Advice Needed

[vkky]

Hope you guys n gals are able to help, been researching into taking the leap into the unknown to see up a marine set up most likely to be Fowlr or possibly only LR setup.
At moment have a selection of tanks available to use or butcher if needs be. from small tiny 10x8x8 to 48x18x12

However been thinking towards gearing up a 20 gallon tank as initial set up and setting up 48x18x12 to combine the freshwater tropical tanks, really for ease of use until the time we move house and able to set up a larger fowlr in perhaps the 4' or larger set up later.

But my questions are really directed towards a tank of around 20g at the moment to start with. (once moved this tank will be used as a sump with inhabitants moving to the larger set up)

1. would a sump be needed for this? and if so what would be the ideal size or an alternative is appropriate.

2. do lights need to be used 24/7 or can you have them on timer?

3. how much live rock would be needed to 'reinhabit' 15kg of ex liverock (baserock)

4. how long would the above (q3) take?

5. We are aware of getting but anything else to add to list of equipment
*skimmer (what size would be best, and best location ~ in tank /sump?)
*lighting
*heater
*cooler fan for warm times
*carbon / phosphate remover
* testing kits

i think those will be enough for now, as the more we read up on things the more confusing it becomes !

vkky

 

[Betta5]

1. would a sump be needed for this? and if so what would be the ideal size or an alternative is appropriate.
You dont need a sump, but if you want one a 10g would be good

2. do lights need to be used 24/7 or can you have them on timer?
I would say 8am-6pm someting like that is what i will do.

3. how much live rock would be needed to 'reinhabit' 15kg of ex liverock (baserock)
Only a few KGs but the more you have the faster is will convert it (right ???)

4. how long would the above (q3) take?
Depends how much you have (correct???)

5. We are aware of getting but anything else to add to list of equipment
*skimmer (what size would be best, and best location ~ in tank /sump?) (you dont have to get one, weekly waterchanges will be fine)
*lighting (no corals, your simple FW bulb will be fine i think they are T8s)
*heater (100W)
*cooler fan for warm times
*carbon / phosphate remover
* testing kits

I have answered the questions as best i could (someone will give more detail) and added some bits to the list, you will also need a hydrometer, salt and sand (unless its bare bottom)

 

[SkiFletch]

2- Lights should be on a 10 hour timer. Pick your 10 hours, whenever is convenient for you. Mine run from 3pm to 1am.

3- Generally when "seeding" BR to make it into LR its good to use a 70/30 BR/LR ratio. So with 15kgs of BR, I'd add maybe 5kgs of LR

4- As far as the nitrogen cycle seeding goes, that takes a month. The rock wont really start to become truly live until at least 6 months, if not more like 1 year or more

5- Agree, on a smaller tank, skimmers aren't necessary, in fact probably a waste of money. Better/easier to do a 50% or higher water change once a week TBH. And as for phosphate remover, grab yourself some Rowaphos, you won't be sorry that you did.

 

[Betta5]

Well i did get someting right (the skimmer thing)