Perhaps you're new to the saltwater tank hobby? I was---and it was the advice of the experts that helped me through. Back when I had still had a 30-gallon saltwater aquarium on the brain (I have since upgraded to a 75-gallon!!), I asked Logan of StonyReef.com for some suggestions for my new tank. Here's what this saltwater pro had to say.--Ava
A: So as I mentioned, I'm currently setting up a new tank. It's in its beginning beginning stages. It's a 30 gallon tank and I have a Power Head. Just starting to look out for things like live rock, decorations, heater, etc. etc. I'm not even sure yet whether I want to keep it reefs only or a mixture of live rock and fish! "
L: The best first step, in my opinion, and possible time / money saver, is deciding what you want to keep. Just fish (FO “fish only”), fish only with live rock (FOWLR) or a mix of it all with coral (reef tank). Beauty can be had in any of the set ups, but I think the initial decision is important, as it's going to play a role in the equipment, time & maintenance that the tank will require. Obviously that may change along the way, but if you can avoid buying extra equipment you don’t end up needing, or spending time getting that ‘skilter’ to work, not to mention making well researched choices in livestock (compatible fish, minding appropriate tank size, etc), you’ll save yourself and the animals some time and headaches.
Almost inevitably, a start with some live rock and a couple fish will end up with at least some zoanthids, green star polyps. Once those are in, it won’t be a surprise when the person who wanted just a couple fish ends up getting some fragments from a local… then on to the stonies…
It’s always disheartening to see when people don't properly set up tanks in the first place (lights, etc) and purchase animals, only to have them die in a poor environment - insufficient lighting or flow, lack of appropriate filtration, or a tank that can’t support the food required for the particular animal.
This little bit is not even scratching the surface, but just remember - a little pre-planning goes a long way. Search around and build a virtual stock list for your tank, noting requirements of all animals. Ask questions & do your research!
A: Tell me, is it a good idea to rotate bulbs the way you said you did with the Iwasaki 50K and the Radium 20K or are you doing it for a specific purpose? You say you are not happy, but do you think this should be a common practice? Is it better for the tank?
L: The only necessary rotation of bulbs I know of is to avoid a shift in spectrum, every 9 - 12 months or so, depending on the bulb or setup, though some bulbs are said to last longer than that. It would be optimal if you could use a PAR meter to determine when to change bulbs, but that’s a luxury many don’t have for the tank.
If the spectrum shifts too much, undesirable algae can start to take hold. I rotate just because I like to try out new bulbs, as each seems to produce different results in growth rates or coral color, though the color change is just as likely perceived by my eye, and not a shift in the color of coral. On that thought, here’s an excellent recent article re: lighting / coral coloration by Dana Riddle.
Hopefully I’ll find a great bulb / ballast combo someday and can stick with one… but not likely ?
A: I'm still unsure of the purpose of a protein skimmer. Could you explain a bit what it's purpose is and why you ditched yours in more detail? Does a protein skimmer have to do more with the tank or more with what's in the tank?
L: I didn't ditch one completely, I just switched it for another, as I felt the one I was running was maybe oversized for my tank. The basic concept behind a protein skimmer is that they remove the organic compounds in your tank via foam fractionation before they – the organics - have a chance to decay. There are some situations, like "nano tanks" where I'd agree they aren't 100% necessary if frequent water changes are done. That said, a skimmer is 100% necessary for my tanks. I've run tank with skimmer and without, and they always look much better and healthier with a protein skimmer.
Here are a couple great articles… perhaps more than you’d want to know, but definitely helpful in understanding what’s going on in those bubble filled acrylic tubes:
A: So as I mentioned, I'm currently setting up a new tank. It's in its beginning beginning stages. It's a 30 gallon tank and I have a Power Head. Just starting to look out for things like live rock, decorations, heater, etc. etc. I'm not even sure yet whether I want to keep it reefs only or a mixture of live rock and fish! "
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