| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
04-17-2004, 11:24 AM
|
#1
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 24
|
Need help selecting start up equipment
I have a 55 gal tank and stand that I just purchased. I have not bought any equipment yet. I am looking to start a FOWLR tank. I have had freshwater tanks for as long as I can remember. Now I want to try the saltwater. I have read a lot on the equipment, but there is so many varieties. I was wondering what is better, sump vs canister filters. Also what else would be needed and what types for the tank. How many watt heater, skimmer etc...
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
|
|
|
|
04-17-2004, 09:14 PM
|
#2
|
|
Reefer in training
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ridgewood, NJ
Posts: 1,463
|
The first thing I would buy is a good book. I like "The New Marine Aquarium" by Michael Paletta. It goes over a lot of Equipment. Live Rock is really a must and the best way to go. It will do most of your filtering. Next will be a good protein Skimmer. Having a sump is a great idea, it gives you more volumn and a place to put all your stuff/equip. Let us know what you are planning.
__________________
First Reef and lovin it
105 gallon, 175W MH w VHO Actinics
Refugium by Ecosystem
Live rock is like a box of chocolates, you never know what ya goin get
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 12:02 AM
|
#3
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 24
|
First off, thank you for replying to my post. I will get a book for sure. I have printed off about 1,000 pages from the internet all ready.
My plans are to get a 55 gal tank, a sump, and a protein skimmer for sure.
As for the lighting, I am not sure what is needed for a FOWLR tank. I am planning on getting LR shortly so I can cure it.
As for the sump, I do not completly understand how to set it up and if that is all I need for my tank (filtration wise).
Thanks to everyone. You are great.
 |
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 07:20 AM
|
#4
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jasper GA
Posts: 474
|
I would go with a EuroReef ES5-2 for the skimmer. I wouls also go with a couple N.O. lights. They shouldn't be enough to stimulate algae growth, but enough to see the fish.
Steve
__________________
Proud Card Carrying Member of the Deltec Club.
37 Oceanic with 6X24 T-5 Tek Light, Deltec Turbo 1250, Korallin 1502 and 3 Seio 800's.
Last edited by crab0000; 04-18-2004 at 07:53 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 07:47 AM
|
#5
|
|
Admin/ Super mod
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Castle, Delaware
Posts: 20,246
|
If you are going to stay as a FOWLR then normal lights are fine..if you decide to go with corals down the line you will have change the lighting..but not until then...
how many fish are you thinking about.. keep in mind if you run with a lot of LR in a 55 gallon you will not have a lot of room for fish! and i would not go bigger then maybe 3 inches in size either ( IMO).
you said you are going with a sump.. is the tank drilled for an over flow?. if you are thinking about a canister type filter you will have to change the media once a week to keep it clean. if you are running FOWLR you can also run a wet dry/trickle with bioballs..evven thou nit. are not a good thing with corals, they are ok with just fish. and if you want to change over down the line it can be done with litlle cost..
just something to add to your brain 
HTH
__________________
Tim
need something to read? just ask me.
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 08:14 AM
|
#6
|
|
Reefer in training
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ridgewood, NJ
Posts: 1,463
|
For your fitration, your rock and protein skimmer are doing the job. The sump is just a place you can put most of your equip and heaters to get them out of the main tank. It also gives the overall system more water volume, which is a very good thing. You can have some compartments in the sump to run things like a sponge or other filter materials (like chemi pure, polypad, stuff like that). If your tank is not drilled with a hole for a overflow stand pipe. You can buy a hang on the back skimmer box that will feed your sump. Having a skimmer has benefits also. Alot of bad stuff floats on top of the water and it will also give you more oxygen/gas exchange with the water. Good circulation is also very important for the same reasons on gas exchange.
How much substrate do you plan to have? Keeping this clean is key.
__________________
First Reef and lovin it
105 gallon, 175W MH w VHO Actinics
Refugium by Ecosystem
Live rock is like a box of chocolates, you never know what ya goin get
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 08:20 AM
|
#7
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Metairie, La.
Posts: 122
|
through my experience of doing fish only when I first started saltwater, I would for sure go with the sump. I found it to be easier to do maintenance, you can hide the heaters and thermometer and whatever else you want to put down there. You could also put your skimmer down there out of view. Now if you don't have you tank drilled which (I highly recommend), You'll have to get a over flow box. CPR makes probably the best. Standard lights will be fine for fish only, but if you have any thought of going with coral, I would just go ahead and buy vho's (only if you have the budget). It's going to get pricey, so you might want to prioritize.
__________________
what you achieve or fail to achieve is directly related to what you do or fail to do.
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 11:01 AM
|
#8
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 24
|
Thank you for all your replies.
I am planning on having a couple fish. Ones I am interested in are the lawnmower blenny, "Nemo", and if possible a jawfish.
With these fish I will have live rock.
As for my substrate, I am not sure what to go with, either live sand or crushed coral. What would be better for the fish?
__________________
35 gallon tall with the following:
20 lbs live rock, polyp, lawnmower blenny, firefish, green chromis, multiple snails, candyloctis.
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 11:05 AM
|
#9
|
|
Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 24
|
Where can I get my tank drilled? Should the LFS be able to do this? Or do I have to go to a special glass shop?
When I get it drilled, that is where I would hang the overflow box, correct?
__________________
35 gallon tall with the following:
20 lbs live rock, polyp, lawnmower blenny, firefish, green chromis, multiple snails, candyloctis.
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 11:08 AM
|
#10
|
|
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 21,752
|
JAwfish like a sandy substrate with some rubble bits to build burrows in, they also seem to be neurotic jumpers,
__________________
When considering courage in battle, one should remember that there are 2 sides to every conflict.
The heroism of the losing side rarely gets remembered
but we were all husbands and fathers, sons and bros
|
|
|
|
|
04-18-2004, 02:10 PM
|
#11
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Metairie, La.
Posts: 122
|
some LFS do drilling and where the hole is drilled is where they will place the overflow, now they should do that for you as part of the package. An overflow box is to be use if you don't get your tank drilled. Make sure that your bottom could be drilled if not it should have a "tempered bottom" sticker on it. If that's the case you can get it drilled on the side, your LFS should know this. What tank do you have?
__________________
what you achieve or fail to achieve is directly related to what you do or fail to do.
|
|
|
|
|
