Coverting A Fw To Fowlr

[stef_uk]

I currently have a juwel Vision 260l planted tropical set up and am considering turning it into a FOWLR.

I've read thru posts about converting FW to marine but am still slightly puzzled.
Currently it is set up with Laterite and black sand substrate,pressurized Co2,An overtank luminaire that came with 4x 55w T5 marine white tubes and a TetraTec 1200 external filter.
Am i right in thinking that i can use the Luminaire and the filter without any problems but i'll need to change the substrate and remove the Co2 system? Also can i use the powerhead from the old jewel filter system as a power head or would there be enough water flow from just the return pipe from the tetratec?

Any advice or a pointer towards more reading sources would be great.

 

[andywg]

You will want to change the substrate to one which buffers the pH and KH (such as aragonite sand, or crushed coral). Also the CO2 is not needed, but it may be worth retaining as it is part of a calcium reactor (you never know, you may get really into your stoney corals).

The basic steps will be to add Live Rock, add water with salt in and then you are pretty much done.

For circulation you want to be hitting around 10-20x for FOWLR, so you will want a total circulation of between 2,600 and 5,200 litres per hour. Check the flows on the filter and the powerhead and see if they come in this region.

 

[stef_uk]

Thanks for the info.

Just priced up the gear needed and im looking at about £300 for the basics set up which is do-able.

Just wondering on a couple of other things..Would you advise a skimmer and is it worth me taking the filters and bio balls out of my external and replacing with LR rubble?
Thanks.

 

[andywg]

If you can afford a skimmer, go for it. Especially as many FOWLR systems end up heavier on stocking of fish than reefs. Ideally look at one rated for 2-3 times the size of the tank. SPending money up front on a skimmer saves money down the line on salt for water changes.

 

[cuticom]

Sorry to interrupt your thread but andywg, what is the difference between water changes without a skimmer and water changes with a skimmer, I didn't seem to notice any...

I would definitely reccomend a skimmer though, can't believe the junk mines pulling out of the water and I haven't even added livestock yet.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well cuticom, the idea is that if you skim heavily, your need to do water changes for reasons of nutrient concentrations goes way down.

 

[andywg]

Well cuticom, the idea is that if you skim heavily, your need to do water changes for reasons of nutrient concentrations goes way down.

And of course, the larger the tank, the more cost involved in water changes. The skimmer removes Dissolved Organic Compounds before they get a chance to break down into nitrogenous waste.

 

[stef_uk]

Thanks,I'll get hunting for a skimmer now!

EDIT: Just been looking at the V2 400 Skim at £79.99.Would this suit my needs?

 

[jeasko]

v2 400 would do the job fine, the only thing you have to remember with v2 range is that they will start off alot noisier then settle down to be much quieter, also they will start off taking huge amounts of skim out very quickly ( i was emptying mine on a daily basis for first 2-3 weeks and according to others this is usual) but once it settles down it will be fine.

 

[stef_uk]

Thanks for the tip.