Question about going from reef to mostly Fish only

dpsa98 · 02/23/2008, 04:01 PM

I have my reef tank and I wanted to find out if it's possible to make it a 80% fish tank and 20% reef. My tank is a 46g bowfront reef. I would like to take out all of my course sand and my live rock clean the whole tank and sump inside and out and put in very fine white sand and keep my 2 clown fish. I was thinking about keeping a 15lb piece of my Live rock to keep in the corner of the tank and get a Bubble tip anenome for the clowns.

I have a filter that Im not using right now that is a Fluval 204. What would I need to do to make this work. Would I get rid of my sump tank and protien skimmer and just run the Fluval 204 or would I still need the sump and skimmer because of the live rock in the tank and the anenome?

Or would it just be better to do only fish with sand and 0 live rock. Just the fish and the fluval 204 with my clown fish a few other fish and some of that decorative dead coral?

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated on how you think I should proceed with this change over.

Aquarist007 · 02/23/2008, 04:50 PM

I would suggest a fowlr tank. The live rock sand bed and protein skimmer are the best combination of mechanical and biological filtration you have.
Fluvals and other canister filters can't compete with this combination.
As a suggestion remove all media from the fluval and run carbon in it only.
section off your sump and setup a refugium with lots of chaeto in it
Nitrates are usually more of a problem with fish only tanks and the cheato will help reduce phosphates and nitrates as your live rock and sand will do

dpsa98 · 02/23/2008, 05:17 PM

Thank you for your quick reply. Do you think that If I ran carbon only in the fluval and only used 1 -15lb piece of LR that would be ok with an anenome or no anenome at all? I have great lighting and have been able to keep anenomes in the past.

If the anenome is not a good idea then I would keep it at a fish only tank with 0 live rock in it at all.
Thanks again

Aquarist007 · 02/23/2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dpsa98
Thank you for your quick reply. Do you think that If I ran carbon only in the fluval and only used 1 -15lb piece of LR that would be ok with an anenome or no anenome at all? I have great lighting and have been able to keep anenomes in the past.

If the anenome is not a good idea then I would keep it at a fish only tank with 0 live rock in it at all.
Thanks again

why are you against using live rock?

dpsa98 · 02/23/2008, 05:32 PM

I have about 60 lbs of live rock in my tank now and unfortunately I went through a tank catastrophy where I lost most of my stuff in the tank ....I still have my 2 clowns and my live rock but its starting to turn white mixed with purple coraline. My wife has always hated the Reef thing. She wants a nice clean looking bare bones saltwater fish tank with a few pieces of that decorative coral in it and thats it.

I thought I could just keep one chuck of LR and keep it in the corner and keep a couple reef creatures on it such as an anenome.

HammerDude33 · 02/23/2008, 05:33 PM

maybe it's covered with algae?

HammerDude33 · 02/23/2008, 05:34 PM

ugh..that stinks.

02/23/2008, 04:01 PM	#1
dpsa98 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fallon,Nv Posts: 234	Question about going from reef to mostly Fish only I have my reef tank and I wanted to find out if it's possible to make it a 80% fish tank and 20% reef. My tank is a 46g bowfront reef. I would like to take out all of my course sand and my live rock clean the whole tank and sump inside and out and put in very fine white sand and keep my 2 clown fish. I was thinking about keeping a 15lb piece of my Live rock to keep in the corner of the tank and get a Bubble tip anenome for the clowns. I have a filter that Im not using right now that is a Fluval 204. What would I need to do to make this work. Would I get rid of my sump tank and protien skimmer and just run the Fluval 204 or would I still need the sump and skimmer because of the live rock in the tank and the anenome? Or would it just be better to do only fish with sand and 0 live rock. Just the fish and the fluval 204 with my clown fish a few other fish and some of that decorative dead coral? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated on how you think I should proceed with this change over.

02/23/2008, 04:50 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I would suggest a fowlr tank. The live rock sand bed and protein skimmer are the best combination of mechanical and biological filtration you have. Fluvals and other canister filters can't compete with this combination. As a suggestion remove all media from the fluval and run carbon in it only. section off your sump and setup a refugium with lots of chaeto in it Nitrates are usually more of a problem with fish only tanks and the cheato will help reduce phosphates and nitrates as your live rock and sand will do __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/23/2008, 05:17 PM	#3
dpsa98 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fallon,Nv Posts: 234	Thank you for your quick reply. Do you think that If I ran carbon only in the fluval and only used 1 -15lb piece of LR that would be ok with an anenome or no anenome at all? I have great lighting and have been able to keep anenomes in the past. If the anenome is not a good idea then I would keep it at a fish only tank with 0 live rock in it at all. Thanks again

02/23/2008, 05:32 PM	#5
dpsa98 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fallon,Nv Posts: 234	I have about 60 lbs of live rock in my tank now and unfortunately I went through a tank catastrophy where I lost most of my stuff in the tank ....I still have my 2 clowns and my live rock but its starting to turn white mixed with purple coraline. My wife has always hated the Reef thing. She wants a nice clean looking bare bones saltwater fish tank with a few pieces of that decorative coral in it and thats it. I thought I could just keep one chuck of LR and keep it in the corner and keep a couple reef creatures on it such as an anenome.

02/23/2008, 05:33 PM	#6
HammerDude33 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Eastern, Pa - USA Posts: 258	maybe it's covered with algae?

02/23/2008, 05:34 PM	#7
HammerDude33 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Eastern, Pa - USA Posts: 258	ugh..that stinks.