lights unless there is something very wrong with those colours

many thank Rob

 

[robbhp]

any one ?

 

[robbhp]

 

[krosebush]

I'll try and help you out a little bit. For all marine aquariums the general "rule" is to have 1 lb. of live rock for every 1 U.S. gallon, so for you I would recommend 110 lbs. of live rock. Yes, you could get away with less since you plan on using a canister filter but still I would probably use live rock as my base filtration. Along with your live rock and canister filter, you'll need to have a protein skimmer. If you don't have one, I wouldn't recommend going to marine because they make a huge difference. As far as the UV sterilizer goes, I can't tell you much other than I've heard mixed things about them. Personally, I don't use one on either of my tanks. All the pumps that you run for the tank should be water driven, not air. Bubbles in the tank for marine fish is awkward because it's not normal for them and I've heard it can stress them out. The lights for your tank will be fine because you don't plan on housing inverts or corals.

My thoughts would be to get some live rock and live sand. Let the tank cycle with the live rock and sand until there is no more ammonia or nitrite in the tank and very minimal amounts of nitrate, then begin your process of stocking and that should be planned out ahead of time. Also, remember you can't have as many fish in marine as you can for fresh or brackish water tanks.

I hope this helps a bit.

Kyle

 

[robbhp]

many thanks mate

why do i need live rock ?

also i have just got my skimmer it must be over 2 foot long, and is pump driven not air.

 

[SkiFletch]

why do i need live rock ?

Because live rock is the filter that clean's the reefs of the ocean... It is nature's filtrer, and as such is better ahn anything we humans can make. Live rock helps quickly start a new tank cycle, houses beneficial algaes and nitrifying bacteria that assist in nurient expor, and is easily kept clean of detritus by a proper cleanup crew. Its like having a canister filter that cleans its own media

 

[robbhp]

why do i need live rock ?

Because live rock is the filter that clean's the reefs of the ocean... It is nature's filtrer, and as such is better ahn anything we humans can make. Live rock helps quickly start a new tank cycle, houses beneficial algaes and nitrifying bacteria that assist in nurient expor, and is easily kept clean of detritus by a proper cleanup crew. Its like having a canister filter that cleans its own media

only thing i can see beeing a problem is the fact that this will be home to one spiny box puffer, a lipstick tang and some form of trigger ( a mellow trigger if there is such a thing ) , i would have thought that the puffer would love the clean up crew, and i am pretty shure the trigger would clean the rest up as well. i am in a bit of a sticky place now .


ps i do only want this as a fish only, i would love to keep corals, but i don't think i have what it takes.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, most softies and LPS are easier than you think to keep for corals. Anyway, if you have those preds that like to munch on cleanup crew, the only thing you'll have to do is occasionally vaccum rocks of areas where detritus builds up. Depending on powerhead position you will have "deadspots" that will accumulate fish waste. So when you do water changes, just put a vaccum over those waste piles and pick em up With LR you'll still get the benefit of pods and bristleworms (which those fish wont eat) to help clean things up

 

[robbhp]

ok thats sound like a plan then, what will happen if i do use my filter, as it is brand new i would like to use it, i am not that wild on the live rock. but if i have to use it then i gess i will have to start liking it . also i was thinking of using UWJ (Under Water Jets) to keep a good move ment of water in the tank. do you think this will work well or is it best left alone , on paper it seems a very good idea. i think i would be using about 3 good size power heads. many thanks for all the help you have given me

 

[SkiFletch]

Since you have it, I would buy some LR or soem LR rubble, and put it in the canister filter in place of the normal media. It will keep a lot of the LR out of sight and out of mind if you dont so much like the looks of it. Dont be afraid to just crush up some larger pieces with a hammer to fit in there

As for Under Water Jets, do you mean submersible powerheads? If so then yes, its a great idea. You want around 20 times the flowrate in gallons per hour of the tank volume. So for a 10 gallon tank, you want 200gph worth of flow, etc etc. One caveat though is that if you put the powerheads low down in the tank, you need to point them upward and away from the sand bed... Gets a little cloudy if you dont . And make sure you put them in an area where they are easy to service by cleaning the intake strainers.

 

[robbhp]

yea they were going to be put along the back of the tank it will be a bit tricky to get my hand in but it should be ok.

bit of an odd question now, witth my GSP in my brackish tank, they come up to my hand and try to bite me. this s when i am moving rocks and gravle vac. although this does not hurt (as they are so small) when i get my new spiny box puffer and trigger, i have a fealing it would hurt lots if they were to bite me(they are large). has any one ever been bit or do they just stay away

 

[SkiFletch]

I've never been bit by a trigger in a tank, but I have been bit by one on a reef in the florida keys area. It was a big one ~10" long and it bit through my wetsuit. In a tank setting, you could always distract it with food when you need to go in there with your hands...

 

[robbhp]

many thank to every one you have all been a great help

and a big thanks to ski ( the best car in the world still to this day and close on 2 years old sex on wheels )

edit sorry i mean 12 years lol

 

[SkiFletch]

Sex on wheels is right, the McLaren is just hot. Speed, maneuverability, torque, and a center drivers seat all in one package . Someday I will own one...

 

[robbhp]

ok one more question, it is on lights. the tanks size has now gone up as we can get an even bigget tank for less , the tank is now a 150 US Gal , that makes it 5 foot by 2 by 2, light wise i am going for t5's, as they seem very goood value. but i will be going for the t5 compact, with daylight blues in them, but the qusetion is , should i have 2 bulbs or should i go for four. the bulbs are 21 inches long and they are 55w tubes. many thanks