possibilities for a very minimal saltwater 50.

Sk8r · 04/30/2016, 06:24 PM

I mention this because we've been the rounds with a freshwater tank (two canister failures, two different brands, just can't keep up with a planted freshwater and tetras.) After maddening troubles and a lot of spilled water, we resurrected an unused Penguin 150, got a second 150 for the other side of the tank (wedge, but would work in rectangular) and use double filtration pads. (which the 150 allows). The flow is better, the water is clearer. This is my old reef tank in a second life, but looking at the improved water quality and having done a 30 gallon marine tank with a Penguin 150 single filter with some success, I thought I'd mention this for the completely budget-limited. You're going to have some high nitrate---no way out of it with the filter pads; but it would run for small fishes, and some very tough, basic corals, with live rock.

Another possible use would be as a quarantine setup, for those who like a cycled qt. THe pads go away frequently. The part that stays is the biowheel, which, in ordinary constant use, you never change out. BUT you can get NEW biowheels which will work, so you could have totally new media for every new fish. The aeration is pretty good. I'd run a larger-capacity filter than the tank size would call for (more aeration). But it is a possibility.

Mostly, it IS a possibility of a marine tank for somebody with limited room, budget, etc. Just don't overload it: I'd say a couple of percula clowns and some mushrooms, or something about that size, is what it could support.

04/30/2016, 06:24 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	possibilities for a very minimal saltwater 50. I mention this because we've been the rounds with a freshwater tank (two canister failures, two different brands, just can't keep up with a planted freshwater and tetras.) After maddening troubles and a lot of spilled water, we resurrected an unused Penguin 150, got a second 150 for the other side of the tank (wedge, but would work in rectangular) and use double filtration pads. (which the 150 allows). The flow is better, the water is clearer. This is my old reef tank in a second life, but looking at the improved water quality and having done a 30 gallon marine tank with a Penguin 150 single filter with some success, I thought I'd mention this for the completely budget-limited. You're going to have some high nitrate---no way out of it with the filter pads; but it would run for small fishes, and some very tough, basic corals, with live rock. Another possible use would be as a quarantine setup, for those who like a cycled qt. THe pads go away frequently. The part that stays is the biowheel, which, in ordinary constant use, you never change out. BUT you can get NEW biowheels which will work, so you could have totally new media for every new fish. The aeration is pretty good. I'd run a larger-capacity filter than the tank size would call for (more aeration). But it is a possibility. Mostly, it IS a possibility of a marine tank for somebody with limited room, budget, etc. Just don't overload it: I'd say a couple of percula clowns and some mushrooms, or something about that size, is what it could support. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.