New to Reefs, is this set up ok?

tran2 · 07/23/2010, 12:45 PM

Hi all, I'd like to introduce myself to you all here. My name is Tu, and I've been running freshwater tanks for years now, mostly doing planted tanks. My older brother has a salt water reef tank with LPS and it looks amazing, I especially like the colorful fish that I could get with a salt water tank.

Here's a few of my planted tanks that I'd like to share:

20 gallon long "iwagumi"

2.5 gallon cube

Anyhow, back on topic, I have shut down the 20 gallon long and I'm planning to set up a reef tank. I mainly want to keep an anemone with a false percula, some other fish, as well as some zoanthids.

If you guys can take a look at the equipment I bought and tell me if it's good enough to run the tank and grow what I want, I'd be very much appreciated.

tank: 20 gallon long
Lighting: 4x24w t5ho, 2 actinic bulbs, 1 12000k, 1 10000k
filters: penguin 350 (should I use the biowheel or take them out?)
skimmer: taam nano skimmer

I'm using the hang on back skimmer and filter because I can't have a sump, this is in a fairly tight area in my room and there's no room for a sump.

My brother has about 30 lbs of live rock in his sump that I can use, and I'll be using the oceanic brand for salt mix.

Do I need to dose the water with anything or should the salt mix contain what I need?

Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

Allmost · 07/23/2010, 12:54 PM

Hello

and welcome

the list sounds Okay, I wouldnt use the bio wheel since the Live rock will take care of all biological filter that you will need. 4 T5HO will do just fine for anemone as well (most anemones) I would put some activated carbon as well as GFO (phosphate remover) in the HOB filter though.

20 lbs of live rock will be plenty. Id use a aragonite sand for a shallow sand bed as well.

for what you want to keep, you most likely do not need to dose with anything and water changes should take care of it all

good luck. and have fun

tran2 · 07/23/2010, 01:06 PM

awesome, thanks for the quick reply. I'll be using purigen in the filter, since it works much better in my planted tank then the carbon. Do you have any experience with purigen vs carbon?

Allmost · 07/23/2010, 01:10 PM

one thing to remember, is that freshwater and salt water are 180 degrees different ( I used to breed freshwater rays for over 10 years ) .

about purigen , I have heard of ppl using them, some said good some said bad, I personally would never place anything like that in my set up, carbon and only high quality carbon only

seachem matrix is a good one.,

GFO is important as well, unlike planted tanks, u want no phosphate in reef tanks.

07/23/2010, 12:45 PM	#1
tran2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2	New to Reefs, is this set up ok? Hi all, I'd like to introduce myself to you all here. My name is Tu, and I've been running freshwater tanks for years now, mostly doing planted tanks. My older brother has a salt water reef tank with LPS and it looks amazing, I especially like the colorful fish that I could get with a salt water tank. Here's a few of my planted tanks that I'd like to share: 20 gallon long "iwagumi" 2.5 gallon cube Anyhow, back on topic, I have shut down the 20 gallon long and I'm planning to set up a reef tank. I mainly want to keep an anemone with a false percula, some other fish, as well as some zoanthids. If you guys can take a look at the equipment I bought and tell me if it's good enough to run the tank and grow what I want, I'd be very much appreciated. tank: 20 gallon long Lighting: 4x24w t5ho, 2 actinic bulbs, 1 12000k, 1 10000k filters: penguin 350 (should I use the biowheel or take them out?) skimmer: taam nano skimmer I'm using the hang on back skimmer and filter because I can't have a sump, this is in a fairly tight area in my room and there's no room for a sump. My brother has about 30 lbs of live rock in his sump that I can use, and I'll be using the oceanic brand for salt mix. Do I need to dose the water with anything or should the salt mix contain what I need? Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

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07/23/2010, 12:54 PM	#2
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	Hello and welcome the list sounds Okay, I wouldnt use the bio wheel since the Live rock will take care of all biological filter that you will need. 4 T5HO will do just fine for anemone as well (most anemones) I would put some activated carbon as well as GFO (phosphate remover) in the HOB filter though. 20 lbs of live rock will be plenty. Id use a aragonite sand for a shallow sand bed as well. for what you want to keep, you most likely do not need to dose with anything and water changes should take care of it all good luck. and have fun

07/23/2010, 01:06 PM	#3
tran2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2	awesome, thanks for the quick reply. I'll be using purigen in the filter, since it works much better in my planted tank then the carbon. Do you have any experience with purigen vs carbon?

07/23/2010, 01:10 PM	#4
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	one thing to remember, is that freshwater and salt water are 180 degrees different ( I used to breed freshwater rays for over 10 years ) . about purigen , I have heard of ppl using them, some said good some said bad, I personally would never place anything like that in my set up, carbon and only high quality carbon only seachem matrix is a good one., GFO is important as well, unlike planted tanks, u want no phosphate in reef tanks.