If Pseud Were To Convert....

[pseud]

Hey guys,

Let me introduce myself. I'm Pseud... or Andy.. whichever you prefer. You may have seen me around on this forum, most prominently in the Planted Tank section. I'm currently the owner of a 55 gallon planted aquarium, and considering converting to a marine tank. Eventually, I'd like to be keeping a variety of fish and creatures, especially anemones.

So, I figured I'd start my research here, and begin with a few questions.

Since it's going to take a while for me to accumulate the equipment, (finances), to reach the end goal, I figured I'd make the conversion gradually, and start off at the basic level, and gradually increase.

I'm currently using 130w CF light (2 x 65w) and a Penguin 350 (gph) bio-wheel filter. Now, I read somewhere that I could reuse this equipment on a marine tank. From the little reading I've done, I know that the lighting is not enough to keep a reef, but how is it for a start for FO or FOWLR? (I already have a couple of 50/50 actinic bulbs that I've never used).

How about the filter?

What else would I need to get kickstarted....

 

[crazyelece]

That lighting is overly sufficient for FO or FOWLR with the addition of marine grade bulbs you could keep some low light corals like zoos, mushrooms, and some leathers (a little higher placement may be needed). I would ditch the HOB filter and opt for an overflow. If you can't or won't drill your tank you can use a HOB overflow. Other equipment to research is powerheads (or drilling for a closed loop) to add flow, protien skimmer for added filtration capacity (required if you plan on messy eating predators), heating/cooling, marine nitrogen cycle and the incorporation of liverock/livesand, and ground probes/ stray voltage issues.

That should get your research started

 

[SkiFletch]

I agree with Crazyelece. I'd also like to encourage you to read throught he pinned topics, they're a great help. You are at least blessed with a great starter tank in that 55g. Nice and long and shallow for easy lighting and maintenance. Feel free to ask more questions as you learn

 

[pseud]

Thanks guys, I'm still digesting the information that I've picked up so I don't think I have any more questions.... yet

Oh, except a DIY filter was mentioned for the sump. Do you have any more information on that?

 

[Mr Miagi]

Oh, except a DIY filter was mentioned for the sump. Do you have any more information on that?

A DIY filter eh? Well, at the risk of looking like a fool ( already do lol ), and assuming you dont know what a sump does (no dought you do), it basically is the filter, or it holds your filter material if you choose to use mechanical filtration. Your desgin will deal with that if you choose a FOWLR or reef, as mechanical filtration is important for FOWLR's, and can be nitrate factories which fish can handle higher levels of. More so than corals (including nems). It will also vary (sump plan) on what equipment and filtration style you want, again, more reading im afraid, like protein skimmers, a posible UV and chiller, heater size, return pump size......

Nem's require high lighting. Either T5's or MH's. PC's just dont cut the mustard, well, not IMO anyways. Plus, MH's or T5;s give a nicer effect, and allow your choice to greatly improve once you get your feet wet. (No dought you will get the bug and continue to want other creatures, we all do! ). This is not to say MH's are essential for reefs, as crayeleece mentioned, PC's good for shrooms and zoanthids and lower light corals, but not for nems.

Check out melevsreef.com. He has some great articles and pics about what a sump can accomplish. HTH a bit more.

(PS, im doing what your doing Andy, my 3ft planted tank is getting torn down and being replaced by a FOWLR) The SW bug has bitten.

 

[pseud]

A DIY filter eh? Well, at the risk of looking like a fool ( already do lol ), and assuming you dont know what a sump does (no dought you do), it basically is the filter, or it holds your filter material if you choose to use mechanical filtration. Your desgin will deal with that if you choose a FOWLR or reef, as mechanical filtration is important for FOWLR's, and can be nitrate factories which fish can handle higher levels of. More so than corals (including nems). It will also vary (sump plan) on what equipment and filtration style you want, again, more reading im afraid, like protein skimmers, a posible UV and chiller, heater size, return pump size......

I had a basic understanding of what the sump was, did some more reading and I have a much better grasp on it now. I thought I would have to build some kind of contraption with filter floss etc and push the water through it whilst it was in the sump or something. Glad to find out that's not necessary!

Check out melevsreef.com. He has some great articles and pics about what a sump can accomplish. HTH a bit more.

Thanks for the link, was a little confusing but I found: http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php these articles through it, which are really helping me.

(PS, im doing what your doing Andy, my 3ft planted tank is getting torn down and being replaced by a FOWLR) The SW bug has bitten.

I know, right! I'm getting excited about this...

 

[pseud]

Ok, so I'm having a little confusion about the overflow/sump.. I understand the basic principles of it, but struggling to get my head around the details... ie... size of holes, pipes, powerheads etc.... can anyone help me out?

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, most of the people I know with a 55gal have their tank drilled with a 3/4 or 1" overflow. Some use a weir, some an inner box with a Durso, and some with an inner strainer and an external Durso, thats presonal preference I guess. For a return pump, some people use really big ones like Iwaki MD 20RT/RZT, and some go with something more moderate like a Mag 7 or 9, but that seems to be personal prefernce. Also as far as powerheads go you want 20 times your capacity in flowrate. So for a 55gal you want 1100gph worth of powerheads. This is usually solved using multiple seio's, multiple maxijets, or a "closed loop" system off a high flow low head centrifugal pump with one inlet and multiple outlets. Something similar to an Iwaki 30RXT. I personally Prefer the multiple powerheads route since a pump that poerful will run you $150 plus, then you have to do all the plumbing and you have to drill your tank again, and its just not worth it for a 55 IMO.

 

[pseud]

1100gph? Is that including the 700gph of the return pump -- so I'd need an additional 500gph worth of powerheads in the tank? or 1100 gph in the tank itself?

 

[SkiFletch]

Ummm, sort of . The sump return pump will not be pushing 700gph by the time it gets to your tank . Pushing water up a vertical pipe creates a lot of what's called head pressure. Pumps are rated for certain flowrates at certain outlet head pressures. Feet of head is just another measure of pressure, like PSI, torr, atmospheres, mm Hg, etc etc.

So lets say your sump pump is 4 feet below the top of your display tank. Thats 4 ft of head right there. You're also going to have some increased head pressures from length of tubing and a couple right angles which will prolly equal another 1/2 of a foot of head. So we're talking 4.5 to 5 ft of head pressure on the pump. Then you go to the curve or chart for a mag 7 and go to 5 feet of head. There you'll find that the pump is only pushing 420gph.

Now there's some debate in calculating whether you can use that 420gph in calculating how many powerheads to add to get enough flow. Here, every tank is different. Some people (myself included) get away with it. Others cant. THings to consider are rock formations which can cause bad dead spots, and what you want to keep in the tank. If you want medium flow livestock, its perfectly fine to include that 420gph in your 20x recirc. If you want high flow critters, I wouldnt include it. If you go with the multiple powerhead option and you feel you need more flow in the future, just add another one

 

[pseud]

Gotcha. Well explained. Thanks, that really helps me out. (phew, there's a lot of stuff to get your head around... and I've barely scratched the surface!). Anyway, it seems like the powerhead options seems like it would be the one most suited for me.

Thanks again.

( More questions to follow )

 

[pseud]

Quick question: Is a 10 gallon sump big enough for a 55 gallon tank?

 

[SkiFletch]

In my oppinion, my 10g sump isn't big enough for my 45g.... how much room do you have in the bottom of your 55g stand? My flippin 45 is way thin and I can only fit 10" wide tanks. Looking into removing the center support and fitting a larger custom tank myself

 

[pseud]

Well, I'm gonna be DIYing a stand with a cabinet underneath, but my 55 I think is only about 12 or 13 wide, I'll have to measure. A 20 would be better then, I presume? I'll have to check all the dimensions, see if it will fit...

 

[SkiFletch]

Really? I thought the standard 55gal was 48x15x18 LWH