Some Questions...

[sparklefuzz]

My husband wants to convert our 40g freshwater juwel into a fish only marine tank. I've been doing quite a bit of reading, and I have some questions

Which of the following do you HAVE to have, as a fact, not opinion... please?

Live Rock
Canister Filter - external?
Undergravel Filter
Trickle Filter - external?
Sump - pretty sure this is optional, as with a skimmer.

I'm sure people who are already doing marine probably understand the help topics better than a newbie!! I'm by no means stupid, but there is alot to take in, and I read these threads from people setting up for the first time and when they talk about it they already talk like experts!!

I basically want to know what is the bare minimum I NEED to buy to start this venture. Thanks for any advice you may want to give I want to gather all necessary info before we even think about starting.

 

[N1z]

Well you will need live rock no matter what in a marine system for that it a biological filtration.
Then i would say sump it best for its the most adaptable and better for filtration.
Under gravel def no its a nitrate factory and old filtration method even in fresh water today.
I use an external they are good for special medias such as phosophate remover etc and you can adapt a UV on to them for reef pathogens.

Minimum to start marine i would say:
Have Reverse Osmosis water for marine as its lot cleaner h2o for marine.
Need a protein skimmer
40lbs of Live rock min..
Salt big bucket is cheaper and more practical
sand
powerheads to blow current

And chemicals such as ph buffer, sea trace elements stuff like that.

But more importantly buy a big marine fish book they are excellent in learning what you about to do. Because marines need a lot research on the fish and setup before the you start doing it other wise it kicks you back in the bum put it blunt.

 

[sparklefuzz]

Thanks! To clarify, I've seen an awful lot of tanks that don't use a sump or a skimmer, and I got the impression live rock was too... hence the abbreviations FO and FOWLR..... So, going on that assumption, I'd need powerheads, substrate and a canister filter.... right? Also... I read an account somewhere of someone converting a juwel tank from freshwater to marine, and they kept the internal filtration, any reason why I couldn't do that? If I am massively wrong, please tell me!!

Thanks again

 

[N1z]

Yer can get get away with a juwel filter but prehaps take out the blue sponges, carbon and poly wool then put instead like phosphate remover etc it be good .

Here is a link to a fish site/shop making a 240 into marine it helped me lots however i didnt follow it completely.
Juwel 240

 

[sparklefuzz]

Yer can get get away with a juwel filter but prehaps take out the blue sponges, carbon and poly wool then put instead like phosphate remover etc it be good .

Here is a link to a fish site/shop making a 240 into marine it helped me lots however i didnt follow it completely.
Juwel 240

Thanks, thats a great help!

 

[Ter]

you don't need much for a fish only... marine... no sump no skimmer.. no hardcore lights.. easy as pie

 

[sparklefuzz]

you don't need much for a fish only... marine... no sump no skimmer.. no hardcore lights.. easy as pie

Thanks. Do I need to upgrade the lighting to keep invertebrates?

 

[N1z]

i would still say have a skimmer. But for keeping inverts yes For your size you can get T5 i bars made by arcadia which will allow you to keep soft corals and maybe some LPS corals. Or get power compacts or metal halides but halides jump in price big time.

 

[sparklefuzz]

If I have a skimmer and 40lbs of liverock, what media do I need to have in the filter please? would noodles and some form of phosphate remover do? And how would it be maintained?? Do you clean noodles? How do you put in the phosphate remover, which is, I believe, like a powder/grain... does it have to be in a bag or something? It is a huge filter column, does it need to be full of stuff? what about those bio balls? Do they just get left, or should they be rinsed?

Thanks for all the help so far, i'm planning a visit to the library to stock up on books soon

 

[Chac]

Will you be using Live Rock ??

 

[Mr Miagi]

you don't need much for a fish only... marine... no sump no skimmer.. no hardcore lights.. easy as pie

You should use a skimmer in ceratin tanks, and a sump is only beneficial in the long run. The terms "arnt needed" and "beneficial" get mixed when people try and run cheaply and or quickly into the marine hobby. I run without a sump or refugium, but if I had the choice, hands down I would install one or the other.

If I have a skimmer and 40lbs of liverock, what media do I need to have in the filter please?

You shouldnt need any filtration media in the filter full stop. This isnt like FW. Live rock completely fulfills your water filtration and waste consumption.

Would noodles and some form of phosphate remover do?

Add phosphate remover and activated charcoal. That should help your water become nice and clear, helping reduce phosphate aswell.

And how would it be maintained?? Do you clean noodles?

If you "had" noodles, see above, yes they should be cleaned like you clean the other media in a cannister filter. They can grab detritus you will want to remove periodically.

How do you put in the phosphate remover, which is, I believe, like a powder/grain... does it have to be in a bag or something?

You will need a bag. A cannister filter wont hold the phosphate remover losely. Look at your LFS. Buy several, because you might want to add other stuff like the carbon.

It is a huge filter column, does it need to be full of stuff?

Only what it needs. Dont just chuck in something you dont need. If the carbon and phosphate do well, that should be it. They dont need to be full for any running issue.

what about those bio balls? Do they just get left, or should they be rinsed?

Bioballs do need cleaning, but you shouldnt be using any bioballs if you have an appropriate amount of LR.

Thanks for all the help so far, i'm planning a visit to the library to stock up on books soon

Good idea, you might want to eventually invest in your own books because you will find not many libraries have the up to date and accurate books, especially on reef/marine keeping. Here is the TFF page of good book reviews, ie "The Real of Knowledge".

Hope that all helps, fingers broken!

 

[sparklefuzz]

Hope that all helps, fingers broken!

Thank you so much! That helps tonnes!! I know where I am at now. I'll buy bags for phosphate removal media, activated charcoal, and I don't need any further filtration with live rock. Just a skimmer...Great!

I'm getting there - and I will take your advice and buy the books, I just presumed that I'd get more knowledge by borrowing more books from the library, but if they are out of date as you say, that would probably confuse me more than help.

Thanks again

Will you be using Live Rock ??

Thats the plan

 

[maidenfan]

keep us posted on your tank always nice to see other set ups progressing

 

[sparklefuzz]

keep us posted on your tank always nice to see other set ups progressing

I will do, I think it will be a couple of months, maybe even after christmas before we take the plunge, but once I start I'll be sure to keep you updated. thanks!

 

[Chac]

Will you be using Live Rock ??

Thats the plan

As Mr M says all you will need in that case is your Liverock & Skimmer, I personally would not use any other filter media (biological that is) along side your liverock

You will need around the 20x Flow/Circulation to maintain the colonizing bactrai on your Liverock