Start up questions

nmohara · 10/20/2010, 11:32 AM

Hey Everyone

Just starting to set up a 90 gallon FOWLR tank and need to get some more things before I can really get things going. A few of the things I know I will need are a protein skimmer, and some maxi-jets, etc... as well as anything I may have missed. As far as what I have now for equipment is :

Heater : Fluval E 300 W
Filter : Fluval 405 External Filter I was planning on running 4 bags of carbon and 4 bags of Clearmax (phosphate remover)
Lighting : Aquatic Life Dual-Lamp T5HO Light Fixtures includes one 10000K and one 420/460nm Actinic

I was looking at the AquaC Remora Pro skimmer or would like something close. Also I'm not sure what order to put the media in the baskets. And that's pretty much it for now, trying to get things slowly as the pay cheques come in. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

Nicole

nmohara · 10/20/2010, 11:35 AM

Also I have for substrate 20lbs of regular aquarium gravel for filler, 40 lbs of dry sand and 40 lbs of wet sand. Any suggestions on dead/live rock ratios would also be great.

nmohara · 10/20/2010, 01:45 PM

no one has any information??? Thanks for the help.

isildursbane · 10/20/2010, 01:57 PM

On the skimmer, I am not too knowledgable, but I know lots of people run the skimmer you mentioned and lots of people run Octopus skimmers. Just keep doing research, since that is one of the most expensive upgrades you will get, I recommend getting the absolute best you can afford. That may mean holding out a month or so, but it will be worth it.

I also have no knowledge of the Fluval 405 external filter, but I would assume you could put the filter media in any order. I would put the least expensive first, because they will likely get contaminated more quickly.

Dead/live rock ratios, no idea there either. I know most people run 1 to 2 pounds of rock and sand in a reef aquarium. The option of a deep sand bed (DSB) should also be considered. There is the option to go minimalist on your scaping, which will give you more water column since you are going FOWLR. I looked for the thread I was just reading the other day where people were posting pics of their minimalist tank builds, you should at least check it out.

Can someone help me find that link to post here so she can look at it?

I do not know why your thread did not get an answer, but it seems like you are at that point where you have to make some difficult decisions and are looking for some help. I feel confident that if you keep posting when you need help, someone out there will respond back. And feel free to PM me if you want, I try to check the site every day.

Oh and Good Luck

nmohara · 10/20/2010, 02:02 PM

Thanks for the help. As far as cost goes, my hubby would rather shell out the money now for a good piece of equipment then have to replace it if I decide to go to a reef tank. (and also as much as I spend on the tank, he spends on his computer)

isildursbane · 10/20/2010, 02:12 PM

Here is the website for minimalist aquascaping:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...st+aquascaping

Check through the pics if you want. I find it helpful to look at threads showing lots of different tanks setup a certain way. Once you see a lot of other reefers doing something, it gives you the feeling that you can do it too.

I got you on the idea to get something good enough for upgrading to a reef tank. Considering how far you are already into it, it is no small stretch to assume that you will probably have some corals in there before too long. That being said, that is why I was recommending to wait a bit on the skimmer, JMO. That way you can do more research and get what you will likely need for corals. Generally speaking, I think the entry for a 90 gallon reef is $150 to $200 whether AquaC or Octopus.

Palting · 10/20/2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmohara

Hey Everyone

Just starting to set up a 90 gallon FOWLR tank and need to get some more things before I can really get things going. A few of the things I know I will need are a protein skimmer, and some maxi-jets, etc... as well as anything I may have missed. As far as what I have now for equipment is :

Heater : Fluval E 300 W
Filter : Fluval 405 External Filter I was planning on running 4 bags of carbon and 4 bags of Clearmax (phosphate remover)
Lighting : Aquatic Life Dual-Lamp T5HO Light Fixtures includes one 10000K and one 420/460nm Actinic

I was looking at the AquaC Remora Pro skimmer or would like something close. Also I'm not sure what order to put the media in the baskets. And that's pretty much it for now, trying to get things slowly as the pay cheques come in. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

Nicole

What biofiltration are you planning to use? I used a Fluval 405 for a while in my old 110 gal. I used ceramic biomedia in 4 trays, and Chemipure ELITE (not plain chmipure) in the other 4 trays. The biomedia go on the top trays, and the carbon or chemical filtration go on the bottom trays.

nmohara · 10/20/2010, 03:33 PM

The bio filtration I was going to use would be off the live rock going into the tank (or at least I thought)

Mylilreef · 10/20/2010, 03:50 PM

if you haven't put water or anything in the tank yet, i would drill the back of the tank for possible addition of a sump if you decide to switch to a reef....eventually most of us do. you can put in the threaded type of bulkheads and just cap them off for now, and if you decide to add the sump, you only have to lower the water level a little and put your piping in.

as far as powerheads or wavemakers, it's just kinda up to you. i will however recommend that it have magnetic fixation instead of suction cups. the cups get hard after a few months and will keep becoming unattatched. just a really big headache that can be easily avoided

Palting · 10/20/2010, 03:58 PM

I see. Live rock would be ideal. You need to have enough rock and also need to make sure you have enough flow. Ballpark figures are 1lb/gal for rock and 10gph/gal for flow.

If you just want to get started, get the feel for a saltwater tank, and stay fish only for a while, the Fluval 405 will get you going in your 90 gal tank. Here's the web site where you can download the manual and help you figure out the tray sequence and contents: http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/manual.cfm. You won't need much more to start. 10% weekly water changes and the Fluval will keep you and your fish happy for quite a long time.

Then, when you start getting itchy for reef and coral, you can build up from there with live rock, powerheads, sump, skimmer, better lights, RO/DI, etc, etc,. etc.

steamman · 10/20/2010, 08:01 PM

If you are going to put rock in a fowlr tank I suggest you use something like Marco rock and seed it with some live rock. You won't get as much unwanted stuff in your fish only tank that way. Here is a link to Marco Rock.
http://www.marcorocks.com/

10/20/2010, 11:32 AM	#1
nmohara Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belleville, ON, Canada Posts: 43	Start up questions Hey Everyone Just starting to set up a 90 gallon FOWLR tank and need to get some more things before I can really get things going. A few of the things I know I will need are a protein skimmer, and some maxi-jets, etc... as well as anything I may have missed. As far as what I have now for equipment is : Heater : Fluval E 300 W Filter : Fluval 405 External Filter I was planning on running 4 bags of carbon and 4 bags of Clearmax (phosphate remover) Lighting : Aquatic Life Dual-Lamp T5HO Light Fixtures includes one 10000K and one 420/460nm Actinic I was looking at the AquaC Remora Pro skimmer or would like something close. Also I'm not sure what order to put the media in the baskets. And that's pretty much it for now, trying to get things slowly as the pay cheques come in. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks Nicole

10/20/2010, 03:50 PM	#9
Mylilreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 304	if you haven't put water or anything in the tank yet, i would drill the back of the tank for possible addition of a sump if you decide to switch to a reef....eventually most of us do. you can put in the threaded type of bulkheads and just cap them off for now, and if you decide to add the sump, you only have to lower the water level a little and put your piping in. as far as powerheads or wavemakers, it's just kinda up to you. i will however recommend that it have magnetic fixation instead of suction cups. the cups get hard after a few months and will keep becoming unattatched. just a really big headache that can be easily avoided __________________ -Cory Current Tank Info: 55g mixed reef (upgrading to 150g Tall), 30g Long w/softies(soon to be a sump for the 150g), 20g Tall mixed, 5g w/softies, 10g quarantine that somehow turned into another softy tank

10/20/2010, 03:58 PM	#10
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I see. Live rock would be ideal. You need to have enough rock and also need to make sure you have enough flow. Ballpark figures are 1lb/gal for rock and 10gph/gal for flow. If you just want to get started, get the feel for a saltwater tank, and stay fish only for a while, the Fluval 405 will get you going in your 90 gal tank. Here's the web site where you can download the manual and help you figure out the tray sequence and contents: http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/manual.cfm. You won't need much more to start. 10% weekly water changes and the Fluval will keep you and your fish happy for quite a long time. Then, when you start getting itchy for reef and coral, you can build up from there with live rock, powerheads, sump, skimmer, better lights, RO/DI, etc, etc,. etc. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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10/20/2010, 11:35 AM	#2
nmohara Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belleville, ON, Canada Posts: 43	Also I have for substrate 20lbs of regular aquarium gravel for filler, 40 lbs of dry sand and 40 lbs of wet sand. Any suggestions on dead/live rock ratios would also be great.

10/20/2010, 01:45 PM	#3
nmohara Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belleville, ON, Canada Posts: 43	no one has any information??? Thanks for the help.

10/20/2010, 01:57 PM	#4
isildursbane Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 219	On the skimmer, I am not too knowledgable, but I know lots of people run the skimmer you mentioned and lots of people run Octopus skimmers. Just keep doing research, since that is one of the most expensive upgrades you will get, I recommend getting the absolute best you can afford. That may mean holding out a month or so, but it will be worth it. I also have no knowledge of the Fluval 405 external filter, but I would assume you could put the filter media in any order. I would put the least expensive first, because they will likely get contaminated more quickly. Dead/live rock ratios, no idea there either. I know most people run 1 to 2 pounds of rock and sand in a reef aquarium. The option of a deep sand bed (DSB) should also be considered. There is the option to go minimalist on your scaping, which will give you more water column since you are going FOWLR. I looked for the thread I was just reading the other day where people were posting pics of their minimalist tank builds, you should at least check it out. Can someone help me find that link to post here so she can look at it? I do not know why your thread did not get an answer, but it seems like you are at that point where you have to make some difficult decisions and are looking for some help. I feel confident that if you keep posting when you need help, someone out there will respond back. And feel free to PM me if you want, I try to check the site every day. Oh and Good Luck

10/20/2010, 02:02 PM	#5
nmohara Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belleville, ON, Canada Posts: 43	Thanks for the help. As far as cost goes, my hubby would rather shell out the money now for a good piece of equipment then have to replace it if I decide to go to a reef tank. (and also as much as I spend on the tank, he spends on his computer)

10/20/2010, 02:12 PM	#6
isildursbane Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 219	Here is the website for minimalist aquascaping: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...st+aquascaping Check through the pics if you want. I find it helpful to look at threads showing lots of different tanks setup a certain way. Once you see a lot of other reefers doing something, it gives you the feeling that you can do it too. I got you on the idea to get something good enough for upgrading to a reef tank. Considering how far you are already into it, it is no small stretch to assume that you will probably have some corals in there before too long. That being said, that is why I was recommending to wait a bit on the skimmer, JMO. That way you can do more research and get what you will likely need for corals. Generally speaking, I think the entry for a 90 gallon reef is $150 to $200 whether AquaC or Octopus.

10/20/2010, 03:33 PM	#8
nmohara Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belleville, ON, Canada Posts: 43	The bio filtration I was going to use would be off the live rock going into the tank (or at least I thought)

10/20/2010, 08:01 PM	#11
steamman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 253	If you are going to put rock in a fowlr tank I suggest you use something like Marco rock and seed it with some live rock. You won't get as much unwanted stuff in your fish only tank that way. Here is a link to Marco Rock. http://www.marcorocks.com/