Couple questions for planed set-up

m_wonnacott · 09/14/2008, 02:42 PM

So I am planing a switch from cichlids to saltwater in my 55 gal
I have started a thred on some of the equipment and stock options I am considering but had a couple other side questions I need help deciding on as I am trying to plan things out as much as posible before purchasing anything needed.

A link to the other thred-
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...6#post13352196

As mentioned in the other thread the current set-up has 50lbs of pool filter sand that I plan to seed with live sand. I know there is a place on this site that calculates how much sand you need but not sure where it is so that I can figure out how much live sand I need to give me a 4" sandbed .

Also the current set-up has aprox 100lbs of dense reef rock. Basicaly this is bleached white (not sure just that it is very white at first) dense live rock. I plan to use this as the main rockwork but add live rock in order to seed it and bring it to life. So the question here is what amount of live rock should I add to this inorder to seed it? I know it will take a while for the rock to be seeded to the point that it looks like live rock.

Also since this stuff is currently being used in a fresh water set-up how would I go about cleaning it or making it ready for the salt set-up?

Also for a 55 gal what would be the recomendation for a clean up crew. I plan on having A sally Lightfoot crab as well as some scarlet hermit crabs. How many scarlets as well as snails of what types would you recomend.

m_wonnacott · 09/14/2008, 03:58 PM

Anyone?

m_wonnacott · 09/14/2008, 05:42 PM

bump

m_wonnacott · 09/14/2008, 08:01 PM

bump

Playa-1 · 09/14/2008, 08:35 PM

A link to the other thred-
I don't feel like reading another thread

I know there is a place on this site that calculates how much sand you need but not sure where it is
The calculators are on the home page of Reef Central. There is a calculator to help you figure out the amount of sand you need.

what amount of live rock should I add to this inorder to seed it?
Any amount will seed it. The more you add the quicker the process will be. There's no formula that I'm aware of. Coralline algae normally turn white when it dies off, so if your lucky the rock will already have lots of Coralline within it. If it wasn't out of the water too long then the white rock has a good potential to color up nicely.

Also since this stuff is currently being used in a fresh water set-up how would I go about cleaning it or making it ready for the salt set-up?
I would use Vinegar to clean everything up. If you've used copper in the tank then you should not use the equipment for a Salt Water tank.

Also for a 55 gal what would be the recomendation for a clean up crew. I plan on having A sally Lightfoot crab as well as some scarlet hermit crabs. How many scarlets as well as snails of what types would you recomend.
I would skip the Sally Lightfoot crab and stick with a variety of snails and a few hermits. I would start with a very modest clean up crew and add to it as you need it. Do some research to pick your snails and hermits. Your looking for snails that can right themselves if they get turned upside down. A good way to get this information is by taking a look at liveaquaria.com and make a note of what they include in their various clean-up crew packages. Then research the different species and decide what you want in your tank. After your tank is cycled then I would start with 8 or 10 snails total and maybe 4 or 5 hermits.

m_wonnacott · 09/15/2008, 07:53 AM

thank you for the reply. Ya i knew there was a calculator somewhere on the site but wasn't finding it. Well this rock is sold at the pet store and can be used for either cichlid tanks or salt water . Will post a picture of it though in the picture it is kind of green since I allow algee to grow on it for the fish to graze on.

Don't think I have used copper in the tank but will check out the one med I used once to be sure.

Is there a particular reson to skip the Sally Lightfoot?

m_wonnacott · 09/16/2008, 07:52 AM

Well so far I have check out one med that I still had some of and no copper going out today to check the other.

I also had one other question about the filter that is current;y on the tank it is a penguin 350 that has the bio-wheels which I plan on removing the bio-wheels. But what should I use in the filter for media or should I just leave it empty and just use it for added circulation?

As well for a 55 gal how does 2x Korila 2 sound for circulation with the penguin? Is it enough to much. The only corals I plan to have are softies like mushrooms and zoas

m_wonnacott · 09/16/2008, 12:21 PM

Well the store no longer carries that med (prob because of what I told them the stupid stuff did to my fish) Going to try a search on line for it and hope I can find the ingredient list

m_wonnacott · 09/16/2008, 12:24 PM

Well that was quick should have done that instead of going to the store. Well the good news is I can use everything because no copper has ever been in the tank.

m_wonnacott · 09/16/2008, 02:50 PM

bump

m_wonnacott · 09/17/2008, 08:18 AM

bump

09/14/2008, 02:42 PM	#1
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	Couple questions for planed set-up So I am planing a switch from cichlids to saltwater in my 55 gal I have started a thred on some of the equipment and stock options I am considering but had a couple other side questions I need help deciding on as I am trying to plan things out as much as posible before purchasing anything needed. A link to the other thred- http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...6#post13352196 As mentioned in the other thread the current set-up has 50lbs of pool filter sand that I plan to seed with live sand. I know there is a place on this site that calculates how much sand you need but not sure where it is so that I can figure out how much live sand I need to give me a 4" sandbed . Also the current set-up has aprox 100lbs of dense reef rock. Basicaly this is bleached white (not sure just that it is very white at first) dense live rock. I plan to use this as the main rockwork but add live rock in order to seed it and bring it to life. So the question here is what amount of live rock should I add to this inorder to seed it? I know it will take a while for the rock to be seeded to the point that it looks like live rock. Also since this stuff is currently being used in a fresh water set-up how would I go about cleaning it or making it ready for the salt set-up? Also for a 55 gal what would be the recomendation for a clean up crew. I plan on having A sally Lightfoot crab as well as some scarlet hermit crabs. How many scarlets as well as snails of what types would you recomend. __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/14/2008, 03:58 PM	#2
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	Anyone? __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/14/2008, 05:42 PM	#3
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	bump __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/14/2008, 08:01 PM	#4
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	bump __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/15/2008, 07:53 AM	#6
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	thank you for the reply. Ya i knew there was a calculator somewhere on the site but wasn't finding it. Well this rock is sold at the pet store and can be used for either cichlid tanks or salt water . Will post a picture of it though in the picture it is kind of green since I allow algee to grow on it for the fish to graze on. Don't think I have used copper in the tank but will check out the one med I used once to be sure. Is there a particular reson to skip the Sally Lightfoot? __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/14/2008, 08:35 PM	#5
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	A link to the other thred- I don't feel like reading another thread I know there is a place on this site that calculates how much sand you need but not sure where it is The calculators are on the home page of Reef Central. There is a calculator to help you figure out the amount of sand you need. what amount of live rock should I add to this inorder to seed it? Any amount will seed it. The more you add the quicker the process will be. There's no formula that I'm aware of. Coralline algae normally turn white when it dies off, so if your lucky the rock will already have lots of Coralline within it. If it wasn't out of the water too long then the white rock has a good potential to color up nicely. Also since this stuff is currently being used in a fresh water set-up how would I go about cleaning it or making it ready for the salt set-up? I would use Vinegar to clean everything up. If you've used copper in the tank then you should not use the equipment for a Salt Water tank. Also for a 55 gal what would be the recomendation for a clean up crew. I plan on having A sally Lightfoot crab as well as some scarlet hermit crabs. How many scarlets as well as snails of what types would you recomend. I would skip the Sally Lightfoot crab and stick with a variety of snails and a few hermits. I would start with a very modest clean up crew and add to it as you need it. Do some research to pick your snails and hermits. Your looking for snails that can right themselves if they get turned upside down. A good way to get this information is by taking a look at liveaquaria.com and make a note of what they include in their various clean-up crew packages. Then research the different species and decide what you want in your tank. After your tank is cycled then I would start with 8 or 10 snails total and maybe 4 or 5 hermits.

09/16/2008, 07:52 AM	#7
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	Well so far I have check out one med that I still had some of and no copper going out today to check the other. I also had one other question about the filter that is current;y on the tank it is a penguin 350 that has the bio-wheels which I plan on removing the bio-wheels. But what should I use in the filter for media or should I just leave it empty and just use it for added circulation? As well for a 55 gal how does 2x Korila 2 sound for circulation with the penguin? Is it enough to much. The only corals I plan to have are softies like mushrooms and zoas __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/16/2008, 12:21 PM	#8
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	Well the store no longer carries that med (prob because of what I told them the stupid stuff did to my fish) Going to try a search on line for it and hope I can find the ingredient list __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/16/2008, 12:24 PM	#9
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	Well that was quick should have done that instead of going to the store. Well the good news is I can use everything because no copper has ever been in the tank. __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/16/2008, 02:50 PM	#10
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	bump __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm

09/17/2008, 08:18 AM	#11
m_wonnacott Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stratford, Ontario Canada Posts: 631	bump __________________ 55 Gal about50 lbs of dead lr , 15 lbs lr to seed, 2x18" NO 50/50, penguin 350 with just carbon, pinpoint wireless therm, 300w heater, 2x korilia 3 Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR atm