Thinking about Saltwater...

[chkltcow]

There's no chlorine in it because it's straight out of a well... not processed by a water plant. You can try it with mixed tap water to set it up... because you're gonna be using so much water.... but if the brown algae gets out of hand, then you can toss in some Phosguard or something. In the future, you might do well to keep around a few gallons of RO water that your LFS probably sells so you can use it for topoff and water changes.

 

[StingrayKid]

Yeah, thats probably why. But I was just saying that the filter is just so great that these metals are probably at a low. Sounds good. I'll make sure to keep some of that RO water.

One question though.

Whe doing a water change, do you mix the salt in the bucket and then put the water in the aquarium? The tank is going to be about 29 gallons so, it wont be that hard for me. So, you'd have to test the salinity with this right?

EDIT: Also, Do you cycle out marine tanks with your live rocks?

 

[Navarre]

I would be careful with water from a well. you have to be sure where it comes from. Where i live there is a well nearby that some people use for drinking etc as its supposed to be pure. However during a heavy rainfall i tested this water and found the phosphates to be off the scale. I am not sure why as this water is from an undrground spring and not any water treatments. Howver i do live near alot of farming communities and i am certain that during rainfalls the hi organiscs they use in their fields will wash down into this water and thuscreate a very rich nutrient environment... thus hi phosphates. (cant be certain as this is only an idea of the cause).

If you can get an RO unit and use this then it would be far better. They are quite reasonable in price these days and well worth the money. If not then i am sure your lfs will sell it. Over here it sells for about 50p per gallon (about 75 cents?)

When doing a water change i would do this in a seperate bucket. the i nitial salt can be added inthe tank as there will be no livestock in there but its not advisable to do this when liverock or fish etc are in the tank as the water will be fluctuating in SG with huge swings, this will almost definately kill the fish and at the very least cause immense stress. Simply get a bucket and mixt it at the correct temperature (as SG changes with temperature)

 

[StingrayKid]

Sounds fair enough. As for the well, we live nowhere near a farm. Our well is our personal that we own on our property, that is only for us . It is quite deep in the ground, as I said, we have a filter that is specifically used to take out metals and other contaminents that should happen to be in the water. We have a very healthy water sytem in our area, all supplied by wells. I'm so concerned about the water as much as setting this tank up correctly.

EDIT: I will look into a RO unit.

 

[Navarre]

Well if you feel the water is clean then you can try it. Usually you will find algea blooms with tap water so if this does happen then you can use Rowaphos to reduce the algea and then convert to RO water. ( I would still use Ro just to have peace of mind.) Even though i use natural sea water i always top up with Ro water.

 

[StingrayKid]

Would THIS be something I could use to purify my water for my tank? It's pretty cheap, but looks good.

EDIT: Do I need a sump for this tank, or should I be okay with a skimmer, live rocks, and maybe a small filter?

 

[chkltcow]

Well if you feel the water is clean then you can try it. Usually you will find algea blooms with tap water so if this does happen then you can use Rowaphos to reduce the algea and then convert to RO water. ( I would still use Ro just to have peace of mind.) Even though i use natural sea water i always top up with Ro water.

For the record.... we don't get Rowa Phos I looked for some last week.... trying to cut down on the phosphates in my tank from my initial setup with well water. That's why I was kinda trying to warn him now before he starts what might be in store. I'm not sure why, but Rowa Phos doesn't appear to be sold in the US though.... odd. I used SeaChem Phosguard and it has seemed to work fairly well. I've barely even had to clean the glass since putting it in.


As for cycling.... if you use cured live rock, there really won't be any cycle. Good quality cured LR from a local store should have enough of the beneficial bacterias to make sure you never have ammonia or nitrites. My tank stayed at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites from day one. The nitrates spiked up to about 20, but since that point they've gone back down to 0 and stayed there. Regardless, always go slow when adding marine fish and inverts.

 

[Navarre]

This is why i am always reluctant to recomend eqipment or treatments to people in the USA as i dont know what products are on sale. The filter is somethingi have not seen before so i better not comment on that either

 

[chkltcow]

This is why i am always reluctant to recomend eqipment or treatments to people in the USA as i dont know what products are on sale. The filter is somethingi have not seen before so i better not comment on that either

Filters should be pretty much the same. I know in Europe the big thing are Eheim canisters. Over here we have them but they're ungodly expensive, so most people use Fluval instead. Over here, everybody brags about the Marineland Biowheel filters.... yet in England they haven't even heard of them. But go ahead and recommend what you will... I'm sure we can figure out somethingto match it


The thing I've been considering is a Aquaclear500 based refugium as a HOB filter. They appear to be all the rage at nano-reef.com.

 

[Navarre]

I use fluval if an external are needed. Ehiems are incredibly pricey over here too! (Especially the Professional range )

 

[StingrayKid]

So, should I buy a good RO for my tank? Is it really important for saltwater tanks to have these, or is it a just a good idea?

EDIT: If so, how aobut something like THIS?

 

[Navarre]

Hm....
OK lets say its not essential. Some people that live in areas with good water quality might be able to have great looking tanks. However water authorities can and will put chemicals into their water supplies to kill off freshwater shrimps etc from our drinking water. Farmers drop chemicals onto the land that washes into the rivers etc... This can happen without warning and if these are introduced to the tank then problems occure.

In areas with high nitrates etc this will also encourage algea blooms.

So whilst it is possible to run a tank without RO (Before RO was around marine tanks were still being kept) you will find that you will most probably be forever fighting algea blooms and Cyano. Phosphates will very likely be high which in turn will promote algea etc.

The easiest way to combat this is with an RO unit. As you have only a small tank the 2 stage unit you have posted would be adequate for the job.

Its worth the money you invest IMO.

 

[StingrayKid]

I think so too. I've had good luck with the water quality, but I don't want to take any risks with my first saltwater tank. I'm kind of confused how that system works. Where do all those wires go? There is no intake out output hoses on it from what I can see. Can someone clear this up for me?

EDIT: Also, must I have TWO power head units in a tank this size? could I just get one powerful and good one?

 

[Navarre]

As long as you can achieve 10xgallon per our then 1 should be fine

 

[StingrayKid]

Allright then, THIS is the one I want to use by its self. I do have an air pump to attach to it to increase its G.P.H., plus to increace the ariation of the water. If I aim the water flow at my live rock with model 301, will it be enough? (Click on the "more information" hyperlink for G.P.H.)