Adam's 35 Gallon - Journal

[adam98150]

Hi, i have a 36" x 18" x 15" aquarium, which i am soon converting into a Reef Tank. I can't wait!

So, i am off for a typical, low-light, soft coral set-up, i have already ordered a Twin Hagen Glo, T5, 39W lamp fixture.

The fixture ~

Web link ~ [URL="http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/technic...umination/81529"]http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/technic...umination/81529[/URL]


So, i already have, equipment wise ~

- 36" x 18" x 15" Aquarium, Upper Black Trim ~ 35/42 UK/US Gallon, 159L
- Tetratec EX 1200 External Filter
- 100W Heater
- Twin Hagen Glo, T5, 39W Lamp Fixture

I need to buy ~

- 2 ~ SEIO M620 Powerheads, 2400LPH Each, '2(2400) + 1(1200) = 6000lph', 37.7x Turn Over Rate
- Marine Salt
- Mixture Bin
- Heater Guard
- Live Rock
- Salinity Meter
- Test Kit(s)
- 2 ~ Lamps (39W)
- Live Sand / Crushed Coral Sand
- Skimmer


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So, i have noticed everyone uses powerheads, what is the reason behind this? Does the live rock / corals need alot of flow? Would two Maxi Jets, running at 1100LPH be ok, circulation wise? What lamps would i need? I need to purchase two 39W lamps for my fixture and soft corals, suggestions? I have no idea when it comes to marine tanks, so i need you guys to help me out. What marine salt should i be using? And what live sand? And the very last of my questions - What skimmer? They seem expensive, and have no idea of what brands to trust.

I need to re-home some fish, i will take alot of images immediately after this is done.

Thank you! I will take Images of my fixture as soon as it arrives.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Anything with "aqua" in the prefix, or "lux" in the latter end is promoting growth in aquarium plants.....

 

[SkiFletch]

The natural reef is a very turbulent environment with LOTS of water motion. It's a very different beast from most freshwater in that regard. If I were you, I'd actually reccomend different pumps though. Look into Hydor Koralias and or Tunze Nanostreams. Much better pumps than the Seios. The Tunze are the top of the line pump out there and will give you exceptional performance and reliability (think 15 years plus) but you pay for that. The Hydors are similarly constructed but still a little new on the market so relaibility is not really established yet. Great pumps though, I use two of them myself.

As for lamps, usually people will go with one 10000K bulb and one Actinic 20000K bulb to get growth and color on their corals. We use much bluer light because again, in the natural reef, red, yellow, and green spectrums do not penetrate through 30+ feet of seawater. Therefore animals are more adapted to using blue light, so we try and give that to them

For a softie tank, use any marine salt mix you feel like

Also for a softie tank of that small size, don't bother with a skimmer. I would however bother with an RO unit to keep algae at bay.

Keep the questions comin

 

[rabbut]

*follows work collegues thread with interest*

Sorry adam for the hyjack, but I just want to ask Skifletch a few questions...

Am I understanding correctly that you think a skimmer isn't needed SkiFletch? Would not running a skimmer have any major knock-on effects, and what advantages does not running a skimmer give (becides cost saving)?

Also, I was under the impression that more light was needed over softies, am I wrong again?

Marines are realy getting me confused now, as I keep getting conflicting information...

Chears
Rabbut

 

[adam98150]

The natural reef is a very turbulent environment with LOTS of water motion. It's a very different beast from most freshwater in that regard. If I were you, I'd actually reccomend different pumps though. Look into Hydor Koralias and or Tunze Nanostreams. Much better pumps than the Seios. The Tunze are the top of the line pump out there and will give you exceptional performance and reliability (think 15 years plus) but you pay for that. The Hydors are similarly constructed but still a little new on the market so relaibility is not really established yet. Great pumps though, I use two of them myself.

As for lamps, usually people will go with one 10000K bulb and one Actinic 20000K bulb to get growth and color on their corals. We use much bluer light because again, in the natural reef, red, yellow, and green spectrums do not penetrate through 30+ feet of seawater. Therefore animals are more adapted to using blue light, so we try and give that to them

For a softie tank, use any marine salt mix you feel like

Also for a softie tank of that small size, don't bother with a skimmer. I would however bother with an RO unit to keep algae at bay.

Keep the questions comin

Thank you SkiFletch, your post was very helpful.

I have been told that 78W just isn't enough for most corals, so i am off with a 250W Halide Lamp, with two 39W T5 Neon lamps, 10, 000K, moon lights are also built-in.

I take it that is enough for most hard and soft corals? If not, what would you suggest? I'm also aiming for 30x turn-over rate, will this suffice?

Without a skimmer would i have to do alot of reguler water changes? I'm fine with that, but how often / how much?

The HYDOR Koralia seems incredibly expensive, as does the Tunze Nano Streams. I'd rather have several smaller pumps, and angle them all differently, rather than one large powerhead.

Thanks again.

*follows work collegues thread with interest*

Sorry adam for the hyjack, but I just want to ask Skifletch a few questions...

Am I understanding correctly that you think a skimmer isn't needed SkiFletch? Would not running a skimmer have any major knock-on effects, and what advantages does not running a skimmer give (becides cost saving)?

Also, I was under the impression that more light was needed over softies, am I wrong again?

Marines are realy getting me confused now, as I keep getting conflicting information...

Chears
Rabbut

I have located the Halide lamp Rabbut, i'd rather keep my options open, rather than just having softies.

 

[orange shark]

Am I understanding correctly that you think a skimmer isn't needed SkiFletch? Would not running a skimmer have any major knock-on effects, and what advantages does not running a skimmer give (becides cost saving)?

Chears
Rabbut

please correct me if im wrong, but skimmers remove finer particles that you filter won't pick up, but in smaller tanks when you keep up with your water changes it will remove some of the finer particles so it is not needed. Some people prefer to have skimmers in small tanks some dont, but they are required in larger tanks. I for one am getting a skimmer in my 20 gallon anyway

orange shark

 

[rabbut]

I thought skimmers were for disolved organics more than floating particles The Maxijet pumps are what we use at work Adam, and are reliable, but they can mince anenomies, in fact one did about 3 weeks back in the reef display.... If anenomies are somethionk you are thinking of, I'd move away from traditional powerheads from Ski's past advise to me....

Two Maxjet MP1200's give you 16X turn over, so if you want to go the maxijet route, think about mebe adding another? Three would cost just shy of £80 after discount at work, or two Tunze nanostreams (6025) would come to that from an ebay seller called knowshisfish. He doesn't have them listed ATM, but he seams to be a Tuneze dealer, so is sure to put some more up soon. The two would give you a turn over of about 37 times an hour by my maths, with variable flow control

HTH
Rabbut

EDIT to add, the seller has the Tunez's up, £38.99 with free postage, here http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/TUNZE-6025-NANO-STRE...1742.m153.l1262

 

[adam98150]

I thought skimmers were for disolved organics more than floating particles The Maxijet pumps are what we use at work Adam, and are reliable, but they can mince anenomies, in fact one did about 3 weeks back in the reef display.... If anenomies are somethionk you are thinking of, I'd move away from traditional powerheads from Ski's past advise to me....

Two Maxjet MP1200's give you 16X turn over, so if you want to go the maxijet route, think about mebe adding another? Three would cost just shy of £80 after discount at work, or two Tunze nanostreams (6025) would come to that from an ebay seller called knowshisfish. He doesn't have them listed ATM, but he seams to be a Tuneze dealer, so is sure to put some more up soon. The two would give you a turn over of about 37 times an hour by my maths, with variable flow control

HTH
Rabbut

EDIT to add, the seller has the Tunez's up, £38.99 with free postage, here <a href="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/TUNZE-6025-NANO-STRE...1742.m153.l1262" target="_blank">http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/TUNZE-6025-NANO-STRE...1742.m153.l1262</a>

I am contemplating including anemones in my tank, but am still unsure.

Thank you Rabbut, the Tunze outputs 2,500LPH rather than Maxijets 1200LPH, what would you suggest? Go with two Tunze 6025 Nano Streams, or three Maxijets? If i purchase the two Tunze, it will give me an extra 1400LPH in total.

 

[rabbut]

The box of the MJ1200 quotes 1100lph as their maximum output, so the modle name is a little deceptive. If it were me, I'd do as I did and get the Tunez for flow, brilliant pumps from the reviews I've read, with no pressure behind them, making them safer for nems... More flow from what Gary (our ex. supervisor for those whom don;t work with us ) was saying to be before leaving, was that more flow usualy = less issues, and less cynobacteria, so the 1600lph extra can't be a bad thing. Flow can be turned right down to 1000lph also, if you felt one was too much

The MJ's would do the job, but with nems, you'd have to fit foams which need regular cleaning, or risk mincing your new purchase The Tunez pumps have built-in cut-outs there they lose pressure and flow if an inlet/outlet gets blocked for whatever reason, so the nem would just walk on by.... They use Props, and according to Gary, that means that even if the inlet was blocked and it was running, it wouldn't suck the nem in, as the suction is provided by the water passing the prop. No water passing, no flow, and more importantly, no pressure to suck anything in. Likewise with the outlet When you are next at work, put your thumb over the inlet of any MJ powerhead, and you will find that you can still feel the suction. That is what is dangerous to nems...

HTH
Rabbut

 

[adam98150]

Thank you, the Tunze PowerHeads are now on my equipment list, this will soon be purchased. They seem alot more reliable, and give a better flow rate for the same amount of money, i don't want any of my equipment to be vastly unsafe for my purchases, or high maintenance for that matter.

I didn't realise that the MJ 1200's only did 1100LPH, deceptive indeed . . .

Is a 200W heater sufficient for 159L's of water? I'm guessing yes, i take it i will also need a heater guard?

 

[rabbut]

200W will be more than enough with 250W Metal halides, you may in fact have more issues keeping the tank cool rather than warm.... Heater-guards are optonal, but unless you are fixing your live rock I'd say a guard was safer personally...

Before running into purchases though, I'd wait for SkiFletch to second my thoughts on equipement, or discount them , just to be sure it's all right

HTH
Rabbut

 

[adam98150]

200W will be more than enough with 250W Metal halides, you may in fact have more issues keeping the tank cool rather than warm.... Heater-guards are optonal, but unless you are fixing your live rock I'd say a guard was safer personally...

Before running into purchases though, I'd wait for SkiFletch to second my thoughts on equipement, or discount them , just to be sure it's all right

HTH
Rabbut

I'm currently researching, so it may take me a few days before purchasing any equipment, i'll buy a guard just to be on the safe side. Maybe a 150W would be more suitable, i'll purchase the lamp before any other equipment, and see how hot it runs.

Thanks again.

 

[adam98150]

Alot of people have complained about Tunze's decreasing water flow over time, on the internet that is. I am now going to purchase one Hydor Koralia 2 Power Head, and one Hydor Koralia 3, giving me approximately 42x turn-over rate.

 

[rabbut]

That may be a little too little flow I know someone who runs Koralias, and he rates them highly, so a good alternative choice . Interesting that you've found a review that faults the long-term flow rates of the Tunez.... Any chance of a link to that review?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[adam98150]

Your not supposed to post forum links, so this may get deleted: http/reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p...mp;pagenumber=1

I did this because the flow was lacking, for the first month it was great, then it started to die down pretty much, like the polps would always be getting good flow, be blown aroudn on my SPS, today barely anything.

well mine seemed like it wasnt pumping much lately, today it would hardly sway the polyps on my SPS about 20" away.

Not really a review, but a few people who have used the Tunze Power Heads.

I'll order the Koralias.