New Tank Set-up

Kermit11 · 10/20/2007, 02:23 AM

I'm building a 55-gal aquarium reef tank. I live near the ocean in the Pacific Ocean so getting the critters and salt water won't be a problem. However, I'm still setting up the aquarium. I have a 40gal sump, I intend to put a protein skimmer in there capable of up to 400gph. The question is, I can't get my hands on a plexi glass or a sheet of glass to put barriers in the sump. I'm thinking of the sump being simply the protein skimmer and a pump back to the aquarium (350gph). I'll also have the heater and activated charcoal in the sump. Can anyone find problems with this idea before I start it?

Kermit

jamiep · 10/20/2007, 03:47 AM

As regards to your salt water, generally you have to go out a mile to sea so you don't get human tampered sea water. There is alot of debate about this, some say if your beach is clean enough, and there isn't any rivers nearby, go at high tide and you should be fine. Just think what money you'll be putting in your tank and what one bad batch of water could do to it. As for the critters, just make sure you get an ID here before tanking them!

Kermit11 · 10/20/2007, 07:05 AM

Jamiep, I'm glad you brought up gathering things from the ocean issue. I have seen mantis shrimp in the tidepools here. But I have also seen the blue damsels in the tidepools here (the kind you see in aquarium shops, there are a lot of them). I will be on the lookout for certain things that could be harmful, such as crown of thorn sea stars, stone fish, and sea snakes. Let me know if there is anything else that could be in rocks that comes to mind poisonous or harmful.

Fortunately, pollution is very limited in this region. I'd be pulling the water directly from the beach where there is a huge coral reef. There are many corals and invertebrates all over, even in the tidepools there are conditions that I would freak if it were my aquarium. Yet life is growing all over it.

As for things to be careful about adding to my aquarium, I thought about this as well. When you order live rock straight from the ocean, you don't know what you are getting as well. And worse case scenario, I'll dump everything out of my aquarium back into the ocean and start over. It's all free to me.

However, getting back to the original question, should my sump be partitioned with my protein skimmer working in there? Please feel free to amplify more on pros and cons on using ocean water (still waiting for someone to bring up ocean algae blumes.)

Playa-1 · 10/20/2007, 09:30 AM

Using the partitions can allow you to force water through your Protein skimmer having it work more efficiently by processing all the water that goes through your sump. It also gives you a convenient place to put polishing filters, and control micro bubbles. I guess the only way to see if you will have problems is to hook it up and see how it goes.

10/20/2007, 02:23 AM	#1
Kermit11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 14	New Tank Set-up I'm building a 55-gal aquarium reef tank. I live near the ocean in the Pacific Ocean so getting the critters and salt water won't be a problem. However, I'm still setting up the aquarium. I have a 40gal sump, I intend to put a protein skimmer in there capable of up to 400gph. The question is, I can't get my hands on a plexi glass or a sheet of glass to put barriers in the sump. I'm thinking of the sump being simply the protein skimmer and a pump back to the aquarium (350gph). I'll also have the heater and activated charcoal in the sump. Can anyone find problems with this idea before I start it? Kermit

10/20/2007, 03:47 AM	#2
jamiep Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 458	As regards to your salt water, generally you have to go out a mile to sea so you don't get human tampered sea water. There is alot of debate about this, some say if your beach is clean enough, and there isn't any rivers nearby, go at high tide and you should be fine. Just think what money you'll be putting in your tank and what one bad batch of water could do to it. As for the critters, just make sure you get an ID here before tanking them!

10/20/2007, 07:05 AM	#3
Kermit11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 14	Jamiep, I'm glad you brought up gathering things from the ocean issue. I have seen mantis shrimp in the tidepools here. But I have also seen the blue damsels in the tidepools here (the kind you see in aquarium shops, there are a lot of them). I will be on the lookout for certain things that could be harmful, such as crown of thorn sea stars, stone fish, and sea snakes. Let me know if there is anything else that could be in rocks that comes to mind poisonous or harmful. Fortunately, pollution is very limited in this region. I'd be pulling the water directly from the beach where there is a huge coral reef. There are many corals and invertebrates all over, even in the tidepools there are conditions that I would freak if it were my aquarium. Yet life is growing all over it. As for things to be careful about adding to my aquarium, I thought about this as well. When you order live rock straight from the ocean, you don't know what you are getting as well. And worse case scenario, I'll dump everything out of my aquarium back into the ocean and start over. It's all free to me. However, getting back to the original question, should my sump be partitioned with my protein skimmer working in there? Please feel free to amplify more on pros and cons on using ocean water (still waiting for someone to bring up ocean algae blumes.)

10/20/2007, 09:30 AM	#4
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Using the partitions can allow you to force water through your Protein skimmer having it work more efficiently by processing all the water that goes through your sump. It also gives you a convenient place to put polishing filters, and control micro bubbles. I guess the only way to see if you will have problems is to hook it up and see how it goes.