getting away from the reef setup

yellow_tang2009 · 11/12/2006, 10:08 AM

I have a 210 gallon tank that has been setup as a reef tank for over a year now and i took it down yesterday and sold my fish. I had a huge alge infestation and have tried for almost 6 months and have finally forfited. Now if i dont sell my tank i am looking for something fairly simple and easy but yet still appealing. I really dont want to do a FOWLR tank and am looking into mabe a shark and ray setup. Is that a very large undertaking? Will this be harder and more time consuming than a reef setup? I am also open to any and all suggetions.

Thank you

thatguy · 11/12/2006, 10:55 AM

Do an octopus tank.... Just because I can't.

yellow_tang2009 · 11/12/2006, 11:29 AM

They are real hard though aren't they?

serpentman · 11/12/2006, 11:31 AM

Do an eel tank. Easiest setup IMO.

tanker · 11/12/2006, 11:34 AM

It depends on what you REALLY want. Sharks and rays do not move a lot, so not much to see. Also they like lots of open area, so no/less rocks (so you need cannister filters).

PS-- Algae problems are from too much nutirents in tank. Too much fish, too much food, nutirents in the in coming water, refugy not working, ect.

tanker · 11/12/2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellow_tang2009
They are real hard though aren't they?

The Octopus, or the sharks and Rays??

yellow_tang2009 · 11/12/2006, 11:52 AM

I really would like something that would move around more because this tank is a setup in my living room but i do not want to mess with LR again. The alge was a hair alge brought in on rock someone gave to me and i researched it and had almost no fish fed every other day and even drained it and re filled but it just kept coming back. and i was talking about octopus, and that they are hard i think.

96p993 · 11/12/2006, 11:59 AM

do a predator tank.....

xcreonx · 11/12/2006, 12:01 PM

I've always wanted to FOWLR tank with several aggressive species: Triggers, Angels, Tangs, large Wrasses, etc. Volitan Lionfish especially. I love those guys.

dustins · 11/12/2006, 12:09 PM

Octo's are hard to keep as they require pristine water conditions and are sensitive to any fluctuations in chemistry or temp. A predator tank would be interesting as there are many preds that would do great in that size tank. However, a predator tank means lots of nutrients as the metabolic processes in larger fish (especially preds) produce more waste. This means that you may battle algal blooms without more work.
If the reason for staying away from FOWLR is the LR, then you could always do a Fish Only with Base rock. If you want hardy fish with little work I think a large school of chromis with a few other fish may be nice.

xtrstangx · 11/12/2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tanker
It depends on what you REALLY want. Sharks and rays do not move a lot, so not much to see. Also they like lots of open area, so no/less rocks (so you need cannister filters).

Rays need a huge amount of sand bed area and a 210 would not be appropriate for any species. They really should be left to the largest of aquariums (1000g's +)

I think a FOWLR would be sweet. Triggers, all the sweet Angels that aren't reef safe, wrasses, and also Butterfly fish are very sweet.

yellow_tang2009 · 11/12/2006, 12:33 PM

How much LR would be necessary? would it be enough if i just put like 4 large pices on the bottom or am i going to have to put the entire 200 lbs back?

What about a freshwater? are there really any cool setups with freshwater? they kinda strike me as boring now but..?

JamesJR · 11/12/2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellow_tang2009
How much LR would be necessary? would it be enough if i just put like 4 large pices on the bottom or am i going to have to put the entire 200 lbs back?

What about a freshwater? are there really any cool setups with freshwater? they kinda strike me as boring now but..?

A predator tank would be really interesting, you don't need 200 lbs of rock for that.

Freshwater? Yeah, there are some really cool freshwater setups. If you want lots of movement you should look into doing either an african cichlid setup or maybe do a planted tank with lots of rainbow fish. I had a reef set up and a planted tank and people were equally impressed by both. With a freshwater tank you could keep a whole lot more fish in the tank.

xtm · 11/12/2006, 01:15 PM

I've always wanted to set up a Kelp forest type tank, using Caulerpa instead, then using a Tunze Wavebox to simulate the Kelp movement... with a weak Metal Halide (90w or less) to give the shimmer lines.. this would look soooo cool and realistic.

Just a suggestion

dustins · 11/12/2006, 02:20 PM

XTM - That would definitely be sweet.

yellow_tang2009 · 11/12/2006, 02:23 PM

that does sound awesome. I might try it
where can i find Caulerpa that big?
What kind of fish can i put in?

11/12/2006, 10:08 AM	#1
yellow_tang2009 DFWMAS Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 316	getting away from the reef setup I have a 210 gallon tank that has been setup as a reef tank for over a year now and i took it down yesterday and sold my fish. I had a huge alge infestation and have tried for almost 6 months and have finally forfited. Now if i dont sell my tank i am looking for something fairly simple and easy but yet still appealing. I really dont want to do a FOWLR tank and am looking into mabe a shark and ray setup. Is that a very large undertaking? Will this be harder and more time consuming than a reef setup? I am also open to any and all suggetions. Thank you

11/12/2006, 10:55 AM	#2
thatguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CO Posts: 513	Do an octopus tank.... Just because I can't. __________________ #something witty Current Tank Info: in my memories

11/12/2006, 11:31 AM	#4
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	Do an eel tank. Easiest setup IMO. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

11/12/2006, 12:01 PM	#9
xcreonx Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,362	I've always wanted to FOWLR tank with several aggressive species: Triggers, Angels, Tangs, large Wrasses, etc. Volitan Lionfish especially. I love those guys. __________________ Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 90g shallow with H. Barbouri Seahorses

11/12/2006, 01:15 PM	#14
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	I've always wanted to set up a Kelp forest type tank, using Caulerpa instead, then using a Tunze Wavebox to simulate the Kelp movement... with a weak Metal Halide (90w or less) to give the shimmer lines.. this would look soooo cool and realistic. Just a suggestion __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

11/12/2006, 11:29 AM	#3
yellow_tang2009 DFWMAS Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 316	They are real hard though aren't they?

11/12/2006, 11:34 AM	#5
tanker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sf bay area Posts: 3,522	It depends on what you REALLY want. Sharks and rays do not move a lot, so not much to see. Also they like lots of open area, so no/less rocks (so you need cannister filters). PS-- Algae problems are from too much nutirents in tank. Too much fish, too much food, nutirents in the in coming water, refugy not working, ect.

11/12/2006, 11:52 AM	#7
yellow_tang2009 DFWMAS Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 316	I really would like something that would move around more because this tank is a setup in my living room but i do not want to mess with LR again. The alge was a hair alge brought in on rock someone gave to me and i researched it and had almost no fish fed every other day and even drained it and re filled but it just kept coming back. and i was talking about octopus, and that they are hard i think.

11/12/2006, 11:59 AM	#8
96p993 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mckinney, Tx Posts: 1,130	do a predator tank.....

11/12/2006, 12:09 PM	#10
dustins Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 157	Octo's are hard to keep as they require pristine water conditions and are sensitive to any fluctuations in chemistry or temp. A predator tank would be interesting as there are many preds that would do great in that size tank. However, a predator tank means lots of nutrients as the metabolic processes in larger fish (especially preds) produce more waste. This means that you may battle algal blooms without more work. If the reason for staying away from FOWLR is the LR, then you could always do a Fish Only with Base rock. If you want hardy fish with little work I think a large school of chromis with a few other fish may be nice.

11/12/2006, 12:33 PM	#12
yellow_tang2009 DFWMAS Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 316	How much LR would be necessary? would it be enough if i just put like 4 large pices on the bottom or am i going to have to put the entire 200 lbs back? What about a freshwater? are there really any cool setups with freshwater? they kinda strike me as boring now but..?

11/12/2006, 02:20 PM	#15
dustins Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 157	XTM - That would definitely be sweet.

11/12/2006, 02:23 PM	#16
yellow_tang2009 DFWMAS Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 316	that does sound awesome. I might try it where can i find Caulerpa that big? What kind of fish can i put in?