My 55 Gallon FOWLR HELP :(

[EnZo]

Hi guys, great forum, I'm sure glad I found a site with enthusiasts like myself!

Now that I've introduced myself, let me start off by saying this is my first salt water aquarium. I've had a fresh water tank for years but now I've finally decided to make the change over to the more exciting, challenging world!

I wish I could say 'so far, so good' but It hasn't quite been that smooth. I did a water change over the past weekend hoping it would help me clear water but It hasn't quite done that. My water looks murky, brownish if you will and I've been trying to figure out what is causing it. I'm about to clean out my biowheel filter and replace the cartridges, any other advice? Should I invest in a canister? Is a Biowheel 330 filter not adequate enough? As far as powerheads go, I'm using two Hydor Koralia 4 Circulation Pump/Powerhead UL 1200 gph.

Also, how often do you recommend that I do my water changes? I was thinking twice a month with about a 10% change with new salt water I prepare ahead of time.

Any advice on the murky water and just cleaning advice in general to keep the water parameters in check would be fantastic... my pH level is a little bit low right now so I just premixed some buffer and put it in the tank.

Man, salt water tanks really are a lot more work! I'm not giving up though!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your help.

[Reeftanker3295]

If you have LR you dont need a biowheel, get a good hang on back skimmer, for my new 55 im getting the reef octopus 800s HOB protein skimmer, your LR replaces the biowheel. The protein skimmer will pull all the bad stuff out of your water. Id do water changes every 1-2 weeks if you dont have a protein skimmer then not as often when you get a good skimmer.

[Reeftanker3295]

And welcome to TRT!

[Loverotties]

+1

[EnZo]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

If you have LR you dont need a biowheel, get a good hang on back skimmer, for my new 55 im getting the reef octopus 800s HOB protein skimmer, your LR replaces the biowheel. The protein skimmer will pull all the bad stuff out of your water. Id do water changes every 1-2 weeks if you dont have a protein skimmer then not as often when you get a good skimmer.

Thank you! It's good to be here...

I forgot to mention, that I have about 50lbs of live rock in the tank. So with that being in there the biowheel is not needed? Okay, so I SHOULD get a protein skimmer, I wish the person at my local store would of just said that when I was setting up the tank. He said it wasn't really necessary...

Any advice on the brownish water? Do I need to do another water change soon?

[Reeftanker3295]

For the time being if you dont have a skimmer id get a HOB filter to run carbon with, i do that with my 10 gallons and it makes the water crystal clear, but when you get the protein skimmer it should clear the water right up. Biowheels can just be another place to store nitrates just like canister filters do, get a nice skimmer. I learned that the hard way..

[Reeftanker3295]

O and id do a 20% water change, thats what i always do on my tanks.

[EnZo]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

O and id do a 20% water change, thats what i always do on my tanks.

Well I'm pretty paranoid about the water right now since it's not clear so I want to go out and get a protein skimmer today. I don't have a sump setup so I'm just going to try to find the best hang on at my local store.

[Reeftanker3295]

Id research before you do that.. Could you call them and see what kind they have then post on here and tell us what they have? We'll tell you if its good or not.

[EnZo]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Id research before you do that.. Could you call them and see what kind they have then post on here and tell us what they have? We'll tell you if its good or not.

Okay, that sounds good. I'll call them and see what they have to offer and I'll for sure post them on here. Thanks again!

Is there a specific hang on PS I should ask for to see if they have in stock? I saw you recommended the reef octopus 800s HOB protein skimmer.

[Reeftanker3295]

No problem. Ive got something to do now but ill come back on in an hour and see what you found out to help you choose!

[EnZo]

Come to think of it, I think I'd be better off just ordering one off the internet as far as price goes.. So just recommendations please, then I'll start searching.

[Reeftanker3295]

Im going to get the reef octopus BH-800S which is yea expensive but i think itll do a great job of keeping your tank just the way everyone likes it, no algae, crystal clear water and no other problems.

[EnZo]

I need to make a decision fast... My clownfish died today My porcupine puffer and humu humu trigger are both fine but I can't risk anything happening to them.

In noticed in the stream of my powerheads, there is like a film on the glass that's blowing? I think I need to a total clean down of the tank... scrubs the walls, change the filters in the bio wheel for now and get the protein skimmer ordered.

As far as the local store went, they didn't even seem to have protein skimmers. They had canisters...

Cascade Canister Filter 1000/1200/1500
Marineland Mangum 350 Pro Canister Filter

Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed with the options especially at $250 for either.

[EnZo]

I don't have upgraded lighting on my tank yet, that wouldn't be the cause of the tank getting dirty quickly or murky would it?