Please, need help/suggestions

[mini mee]

Hi RT members


I just bought a AGA 125 gal tank 72longx18widex24high and stand built the hood this weekend for a VHO 440 watt setup 10k and actinics.

but I only have about 65 lbs of rock well under what I know I should have.

I have 2-2213 eheim cansters to take up the slack and a wet/dry I could use but is that going to be enough filtration and circulation? until I can get more rock? The pump for circulation from the wet/dry is well, I am not sure what size it is, the tag is worn off, the inside dimensions are 3/4" inlet and a 1/2" outlet so my guess is it is to small but will it work? I could also put a mag about the same size, setup for just circulation inside the tank.

I have 2 skimmers one is a bak pak 2 and the other is a air driven venturi style from Emperor Aquatics,INC made in Pottstown,PA stands approx 24" high you know the ones you need an air pump with, not my most favorite but will this get me buy until I can replace them with a beckett style I think they are called?

I have loads of southdown play sand enough to put a 6" layer across the whole bottom of the tank.

One of my main concerns is that I am going to get bombarded with a ton of algae, hair algae and the red stuff Cyno or Gyno or what ever that miserable stuff is that comes off in sheets is called.


Any help/suggestions would great
mini

[TroyF]

Mini, I think you have enough rock for filtration when you add in the sand factor. I don't think the wet/dry or cannister filters are neccesary. I don't know the type of skimmer you have but your biological filtration will be fine. Just go slow when adding livestock and watch the tank parameters. The only thing you'll need more rock for is aesthetics. Make sure you have plenty of circulation.

[mini mee]

Thanks Troy for the feed back circulation ya I think I need to up that so I stay as far away from the algae nightmere as much as posible, oh and don't over feed to, I think (going off the top of my head here) I can leave the skimmer for now until after the tank cycles( 8-10 weeks)

I have 30gal of mature salt water now but that is a wee bit of a drop in the bucket (sort of speak) so I am sure I will go through another cycle.


Ok, so watch tank perameters, up circulation and add critters slowly, sounds good


Take care

mini

I had to edit to add this, I do have a empty 55 gal ( had the reef in that tank before the 125 arrived had to move the 55 to put the 125 in its place) I still have the sand hmm maybe just set that up as sump/refugium right from the get go, the sand should still be alive with bacteria, use it in the ref and the tank, then add a sprinkle of new sand on top.