Getting A Used Tank

[Boomguin]

Hello!

I had been looking to start a saltwater tank (have done freshwater and such in the past), got lucky and my neighbor is moving and selling theirs.

It's a Fluval Vicenza 50 gallon, currently with "live" rock and four clownfish.

When I was going to start my own I had planned to go with the Protein Skimmer/Live Rock filtration combo. This one seems to have a built in (Fluval 205) filter with rock.

Does anyone have any experience with converting these tanks to use a protein skimmer?

Also, the tank seems to have a massive amount of algae. I'm thinking this is because their filtration isn't what it should. A lot of extra waste for food + sunlight = algae.

Any thoughts?

 

[Uriel]

Hello!

I had been looking to start a saltwater tank (have done freshwater and such in the past), got lucky and my neighbor is moving and selling theirs.

It's a Fluval Vicenza 50 gallon, currently with "live" rock and four clownfish.

When I was going to start my own I had planned to go with the Protein Skimmer/Live Rock filtration combo. This one seems to have a built in (Fluval 205) filter with rock.

Does anyone have any experience with converting these tanks to use a protein skimmer?

Also, the tank seems to have a massive amount of algae. I'm thinking this is because their filtration isn't what it should. A lot of extra waste for food + sunlight = algae.

Any thoughts?

Hi Welcome to TFF.

Are these the tanks that are drilled in bottom with feeds for filter going out of these holes ?

Hang on the back skimmer is probably easiest way to add skimmer to any tank.

2 of the 4 clown fish will pair off once they reach sexual maturity and harrass the other 2 clown fish to death.

Algea is probably due to poor maintenance regime. lack of water changes. If the filter has media in it rather than LR rubble this may cause algea too, due to it producing a lot of Nitrate.

How much live rock is in the tank and why did you put the live in quotes ?

Sorry for abrupt answers but just leaving for work.

 

[seffieuk]

to TFF and the salty side of the forum

I will wait to hear your replies to Uriel's questions - but as the tank doesnt have a sump you will need to buy a hang on (HOB) skimmer, the deltec mce 300 would be a good choice, second hand is the way to go.

How about giving us an exact list of whats in the tank, including lights and algae - have you got any photos we could see? Sometimes starting with a very neglected tank can be a nightmare.

Also, how much is your neighbour asking for this tank?

One last question what are your stocking plans, do you have any 'must have' fish or corals?

Seffie x

 

[sorgan]

If you want advise on taking an uncared for tank you should speak to woody and read his journal, he took on an existing system and has kept a very detailed account of it.

 

[woody88]

If you want advise on taking an uncared for tank you should speak to woody and read his journal, he took on an existing system and has kept a very detailed account of it.

Yeah!...And what a mess that was in! lol

Not anymore tho!

 

[sorgan]

It was a bit scruffy wasn't it mate..........















.....OK OK it looks good now.

 

[woody88]

It was a bit scruffy


Yeah!...just a bit lol

Funny thing was, I used to think that's how they're meant to look!

 

[Boomguin]

Hi! Thanks for the quick response.

First, here are some links to photos of it:

http/img402.imageshack.us/i/dsc0009du.jpg/
http/img694.imageshack.us/i/dsc0007pp.jpg/
http/img43.imageshack.us/i/dsc0004bat.jpg/

Second, yeah, it's the type with the two holes in the bottom that feeds directly into their same-brand filter. Been reading up on it and some people have successfully re-did the intake/output pipes and redid it, but it looks like a lot of work.

As you can see in the photos its a forest of algae, the long, thin hair like kind. Right now the actual owner of the tank, my neighbors husband, has been deployed for a year. I'm pretty sure that' what led to the state of overgrowth it's in right now.

I don't have an exact number on weight for the rock, but the pictures give a good look at what's in it. The quotations were because I'm not sure how much life is left going on it right now. I've put in an order for 4 lbs of aquacultured live rock that I'm going to cure and add to the tank in order to help get it going again.

The current plan (barring any advice you great people give me is to move the four clownfish into a smaller tank I've set up and have running right now while I re-do it. I bought fifty pounds of sand, twenty of it the pre-done live sand, and plan on completely stripping down and cleaning the tank. I'm thinking with the new cured live rock, live sand and the old live rock I can start a good/new system going. Since her husband won't be back till RIGHT before they move, I'll be doing the strip down and move.

I'll be using the smaller tank as a quarantine/hospital tank later, but for now it'll be a temporary home. I really want to preserve the clownfish, so I went ahead and got this tank running and starting to develop.

We paid $300 for the whole set, the stand/tank, their tools, extra stuff like salt and such, filter and the clownfish. From what I've read that seems to be a great deal, when I did the numbers on making my own a month or two ago I came to a lot more than that!

I expect this to be a pretty time-consuming project to get fixed/started, but that's half the fun isn't it?

 

[Boomguin]

Oh! Stocking plans are this:

Keep the clownfish, hopefully two don't kill the other two.

Add a Goby, maybe a Blue Spotted Watchman, or Green Clown. I love these sand-sifting guys.

Later on once the tank is going well and stabled out, I'd like to add a Tang. Either a yellow or Blue Hepatus. I'd love the blue, just not sure if my tank is large enough.

A Royal Gramma.

 

[sorgan]

Go for it but I disagree with the above post, clowns will put-up with other clowns when they are sorting sexing out but when a pair is formed they will fight with any others that are on their territory. In a large tank you could have mire than one pair but it has to be large.

I would bother getting new rock just give that stuff a good clean, run phosphate remover and keep picking the algae. If there is livestock in the tank (put fish/coral into a holding tank) you could just run the tank lightless for a while untill the algae dies.

Also ask -nemo- about vit C dosing, it will help with nitrates but also melt macro algae's before your very eyes.

Tang wise the tank is just on the min recommended size for a yellow tang but is to small for a regal tang by a few feet lol, maybe opt for a dwarf angel or something.

 

[woody88]

A good CUC, rowaphos, regulator wc, reduced lighting periods and a good manual scrub will take care of that.

Going by the pics it looks like it's mainly on the substrate but before you go syphoning it up from the sand which could cause a spike from disturbing the bed, run rowaphos and reduce the lighting.
What are your test readings? Amm, nitrite, nitrate, ph etc.

The source of the problem is more likely excess nutrients eg phos,trate so by running phosphate remover and good regular wc (and a good CUC) should kill it off.

Note: this is NOT a quick fix. It will could take weeks, if not months to get on top of it.
It took me roughly 6 weeks to finally get rid of GHA by following the steps above.

Check out my journel "FOWLR to reef 550" if you want to see green hair algae!!!!

 

[Boomguin]

Dwarf Angel is definitely an option, thanks!

I'm not sure of the levels yet, the tank isn't in my possession.

The move is scheduled for this coming Saturday, I've been planning it out all weekend, heh.

Since I have to disturb the substrate anyway, do you see any major issues with replacing the substrate with live sand? I've already purchased the sand and have enough for a three-inch sand bed.

The substrate they have isn't great for gobies (from what I've read) since it's much thicker/larger than sand. Figured I might as well take care of this during the move.

Going to keep the live rock with the fishies in the secondary tank I already have set up. Also planning on preserving all of the water and such.

 

[Uriel]

Replacing the substrate if it is going to be disturbed is a good idea. As there will be a lot of waste trapped in the sand which will then be loosed into the water. Filling the tank ideally you want to go water, Salt, LR then sand. This is because if the rock is stacked on the sand it can shift and cause rock slides ect. Some people put reef rack under the rock to protect the bottom of the tank. This has pro's and cons. The reef rack can create pockets which it is hard for creatures that turn the sand over to get into. But then depending on how high you stack the rock the reef rack will distribute the weight better.

Some people may recommend keeping a handful of the old sand to seed the new. There is no conclusive proof that live sand is "live". But it certainly isn't any worse than just dry substrate.

3" is quite a deep sand bed. This comes with advantages and disadvantages also.

 

[Boomguin]

Thanks on the advice!

Putting sand in last, how do I pull that off? Use a syphon/vaccuum to pour the sand in where I want it?

Man, I can't wait for Saturday! Going to be a lot of work, but fun work.

My only other concern is I'll be having to use their canister filter until I can save up for a protein skimmer (not to mention figure out how to hook it up on a hooded corner tank).

It's a Fluval 205. I plan on throwing filter floss in the bottom compartment, and then live rock rubble in the second part. Emtpying/cleaning the foam pads and filter floss weekly so waste doesn't build up. Will this be a viable option for now?

 

[seffieuk]

As you can see in the photos its a forest of algae, the long, thin hair like kind.

Ah, hair algae!

I don't have an exact number on weight for the rock, but the pictures give a good look at what's in it. The quotations were because I'm not sure how much life is left going on it right now. I've put in an order for 4 lbs of aquacultured live rock that I'm going to cure and add to the tank in order to help get it going again.

It would be good to weigh it when you take it out, just to get a more accurate piture

The current plan (barring any advice you great people give me is to move the four clownfish into a smaller tank I've set up and have running right now while I re-do it. I bought fifty pounds of sand, twenty of it the pre-done live sand, and plan on completely stripping down and cleaning the tank. I'm thinking with the new cured live rock, live sand and the old live rock I can start a good/new system going.

Sounds like a good plan, all except for the clowns - unless that tank is bigger than it looks you need to watch the clowns for a while to see if any two of them are starting to pair off and then re-home the other two asap.

I'll be using the smaller tank as a quarantine/hospital tank later, but for now it'll be a temporary home. I really want to preserve the clownfish, so I went ahead and got this tank running and starting to develop.

Thats easy, just put the live rock in, dont add sand, its not needed and add a pair of clowns


I expect this to be a pretty time-consuming project to get fixed/started, but that's half the fun isn't it?

It most certainly is dont be tempted to keep any of the water or sand from the tank


Looking forward to watching your progress

Seffie x