Starting A Marine Aquarium

[rabbut]

If you are looking to breed them, the skimmer could wind up removing any lavea when they get past hatching... Otherwise, things look OK from that list. Personally, rather than a cycled filter, I'd use mature liverock, but each to their own, that method will work

The cyclone skimmer is fitter with a Rio powerhead, that Andywg and Skifletch agree on being unreliable and prone to killing livestock when it does fail

All the best
Rabbut

 

[omega59]

are live rock expensive?

 

[orange shark]

it varies from about £7-15 per kilo

 

[omega59]

oh i see. no i won't be breeding them they are for enjoyment

so the liverock replaces the need for a filter?

 

[rabbut]

Correct, the live rock is the biological filter. It needs a good flow to work though

 

[millie1]

sorry to hi-jack -

you dont actually need afilter if you have liverock???

 

[ben1987]

No, Live rock and flow makes the filter

 

[millie1]

sorry flow of what??

and thanks for the reply

soryr to hi-jack *hangs head in shame*

 

[Truck]

water around rock, which is acheived with power heads

 

[ben1987]

yeah, for a reef tank you want 20X water volume in flow as a minimum.

EG 100L tank X 20 = 2,000L So you buy a couple of powerheads equaling 2,000L/H or more

 

[Colin_T]

If you use live rock as a filter then you have lots of rock and lots of water moving around the rock. The water moving around the rock takes the oxygen and ammonia to the bacteria living on the rock. This bacteria breaks down the ammonia and converts it to nitrite and then nitrate. If the rock is big enough then it will get anaerobic bacteria living inside it and this anaerobic bacteria will break down the nitrates into nitrogen gas and other things.
For live rock to be used as a filter you need a lot of water moving around it. Most tanks require several water pumps/ powerheads to produce this water movement.

 

[millie1]

ok - and if i didnt have these powerheads - a filter would be sufficient?

 

[omega59]

okay so If i get liverock i won't need a filter at all. do i have to cycle the rock or i just put it in the aquarium add the fish and it is ready?? what is the process, it's a 30gal and will house 3 3inch fish or so.

btw, millie1 no worries about hi-jak we are all here to learn, and i'am learning from your questions too LOL.

and sorry, do i need a heater for marine tanks?

 

[millie1]

lol thanks

defiantely learning here!!!!


are air pumps needed too??? just never seen one in marine aquariums...!!

so basicaly for marine/ - tank/heater/liverock and sand/fish (cycle obv) and off you go?

 

[omega59]

my LFS told me a heater is not required really for Marine. what you need is..

some filter cycled or liverock (still not sure about cycling liverock)
salt
hydrometer
power head
protein skimmer
30gal atleast
fish of course hehe

can someone explain to me if you need to cycle with liverock, or just drop it in and it's set to go??