newbie help

lmack · 07/15/2012, 11:08 AM

Hey guys, I will be obtaining a 75 gallon tank, and I'm planing on doing salt for the first time. My LFS said is be fine with a canister filter, itll just require more water changes. Is this possible to do? My fish list is: 1 humu Picasso trigger fish, 1 fuzzy dwarf lion, and a single snowflake eel. I have had about a years worth of experience mouth fresh water, and have been very successful. So please get back to me in how difficult this will be etc.

Thanks a lot,
Lmack

Jsamper · 07/15/2012, 11:37 AM

First off you cant house a trigger and a lionfish in the same tank because the trigger will most likely chew the lions fins and same can be said for housing a puffer with a lion. I don't recommend you use a cannister filter as I find it much easier to use a sump and a sump adds more water to your DT. You could do a dwarf lion with a snowflake eel and the possibly add a yellow tang depends on what your tanks dimensions are like.

brookers · 07/15/2012, 11:49 AM

as j says. you could replace the lion with sonething like a dwarf angel. i'd put the huma in last by the way.

lmack · 07/15/2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsamper

First off you cant house a trigger and a lionfish in the same tank because the trigger will most likely chew the lions fins and same can be said for housing a puffer with a lion. I don't recommend you use a cannister filter as I find it much easier to use a sump and a sump adds more water to your DT. You could do a dwarf lion with a snowflake eel and the possibly add a yellow tang depends on what your tanks dimensions are like.

So is there any possible way u could do the canister filter, because im on a low budget

Triton_Z · 07/15/2012, 01:49 PM

A canister filter would work, however regular routine water changes (every two weeks or at least monthly 25%) would be necessary to help control the waste of the listed fish. I would drop the lionfish or triggerfish as they not compatible together.

The canister filter would also require regular maintenance to keep the filter working efficiently as they tend to build up sediment, detritus, and other waste you need to remove.

A sump and skimmer would be the better option, but there are plenty of other ways to run your tank.

dzfish17 · 07/15/2012, 02:06 PM

There is nothing wrong with using a canister filter on a FOWLR tank but I would also add a HOB skimmer to remove DOCs... I use two Fluval FX5s but removed the sponges because my skimmer does a better job. Reef Octopus makes some great HOB models these days.

gb530 · 07/15/2012, 02:18 PM

A canister filter would work just fine (with fish only tank) but like Triton said with many water changes and cleaning them is not fun!

With the canister filter it is still recommended that you get a protein skimmer as well! but you would have to get a hang on the back skimmer and in-sump skimmers are more efficient. Sooo going with the sump/skimmer would be the smartest choice.

If your trying to save money, I would recommend building your own sump/refugium. It can be even cheaper than buying a canister. (the Fluval canister rated for a 75g is what, $170?)... There are a lot of online videos that show you how to build them. You can start by buying a 30 gallon glass tank (for $40 from petco). You can also buy pre-cut acrylic kits off eBay for like $100.... You can get a sump, run it on your DT and buy the in-sump protein skimmer 2-3 months down the road to also save money.

Don't rush into it, do it right, and wait a month or two until you can afford it. You will be happier in the long run!

Jsamper · 07/15/2012, 02:23 PM

Of course you could do it but it would probably take more maintenance is all

alford35 · 07/16/2012, 12:13 AM

Since you are new I'll also add that the sump and skimmer would be the way to go.

Skimmers are just extremely efficient and I would say that over 90% of the people that stay in the hobby eventually buy one. I would never set up a tank without a skimmer unless it was a nano which make water changes a breeze. And I only say that because there is a huge difference between changing a couple of gallons and 10-15plus gallons on a weekly or biweekly schedule.

07/15/2012, 11:08 AM	#1
lmack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2	newbie help Hey guys, I will be obtaining a 75 gallon tank, and I'm planing on doing salt for the first time. My LFS said is be fine with a canister filter, itll just require more water changes. Is this possible to do? My fish list is: 1 humu Picasso trigger fish, 1 fuzzy dwarf lion, and a single snowflake eel. I have had about a years worth of experience mouth fresh water, and have been very successful. So please get back to me in how difficult this will be etc. Thanks a lot, Lmack

07/15/2012, 01:49 PM	#5
Triton_Z Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 376	A canister filter would work, however regular routine water changes (every two weeks or at least monthly 25%) would be necessary to help control the waste of the listed fish. I would drop the lionfish or triggerfish as they not compatible together. The canister filter would also require regular maintenance to keep the filter working efficiently as they tend to build up sediment, detritus, and other waste you need to remove. A sump and skimmer would be the better option, but there are plenty of other ways to run your tank. __________________ Dan

07/15/2012, 02:06 PM	#6
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	There is nothing wrong with using a canister filter on a FOWLR tank but I would also add a HOB skimmer to remove DOCs... I use two Fluval FX5s but removed the sponges because my skimmer does a better job. Reef Octopus makes some great HOB models these days. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

07/15/2012, 02:18 PM	#7
gb530 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 492	A canister filter would work just fine (with fish only tank) but like Triton said with many water changes and cleaning them is not fun! With the canister filter it is still recommended that you get a protein skimmer as well! but you would have to get a hang on the back skimmer and in-sump skimmers are more efficient. Sooo going with the sump/skimmer would be the smartest choice. If your trying to save money, I would recommend building your own sump/refugium. It can be even cheaper than buying a canister. (the Fluval canister rated for a 75g is what, $170?)... There are a lot of online videos that show you how to build them. You can start by buying a 30 gallon glass tank (for $40 from petco). You can also buy pre-cut acrylic kits off eBay for like $100.... You can get a sump, run it on your DT and buy the in-sump protein skimmer 2-3 months down the road to also save money. Don't rush into it, do it right, and wait a month or two until you can afford it. You will be happier in the long run! Last edited by gb530; 07/15/2012 at 02:26 PM. Reason: :)

07/15/2012, 11:37 AM	#2
Jsamper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Malibu Posts: 120	First off you cant house a trigger and a lionfish in the same tank because the trigger will most likely chew the lions fins and same can be said for housing a puffer with a lion. I don't recommend you use a cannister filter as I find it much easier to use a sump and a sump adds more water to your DT. You could do a dwarf lion with a snowflake eel and the possibly add a yellow tang depends on what your tanks dimensions are like.

07/15/2012, 11:49 AM	#3
brookers Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: s,devon, england Posts: 309	as j says. you could replace the lion with sonething like a dwarf angel. i'd put the huma in last by the way.

07/15/2012, 02:23 PM	#8
Jsamper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Malibu Posts: 120	Of course you could do it but it would probably take more maintenance is all

07/16/2012, 12:13 AM	#9
alford35 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 168	Since you are new I'll also add that the sump and skimmer would be the way to go. Skimmers are just extremely efficient and I would say that over 90% of the people that stay in the hobby eventually buy one. I would never set up a tank without a skimmer unless it was a nano which make water changes a breeze. And I only say that because there is a huge difference between changing a couple of gallons and 10-15plus gallons on a weekly or biweekly schedule.