Its been about 10 years

Scuba Tim · 12/19/2011, 05:22 PM

I am setting up a 30 gallon fish only tank, i have an emperor 400 filter it has 2 filter compartments...thinkin one could be used for a refugium compartment if even needed. Im kinda lost but hoping to get pointed in the right direction. Ive read on here about ro/di water, cycling the tank and quarantine the fish for 4 weeks, do i need live rock, and live sand for fish only. I know im jumping all over the place, but im anxious to get started since it takes so long to get tank cycled. I just want to start with the right stuff to insure success in this hobby...Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Tim

seapug · 12/19/2011, 05:33 PM

You don't need live rock for a Fish Only tank (with most species of fish), but setting the tank up with at least a couple pieces can introduce bacteria, microfauna and coralline algae that will improve the overall long term health of the system as well as make it "smell and feel" more natural to the fish.

You can get away with your HOB filter but adding an overflow (drilled or external) and setting up a simple sump with a return pump can make the display look much less cluttered as all the filters, heaters, power cables, etc. can be concealed out of view.

seapug · 12/19/2011, 05:34 PM

You don't need live rock for a Fish Only tank (with most species of fish), but setting the tank up with at least a couple pieces can introduce bacteria, microfauna and coralline algae that will improve the overall long term health of the system as well as make it "smell and feel" more natural to the fish.

You can get away with your HOB filter but adding an overflow (drilled or external) and setting up a simple sump with a return pump can make the display look much less cluttered as all the filters, heaters, power cables, etc. can be concealed out of view.

aarond21 · 12/19/2011, 06:34 PM

Welcome back Tim. Everyone has their own opinion on setting up tanks. Ive had this same set up your starting up, and loved it. Mine had 25lbs of live rock and 40 pounds of sand, that gave me about a 3" sand bed and worked great. I used the emperor 400 as is just used the 2 filter pads, but I added a lot of carbon to them. I also ran a protein skimmer on mine. My opinion for the live rock and sand is yes. As for RO/DI water thats the only water Ill use in any of my setups. There is tons of info out there for you to read on and make your own opinions on your set up, and I'm sure more people will give you their's. Good luck and welcome back.

thebkramer · 12/19/2011, 06:39 PM

Welcome Back!!

here are some great links to get you back in the hobby

WaterKeepers New to RC
WaterKeepers New to RC2
WaterKeepers Newbies Info
Capns Log Book
Sk8rs-How to Start a Tank
Sk8rs Blog
RO/DI Unit

Scuba Tim · 12/19/2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aarond21

Welcome back Tim. Everyone has their own opinion on setting up tanks. Ive had this same set up your starting up, and loved it. Mine had 25lbs of live rock and 40 pounds of sand, that gave me about a 3" sand bed and worked great. I used the emperor 400 as is just used the 2 filter pads, but I added a lot of carbon to them. I also ran a protein skimmer on mine. My opinion for the live rock and sand is yes. As for RO/DI water thats the only water Ill use in any of my setups. There is tons of info out there for you to read on and make your own opinions on your set up, and I'm sure more people will give you their's. Good luck and welcome back.

Thanks for the info...did you use the sealed filter pads or the the fillable ones as well, you also mentioned protein skimmer where would that be placed? did you keep the bio wheels aswell? Thanks again, and its good to be back!

aarond21 · 12/23/2011, 12:43 AM

I had a small skimmer that hung right next to my HOB. I used sealed filter pads bought a bulk lot on ebay then bought a bulk thing of carbon, cut the top open enough to stick a spoon in and filled as much as I could. I did run my bio wheels in my set up.

12/19/2011, 05:22 PM	#1
Scuba Tim Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 5	Its been about 10 years I am setting up a 30 gallon fish only tank, i have an emperor 400 filter it has 2 filter compartments...thinkin one could be used for a refugium compartment if even needed. Im kinda lost but hoping to get pointed in the right direction. Ive read on here about ro/di water, cycling the tank and quarantine the fish for 4 weeks, do i need live rock, and live sand for fish only. I know im jumping all over the place, but im anxious to get started since it takes so long to get tank cycled. I just want to start with the right stuff to insure success in this hobby...Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Tim

12/19/2011, 05:33 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	You don't need live rock for a Fish Only tank (with most species of fish), but setting the tank up with at least a couple pieces can introduce bacteria, microfauna and coralline algae that will improve the overall long term health of the system as well as make it "smell and feel" more natural to the fish. You can get away with your HOB filter but adding an overflow (drilled or external) and setting up a simple sump with a return pump can make the display look much less cluttered as all the filters, heaters, power cables, etc. can be concealed out of view. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

12/19/2011, 05:34 PM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	You don't need live rock for a Fish Only tank (with most species of fish), but setting the tank up with at least a couple pieces can introduce bacteria, microfauna and coralline algae that will improve the overall long term health of the system as well as make it "smell and feel" more natural to the fish. You can get away with your HOB filter but adding an overflow (drilled or external) and setting up a simple sump with a return pump can make the display look much less cluttered as all the filters, heaters, power cables, etc. can be concealed out of view. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

12/19/2011, 06:39 PM	#5
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	Welcome Back!! here are some great links to get you back in the hobby WaterKeepers New to RC WaterKeepers New to RC2 WaterKeepers Newbies Info Capns Log Book Sk8rs-How to Start a Tank Sk8rs Blog RO/DI Unit __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

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12/19/2011, 06:34 PM	#4
aarond21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 109	Welcome back Tim. Everyone has their own opinion on setting up tanks. Ive had this same set up your starting up, and loved it. Mine had 25lbs of live rock and 40 pounds of sand, that gave me about a 3" sand bed and worked great. I used the emperor 400 as is just used the 2 filter pads, but I added a lot of carbon to them. I also ran a protein skimmer on mine. My opinion for the live rock and sand is yes. As for RO/DI water thats the only water Ill use in any of my setups. There is tons of info out there for you to read on and make your own opinions on your set up, and I'm sure more people will give you their's. Good luck and welcome back.

12/23/2011, 12:43 AM	#7
aarond21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 109	I had a small skimmer that hung right next to my HOB. I used sealed filter pads bought a bulk lot on ebay then bought a bulk thing of carbon, cut the top open enough to stick a spoon in and filled as much as I could. I did run my bio wheels in my set up.