Tl 550

[deblin]

Hi All,

Thank you to everyone for the advice on the TL 550 last week.

I decided on the TL 550 and have bought one, but need some advice on the set up in the back compartment on which order to have the filters etc etc. The way I have it at the moment is where the water intake is (grill) I have the skimmer, but not sure what direction to point the tube (if that makes sense)!. then I have the heater then the ceramic rings and on top of them some plastic balls! (what do they do?). Then the last compartment I have the pump.

I've also bought 2 Korilia power heads, is there an optimum place for them in the tank?

Really appreciate the advice.

Cheers......

 

[Truck]

theres a pinned topic somewhere on arranging, it, ditch the bio balls, (there nitrate factories) and go with rowaphos

 

[deblin]

theres a pinned topic somewhere on arranging, it, ditch the bio balls, (there nitrate factories) and go with rowaphos

What are the bio balls meant to do and what are rowaphos?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Truck]

bio balls are just space for the bacteria to grow, are you in the UK?

rowaphos keep control over nitrAtes

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=654

 

[Trod]

As you look at tank from left to right I have


Spraybar and UV light - Heater - Rowphos & LR rubble - sponge (which is cleaned out regularly)

I don't run a protein skimmer but my sister seffie does her lay out is slightly different.

Ditch the bio balls and rings, add a powerhead, I have a koralia 2 which is perfect.

Try out different positions for the powerheads to see which works best for you, I'm sure as you add corals you will change the positions to suit flow over them anyway.


Fun isn't it

 

[seffieuk]

As my sister said mine is slightly different:

starting from spray bar side

1)Spraybar and UV filter
2) live rock rubble and rowphos
3) heater
4) skimmer

No bio balls or noodles, no carbon filter (took the noodles out and ditched them, kept the carbon filter just in case and gave the balls to the cats - cats love em!)

If you read my thread and that of Charlie's you will get info on the start up procedures Don't forget to take some pictures for us

The skimmer doesn't need to be on yet as you have nothing to skim yet when it is on you will need to adjust the little black thing at the top of the tube to adjust the air flow, it's very simple, even I can do it! The tube can face any direction, it doesn't matter - just as long as it is out of the water (the top bit)

Love watchimg new tanks evolve - what are your plans?

Seffie x

 

[deblin]

bio balls are just space for the bacteria to grow, are you in the UK?

rowaphos keep control over nitrAtes

[URL="http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=654"]http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=654[/URL]

I see, thanks for the advice.

Yes I am in the UK.

 

[deblin]

As my sister said mine is slightly different:

starting from spray bar side

1)Spraybar and UV filter
2) live rock rubble and rowphos
3) heater
4) skimmer

No bio balls or noodles, no carbon filter (took the noodles out and ditched them, kept the carbon filter just in case and gave the balls to the cats - cats love em!)

If you read my thread and that of Charlie's you will get info on the start up procedures Don't forget to take some pictures for us

The skimmer doesn't need to be on yet as you have nothing to skim yet when it is on you will need to adjust the little black thing at the top of the tube to adjust the air flow, it's very simple, even I can do it! The tube can face any direction, it doesn't matter - just as long as it is out of the water (the top bit)

Love watchimg new tanks evolve - what are your plans?

Seffie x

Hi,

Thanks for your advice.

What do you mean by UV Filter?

And I take it you've replaced the ceramic rings with the live rock (rubble)? how often would you clean those out? and have you put the rowphos on top of them?

My plans are very basic at the moment. I will have as many corals as the tank will allow me as I find these very interesting and the few fish that I've looked at are the clown fish and I've seen a puffer fish I like but can't remember the name of it!

How many fish could I get away with, and what size?

I will get some pictures once I start introducing things to it, at the moment its empty!!!!

Cheers.....

 

[deblin]

As you look at tank from left to right I have


Spraybar and UV light - Heater - Rowphos & LR rubble - sponge (which is cleaned out regularly)

I don't run a protein skimmer but my sister seffie does her lay out is slightly different.

Ditch the bio balls and rings, add a powerhead, I have a koralia 2 which is perfect.

Try out different positions for the powerheads to see which works best for you, I'm sure as you add corals you will change the positions to suit flow over them anyway.


Fun isn't it

Hi,

You say you dont run a protein skimmer, but dont you need this to take some of the protein out?
Or do you use one of those bags (not sure what there called!) that they use with the Interpet tanks!

How often do you clean your sponge / tank?

(Thanks for the advice)

Cheers...

 

[seffieuk]

Hi

I do run a skimmer but my sister doesn't the skimmer takes out all the crud from the tank

I do a 20% water change every week as well - the UV kills any undesirable stuff in the tank - some people don't run their uv as they say it can also kill good stuff, but I run one, it sorts itself out - just turn it off along with the skimmer when you add phytoplankton or the like, I turn it off over night when i add pods or phytoplankton.

Rowphos is a carban like substance, i'm sure someone will come along and explain a bit better - again it helps keep everything running along smoothly

I don't have any sponge in my tank - i do a good clean each week plus a mag wipe each day

Seffie x

 

[deblin]

Hi

I do run a skimmer but my sister doesn't the skimmer takes out all the crud from the tank

I do a 20% water change every week as well - the UV kills any undesirable stuff in the tank - some people don't run their uv as they say it can also kill good stuff, but I run one, it sorts itself out - just turn it off along with the skimmer when you add phytoplankton or the like, I turn it off over night when i add pods or phytoplankton.

Rowphos is a carban like substance, i'm sure someone will come along and explain a bit better - again it helps keep everything running along smoothly

I don't have any sponge in my tank - i do a good clean each week plus a mag wipe each day

Seffie x

What's a mag wipe?

Sorry for all the questions!!!!

 

[SkiFletch]

Its a magnetic glass scraper. One side of the magnet fits inside the tank, the other the outside. You move the outside piece and the magnet holds the inside piece along the inside of the glass, allowing you to scrape easily

 

[seffieuk]

Never be sorry for asking questions - it's usually my fault anyway for not explaining properly

Seffie x

 

[deblin]

Never be sorry for asking questions - it's usually my fault anyway for not explaining properly

Seffie x

Thanks.

I've just set the tank up, but not quiet sure what the skimmer is suppose to do! with out sounding to stupid! ,in the cup its bubbling up! is this correct?

 

[seffieuk]

Yes, the skimmer should be bubbling nicely the skimmer takes out all the waste and free floating food that is left over - it cleans the water of protein type waste

Seffie x