and so it begins

3dees · 10/18/2013, 02:10 PM

my conversion from wild discus to salt in now complete. added 100 lbs. of live rock yesterday. the water is still a bit cloudy from the sand. tank is 120 gal. (48x24x24). no sump due to back problems. reef octopus bh2000 hob skimmer. running a canister empty for extra flow. this will be a fowlr. there are some corals on the rock but I don't expect them to live long as I have a cheap led fixture with 32 3w bulbs. this is how I stacked the rock right out of the box, so I don't know how much I'll change it. I'm wondering if this is enough rock seeing that it's my only filtration besides the skimmer. I want room for a couple of butterflies, a one spot foxface, a dwarf angel, and a few small fish. I have a pair of clowns and a royal gramma in the qt. they should be ready by the time the dt cycles. do I have enough rock for a cycle or should I add a shrimp?

Calappidae · 10/18/2013, 02:14 PM

Warning: That rock you have is decorative, premium live rock... I have a 4.5 lb. piece in my 10 gallon mini reef and found 70 different hitchhikers in there ever since... fire worms, whelks, right now I hear clicking.. you name it, I got it! Seriously, wear gloves...

Butterflies need a really established tank. Because of how diverse that rock is you may be able to get them alot sooner.

I still don't understand why you can't get a sump?

3dees · 10/18/2013, 02:23 PM

a sump requires working under the tank. I'm on disability and maintenance under the tank is a no no. I know a sump is the way to go, but going sumpless can be done. I need to keep things as simple and easy as possible. I know it's early, but so far I haven't seen anything yet. at least I won't have to worry about corals.

coralsnaked · 10/18/2013, 02:48 PM

Your skimmer is rated for 140 gals however with no sump for better filtration and the fact most people go 1.5x their rating on a skimmer you should consider utilizing more rock.. I would suggest deep water Tonga as it is denser and would leave more swimming rooom. Also consider lots of Macro in your display to help w/ trates and phates.

UTCReefer · 10/18/2013, 03:13 PM

The amount of rock you have is fine to cycle your tank. The die off alone will be sufficient. It looks like there is quite a bit of algae hitchhiking on those rocks, i would pluck it all off before you end up with a forest of macro algae growing all over the place. Better to do it now while its still weak.

3dees · 10/19/2013, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UTCReefer

The amount of rock you have is fine to cycle your tank. The die off alone will be sufficient. It looks like there is quite a bit of algae hitchhiking on those rocks, i would pluck it all off before you end up with a forest of macro algae growing all over the place. Better to do it now while its still weak.

are you talking about the plants? my next fish is going to be a foxface. I thought it would take care of it.

UTCReefer · 10/19/2013, 02:37 PM

I dont think a foxface will eat that type of algae. I have one and it eats hair algae and red turf algae but not any of the bigger leafy types.

Calappidae · 10/19/2013, 03:09 PM

That macro (plants) on the decorative live rock is there for good. If it grows out of control, or too tall, get the chainsaw out. IMO I think it looks great!

3dees · 10/22/2013, 10:34 AM

it's halimeda. I have been reading up on it and it seems the only drawback is it consumes a bit of calcium. can be a problem if it gets out of hand but with my weak lighting it probably won't survive anyway. UTCreefer,your right, rabbitfish will not eat this. still, it adds a little to a fowlr.

10/18/2013, 02:14 PM	#2
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	Warning: That rock you have is decorative, premium live rock... I have a 4.5 lb. piece in my 10 gallon mini reef and found 70 different hitchhikers in there ever since... fire worms, whelks, right now I hear clicking.. you name it, I got it! Seriously, wear gloves... Butterflies need a really established tank. Because of how diverse that rock is you may be able to get them alot sooner. I still don't understand why you can't get a sump? __________________ Joe

10/18/2013, 02:48 PM	#4
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Your skimmer is rated for 140 gals however with no sump for better filtration and the fact most people go 1.5x their rating on a skimmer you should consider utilizing more rock.. I would suggest deep water Tonga as it is denser and would leave more swimming rooom. Also consider lots of Macro in your display to help w/ trates and phates. __________________ Merry Skerry Current Tank Info: 1 G Nano jellyfish to 1200 G Bull Nose FOWLR featuring large Holacanthus and Pomacanthus

10/19/2013, 03:09 PM	#8
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	That macro (plants) on the decorative live rock is there for good. If it grows out of control, or too tall, get the chainsaw out. IMO I think it looks great! __________________ Joe

10/18/2013, 02:23 PM	#3
3dees Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 793	a sump requires working under the tank. I'm on disability and maintenance under the tank is a no no. I know a sump is the way to go, but going sumpless can be done. I need to keep things as simple and easy as possible. I know it's early, but so far I haven't seen anything yet. at least I won't have to worry about corals.

10/18/2013, 03:13 PM	#5
UTCReefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 652	The amount of rock you have is fine to cycle your tank. The die off alone will be sufficient. It looks like there is quite a bit of algae hitchhiking on those rocks, i would pluck it all off before you end up with a forest of macro algae growing all over the place. Better to do it now while its still weak.

10/19/2013, 02:37 PM	#7
UTCReefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 652	I dont think a foxface will eat that type of algae. I have one and it eats hair algae and red turf algae but not any of the bigger leafy types.

10/22/2013, 10:34 AM	#9
3dees Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 793	it's halimeda. I have been reading up on it and it seems the only drawback is it consumes a bit of calcium. can be a problem if it gets out of hand but with my weak lighting it probably won't survive anyway. UTCreefer,your right, rabbitfish will not eat this. still, it adds a little to a fowlr.