My Marine Adventure

[gregswimm]

As someone who is running a sumpless tank, I really wish I would have gotten a sump. I run a 29 w/ HOB fuges.
The thing is I don't run a skimmer, and so far have had great success without one.

I make up for not having a skimmer by filling my fuges full of chaeto. Which I wish I had a sump I could stuff full of chaeto and add some power heads to keep the cyano at bay(it creeps up in my low flow hob setup) .

I have also had better success without running mechanical filtration and just letting my sand bed and rocks filter it all. The worms come out and eat all the detritus anyway. And with all the detritus in the system my shimp pick at my corals a lot less. In my case mechanical media was also acting as a 'nitrate' doser if i didn't clean it daily or every other day. I try and keep high dissolved nutrients to feed all my filter-feeders and high vegetative growth to keep my nitrates down (never gone over 5ppm).

For live rock try http/tbsaltwater.com/ I have some plus Haiti LR and the TB LR is by far the best LR I have ever seen, by a long shot.

For some cheep amazing LEDs check out the PAR 38 spotlight bubls on Ebay. [post='3420142']My LED post[/post]

 

[Chris7]

Check local ads for tanks being dismantled as well.

Thanks Aquascaper i will take a look around.

As someone who is running a sumpless tank, I really wish I would have gotten a sump. I run a 29 w/ HOB fuges.
The thing is I don't run a skimmer, and so far have had great success without one.

I make up for not having a skimmer by filling my fuges full of chaeto. Which I wish I had a sump I could stuff full of chaeto and add some power heads to keep the cyano at bay(it creeps up in my low flow hob setup) .

I have also had better success without running mechanical filtration and just letting my sand bed and rocks filter it all. The worms come out and eat all the detritus anyway. And with all the detritus in the system my shimp pick at my corals a lot less. In my case mechanical media was also acting as a 'nitrate' doser if i didn't clean it daily or every other day. I try and keep high dissolved nutrients to feed all my filter-feeders and high vegetative growth to keep my nitrates down (never gone over 5ppm).

For live rock try http/tbsaltwater.com/ I have some plus Haiti LR and the TB LR is by far the best LR I have ever seen, by a long shot.

For some cheep amazing LEDs check out the PAR 38 spotlight bubls on Ebay. [post='3420142']My LED post[/post]

Thanks i think lol, I believe i have a filter system in the back of my tank. I am not sure about a sump or how i would fit one to the tank. I have a skimmer but am not sure how it works. I will take a look at it once i get my water and rock sorted.

Thanks for the links.

 

[gregswimm]

Overflows / sumps:
part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Foam fraction explaned:
http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam_fractionation
http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_skimmer

Edit: also FW filter designs don't work well for SW

 

[gregswimm]

Before I forget, remember that skimmers are detrimental to microfauna. Which means you are going to have trouble keeping nps clams, azooxs, feather dusters, and anything that feeds from the water column.

Essentially what I'm saying is that you literally cannot read enough with reguards to filtration. How many LBS of LR you want, what substrate type you want if any, how deep your substrate is going to be, what diameter of particle size you want etc.

Example being, I have always heard that sand sifting stars are good for keeping SB clean but the more I read on the bio of them the more they seam to just eat the worms are critters out of the sand and leave the detritus. Same goes for hermits. I ran into an article on cucmbers, some sift fine grain sand (of the genus Holothuria) and poop out clean sand balls. They consume all the waste in the sand leaving behind.

All I'm saying is build your system based on what you want to keep.

 

[Chris7]

Great thanks for them links i will have a read through.

With regards to what i want to keep i really have no idea and don't actually know whats out there. My son wants clown fish but at the moment i haven't thought about it much. My aim was to get a tank, get the correct water in there with some live rock. This will take me a while (or so i thought) but i have already bought the tank and will be looking at live rock next week, with a trip to my lfs this weekend.

I have some sand the guy gave to me, There isnt a lot and i will probs need to get a little more or some crushed coral to add to it. Its says tropical marine sand on the bag. I will post more about it later.

 

[Chris7]

How much live rock will I need for 94 litre tank ?

 

[Chris7]

I did see someone with the same tank have around 8-10kg of live rock, Would this be enough.

 

[Aquascaper]

I have a skimmer but am not sure how it works. I will take a look at it once i get my water and rock sorted.

As with everything marine, research first. I would find out how it works beforehand rather than finding you need it (very useful for curing live rock if nothing else) and not knowing what to do with it.

 

[Aquascaper]

Also, you say you have no idea what you want to keep as you haven't researched it but you want to get the tank up and running immediately? To create a home for what? This is the mistake a lot of people make and they find that they can't keep something because of a hasty decision made during set up.

Just because you have the tank, etc. doesn't mean you have to fill it full of water and rock. Just as an example my current project has been sat either empty or running with tapwater to adjust sump flows, sort out powerheads, run cables & pipes, etc. for about 4 weeks as I don't want to fill it then find there's something that needs done or there's a problem.

Slow & steady creates fantastic marine tanks.

 

[Chris7]

I have a skimmer but am not sure how it works. I will take a look at it once i get my water and rock sorted.

As with everything marine, research first. I would find out how it works beforehand rather than finding you need it (very useful for curing live rock if nothing else) and not knowing what to do with it.

Yeah my take a look at it once i get my water and rock sorted was me saying ill research and see if i need it lol.

 

[Aquascaper]

Well just making the point that if you get your rock and find you need a skimmer to cure it and don't know how to use it/find out it doesn't work you'll pretty soon be doing massive water changes or watching tank parameters skyrocket so worth sorting first.

 

[Chris7]

Also, you say you have no idea what you want to keep as you haven't researched it but you want to get the tank up and running immediately? To create a home for what? This is the mistake a lot of people make and they find that they can't keep something because of a hasty decision made during set up.


Just because you have the tank, etc. doesn't mean you have to fill it full of water and rock. Just as an example my current project has been sat either empty or running with tapwater to adjust sump flows, sort out powerheads, run cables & pipes, etc. for about 4 weeks as I don't want to fill it then find there's something that needs done or there's a problem.

Slow & steady creates fantastic marine tanks.

I said all along i am in no rush to get this going (meaning i will take my time and research as i go) I have bought the tank and it is still sat there empty and i still have my freshwater tank sat there with fish in it where i want to put my new tank. I have the money at this time to buy the salt needed, water and Also live rock so why would it be a mistake to set the tank up with water and live rock and leave it to cycle for a month or so......

I might sound keen and trust me i am but not keen enough to rush this through and mess it all up.

I did think of filling the tank with tap water and letting it run through for a few days. But i haven't even dne that.

I did say in my other posts that i was taking my time, Can i ask what made you think any different.

Thanks...

Well just making the point that if you get your rock and find you need a skimmer to cure it and don't know how to use it/find out it doesn't work you'll pretty soon be doing massive water changes or watching tank parameters skyrocket so worth sorting first.

OK Thanks, I have just been looking atm at rock. But i didnt know the skimmer cured the rock. So your probably right i need to research this

 

[Aquascaper]

That was my point....

'Wet' testing the tank with tapwater allows you to check seals, pumps, etc. without wasting salt and is the best way the check equipment is all functioning as it should. I always do this with a new tank and it's saved me from quite a few potential problems so I would always advise it but it's not essential.

Knowing what you ultimately want in the tank will have a bearing on quantity of live rock, lighting, powerheads, etc. so just filling the tank and buying 'x' amount to get started might leave you short and then you need to add more (risking a mini-cycle as the new stuff cures and possibly jeopardising inhabitants) or you might find you have too much so have lost money that could have been spent on the extra powerhead you desperately need because you now want a 'such and such' coral....does that make any sense?

It's like setting up a freshwater tank with gravel, bogwood and fake plants then deciding you want to keep cichlids that need specific conditions.

Alternatively you can just set the tank up how you consider a marine tank to be using advice off here (with regards to live rock quantity, etc.) and then just accept that you might find something you really want but your tank setup is not suitable and face the decision to spend more money and change it or stick with what you've got.

Really not wanting to be rude just don't want to see a member posting that their tank's up and running so they're off to get 'x' and being told you can't keep that unless you change 'y'.

 

[Xraymark]

Yeah 1kg of live rock for very 10 litres of water is roughly okay.  Bear in mind every time you buy coral it's usually attached to live rock so you end up adding to the tank.  If the live rock is fully cured and there is little time in transport you maybe be cycled very quickly.  It's good you have looked at journals for your tank.  It's a great way to learn.



It can be very difficult to know final stocking at the start particularly when your new to marine.  You really only learn as you do as there is so much knowledge.   You have to work with the tank you have.   Most other things can be changed if really needed, flow and lighting.  It's an all in one system so I would assume flow and lighting should be good enough for softies and LPS.  Fish will be limited to tank size and compatibility with each other, coral, sand bed and mobile inverts.



>Make sure you have pics.  That's really important in a journal. LOL.



Edit, darn iPad spacing.

 

[Chris7]

That was my point....

I did see your post after my reply and fully understand.

'Wet' testing the tank with tapwater allows you to check seals, pumps, etc. without wasting salt and is the best way the check equipment is all functioning as it should. I always do this with a new tank and it's saved me from quite a few potential problems so I would always advise it but it's not essential.

I will do this for the reasons you said. It makes sense.

Knowing what you ultimately want in the tank will have a bearing on quantity of live rock, lighting, powerheads, etc. so just filling the tank and buying 'x' amount to get started might leave you short and then you need to add more (risking a mini-cycle as the new stuff cures and possibly jeopardising inhabitants) or you might find you have too much so have lost money that could have been spent on the extra powerhead you desperately need because you now want a 'such and such' coral....does that make any sense?

Yes it does make sense. I posted my new tank a the other day in this thread, It tells you what lights, powerhead, heater and skimmer i have if that helps. Its all pretty much built in ready to go tank, So im guessing i will not need to add much if anything to it. So your saying i need to research what fish i will want before i know how much live rock to get. I was just going to fill it with 10kg of live rock and then go from there with regards to what fish i would like, However i am in no rush to add the fish as i want to let the tank fully cycle and get the water spot on before i do any such thing.

It's like setting up a freshwater tank with gravel, bogwood and fake plants then deciding you want to keep cichlids that need specific conditions.

I understand, Sometimes what i type might not seem clear to what i want to do. I have problems getting whats in my head into this journal lol.

Alternatively you can just set the tank up how you consider a marine tank to be using advice off here (with regards to live rock quantity, etc.) and then just accept that you might find something you really want but your tank setup is not suitable and face the decision to spend more money and change it or stick with what you've got.

Really not wanting to be rude just don't want to see a member posting that their tank's up and running so they're off to get 'x' and being told you can't keep that unless you change 'y'.

OK I understand, I did feel your other post was a little rude but i think i read it the wrong way. However reading back my reply to you seemed rude of me and i apologize, I know your only trying to help me and others and i appreciate that