55 Gallon Marine

[TheHolding]

Hi,

I am after some advice and help as I'm slowly converting my 55 gallon brackish tank to marine for my green spotted puffers.

The tank is a Fluval Roma 200 and the current specific gravity is 1.016 - it will be 1.020 in 4 weeks hence the topic for advice!

I have just bought a protein skimmer and additional filtration which I will be installing soon (have to make hood adjustments) it's the Tunze Nano Reef Pack.

I also have an external filter - Tetratec Ex1200 which consists of bio media and sponges and an Newave 2000 powerhead which I will be upgrading to the 4000.

The guidance I need is on the following -

Live rock - how much will I need? I'm assuming the more I add the less water volume in the tank meaning more water changes I.e 20kg of live rock will mean 20 litres of less water in the tank or does live rock soak up water? (forgive me if this sounds stupid)!

At what specific gravity / salinity can I introduce live rock?

Media in the external filter - I have read that I will need to remove the sponges from the filter as they can produce more nitrate? Obviously I can't take this all out at once because I will need live rock prior to removing it as I don't want my puffers to suffer!

Can anyone recommend some tankmates for these puffers? I have read clownfish are a good choice but to keep an eye on things as they are territorial?

Any other advice you can give me would be great!

Thanks

 

[sorgan]

right your LR is your filter so as long as its mature you wont need an external filter. live rock you want 25-30kg.
the water will need to be around 1025 sg and about 24c to put the rock in BUT usually after putting the rock in the tank is uaually left for a few weeks to cycle and mature up a bit so is there anywhere that will take the puffers for a short while whilst this happens or have you got a QT?

tank mates wise i am not sure but no doubt someone will pop along that has kept them and set you right. just rememeber to get them used to full salt slowly

 

[TheHolding]

Thanks for the advice!

What I may do is introduce 10kg live rock and remove some of the sponge media then leave it a month and add another 10kg and remove more sponge then the following month do the same and remove all the sponge media.

I might keep the canister filter for additional water circulation as the puffers can get messy! What are your thoughts on this?

Unfortunately I don't have a QT big enough for these puffers and the idea of having these is to increase the specific gravity and salinity overtime, now I'm getting pretty close to the marine mark.

Do you know if the live rock soaks up water or will placing the rock in the tank mean I have 25kg less water? Its just good to know as I will have to perform more maintenance with less water - this is another reason why I want to keep the canister as this holds atleast a couple of gallons of water to.

 

[sorgan]

25kg of rock will displace 25l of water so yes you will have less water in there.

 

[TheHolding]

Thanks mate it sounded like a stupid question but i don't know anything about live rock to be honest!

 

[sorgan]

No question is stupid unless it's one that isn't asked

 

[TheHolding]

True I just want to make sure I setup everything properly as I have had these fish a year now and would be gutted if they died because I made a mistake!

I will deffinately keep the canister filter but remove the sponges for additional circulation and water levels then.

 

[seffieuk]

As Sorgan said, you really dont want to be putting live rock into a tank with live-stock unless you know it is completely cycled - may i suggest that instead of putting your puffers in a qt tank you put the rock in a container, bin, plastic box with heat and flow and then test to see if you get a cycle

Seffie x

 

[TheHolding]

Thanks Seffie,

I have a plastic box I could use? When you say flow would an air pump be enough?

What temperature would be best?

If it is not cured could I leave it in the container to cure? What about lighting levels?

Would I need to add ammonia?

 

[seffieuk]

Yep one of those plastic box containers is fine you will need a powerhead, buy a cheap sunsun, when you have finished with the cycle you then have a cheap powerhead for mixing your salt water. The rock will only need heat and flow, light is not a problem, you will get a bit of die-off from not having light, but its really not a problem. Many reefers keep rock like this for months at a time. And yes, if you wanted to buy uncured rock and cure yourself, it would be cheaper - but very pongy, best not done in the house

Seffie x

 

[TheHolding]

Cool I think I will buy some cured rock then

Thanks for your help!