Skimmer? And Fish stocking on a 30

ericbye · 05/09/2006, 11:46 PM

alrite 2 questions, im switchin from fresh to salt with a 30g. It will be FOWLR, i was talkin to a guy at the lfs and he said that i wouldnt need a protein skimmer unless i got a bigger tank or went with corals, is this true? im on a pretty tight budget. And what kind of fish should go in here? i was thinking about some clowns, possibly a small tang, im not sure how fast they grow but if not that fast i could upgrade in a little while. Any other ideas? Thanks

mg426 · 05/09/2006, 11:50 PM

You can run a FOWLR tank without a skimmer. They do make things easier though. I would keep a close eye on the Nitrates and do regular water changes. When you get the $$ get a skimmer.

NDreefer1 · 05/09/2006, 11:54 PM

FOWLR should be alright, especially if you keep up on the water changes. If its an option, take a look at

http://themantledmonster.thereeftank.com/sdiy.html

A very effective skimmer made from PVC you can buy at lowes. Add a used Mag 5 (like $30) and you have a very powerful, very cheap skimmer. They definately make things easier...

-Bob

bertoni · 05/10/2006, 12:00 AM

To Reef Central

I would use a skimmer since they are a great safety net and should simplify maintenance. A CoraLife SuperSkimmer is a reasonable choice, IMO. I'm running one and like it so far. If you're tight on funds, going without a skimmer is possible, but I'd suggest limiting the tank to perhaps a pair of ocellaris or percula clowns or similar-sized fish. No tang will fit in a 29g.

ericbye · 05/10/2006, 12:08 AM

cool, thanks, i am goin to save for the skimmer, but when i upgrade tanks ill do it all at once, also wonderin what my turnover should be with the powerhead, ive heard 10x minumum with fowlr

Sk8r · 05/10/2006, 12:22 AM

Just as a side note, on stocking---some of these marine tanks types grow to over a foot long, and even when they're little, they become spooked and crazy if living in what they perceive as too confined a space; others like anthias, though small, have habits of darting madly for 6 feet or so, and if they can't do that, then they start acting stressed. So the percs or a few not-easily-phased fish (the usual name is nano-fish, meaning fish that go well in mini-tanks) will be quite happy in your 29 and then move on quite happily into larger quarters.
You've got the bug bad---already planning for the next tank

Extremely good luck to you.

ericbye · 05/10/2006, 09:25 AM

haha yea.. the bug.. i started with piranhas a few months ago, now that i wanna do the salt water i want a bigger tank so i can get some better lookin fish and more of em, just waitin for a deal to come along. Ok this is my list of stuff, what else do i need? Im leavin the skimmer out for now
HOB Filter (is carbon ok for salt water no reef?)
Heater, not sure how many watts but it has no probelm keeping my current tank at 81 ish
Powerhead, 127 gph? i think im goin to use this one to mix salt water for water changes, and get a more powerful one for in the tank if thats nessecary?
Live Rock, the lfs charges 10$ a lb,so i might be able to get a deal there or look for a local
I have one full spectrum T12 light, it can light up the tank pretty good, wont be any coral so i think thats ok
Oh and its all in a 30 G tank

tmplge · 05/10/2006, 10:35 AM

Welcome to the hobby. 10$ is WAY to much for live rock! its not made of gold so dont buy it. You can buy it online for much less. something like 3.50 a lb for good stuff. You should check out oceanproaquatics dot com. they have live rock for 99 cents a pound plus shipping. Another place you should check out is your local reef cluib forum. Somewhere on the site there is a tab that will take you to your local forum and people there are always selling things. You can get a used skimmer for a great price. I would link you the forum but i dont know where your located. good luck, and remeber, take everything the LFS says with a grain of salt, maybe a bag of salt!

ericbye · 05/10/2006, 07:36 PM

I just picked up a killer deal, 50 gallon tank, 2 filters, pumps, overflow setup, stand, light setup, i think coral life lights, protein skimmer and reverse osmosis unit, she also told me a fish store with a guy to say that i know her, and live rock is around 5$ a pound.

05/09/2006, 11:46 PM	#1
ericbye Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 108	Skimmer? And Fish stocking on a 30 alrite 2 questions, im switchin from fresh to salt with a 30g. It will be FOWLR, i was talkin to a guy at the lfs and he said that i wouldnt need a protein skimmer unless i got a bigger tank or went with corals, is this true? im on a pretty tight budget. And what kind of fish should go in here? i was thinking about some clowns, possibly a small tang, im not sure how fast they grow but if not that fast i could upgrade in a little while. Any other ideas? Thanks

05/09/2006, 11:50 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	You can run a FOWLR tank without a skimmer. They do make things easier though. I would keep a close eye on the Nitrates and do regular water changes. When you get the $$ get a skimmer. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

05/10/2006, 12:00 AM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* I would use a skimmer since they are a great safety net and should simplify maintenance. A CoraLife SuperSkimmer is a reasonable choice, IMO. I'm running one and like it so far. If you're tight on funds, going without a skimmer is possible, but I'd suggest limiting the tank to perhaps a pair of ocellaris or percula clowns or similar-sized fish. No tang will fit in a 29g. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/10/2006, 12:22 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Just as a side note, on stocking---some of these marine tanks types grow to over a foot long, and even when they're little, they become spooked and crazy if living in what they perceive as too confined a space; others like anthias, though small, have habits of darting madly for 6 feet or so, and if they can't do that, then they start acting stressed. So the percs or a few not-easily-phased fish (the usual name is nano-fish, meaning fish that go well in mini-tanks) will be quite happy in your 29 and then move on quite happily into larger quarters. You've got the bug bad---already planning for the next tank Extremely good luck to you. __________________ 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%.

05/09/2006, 11:54 PM	#3
NDreefer1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 72	FOWLR should be alright, especially if you keep up on the water changes. If its an option, take a look at http://themantledmonster.thereeftank.com/sdiy.html A very effective skimmer made from PVC you can buy at lowes. Add a used Mag 5 (like $30) and you have a very powerful, very cheap skimmer. They definately make things easier... -Bob

05/10/2006, 12:08 AM	#5
ericbye Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 108	cool, thanks, i am goin to save for the skimmer, but when i upgrade tanks ill do it all at once, also wonderin what my turnover should be with the powerhead, ive heard 10x minumum with fowlr

05/10/2006, 09:25 AM	#7
ericbye Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 108	haha yea.. the bug.. i started with piranhas a few months ago, now that i wanna do the salt water i want a bigger tank so i can get some better lookin fish and more of em, just waitin for a deal to come along. Ok this is my list of stuff, what else do i need? Im leavin the skimmer out for now HOB Filter (is carbon ok for salt water no reef?) Heater, not sure how many watts but it has no probelm keeping my current tank at 81 ish Powerhead, 127 gph? i think im goin to use this one to mix salt water for water changes, and get a more powerful one for in the tank if thats nessecary? Live Rock, the lfs charges 10$ a lb,so i might be able to get a deal there or look for a local I have one full spectrum T12 light, it can light up the tank pretty good, wont be any coral so i think thats ok Oh and its all in a 30 G tank

05/10/2006, 10:35 AM	#8
tmplge Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Granada Hills, CA Posts: 603	Welcome to the hobby. 10$ is WAY to much for live rock! its not made of gold so dont buy it. You can buy it online for much less. something like 3.50 a lb for good stuff. You should check out oceanproaquatics dot com. they have live rock for 99 cents a pound plus shipping. Another place you should check out is your local reef cluib forum. Somewhere on the site there is a tab that will take you to your local forum and people there are always selling things. You can get a used skimmer for a great price. I would link you the forum but i dont know where your located. good luck, and remeber, take everything the LFS says with a grain of salt, maybe a bag of salt!

05/10/2006, 07:36 PM	#9
ericbye Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 108	I just picked up a killer deal, 50 gallon tank, 2 filters, pumps, overflow setup, stand, light setup, i think coral life lights, protein skimmer and reverse osmosis unit, she also told me a fish store with a guy to say that i know her, and live rock is around 5$ a pound.