Just want to make sure I'm doing this right.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
An emerald crab would work just fine. They cost about 7 to 9 dollars at your LFS. I actually have 2 of them.

Yeah we have them locally for $8, I just saw them and thought I had to have them.

I've read they can be aggressive towards other crabs or snails, do you have yours with hermits?


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Yeah we have them locally for $8, I just saw them and thought I had to have them.

I've read they can be aggressive towards other crabs or snails, do you have yours with hermits?


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They can sometimes be aggressive but i dont have any problems. My hermits usually stay away from him. The only real problem i have is my hermits attacking eachother.


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Ok cool. Thanks for the info buddy it has been extremely helpful. I'll definitely keep you guys updated with progress.


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We like pics too :-)

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I'm gonna disagree with the others about removing the HOB and I'll tell ya why -

For starers saltwater should move at the least, 10x the volume of the tank per hr. The maxi-jet 400 is rated @ 106 gal per hr for freshwater, even less for salt and they are WAY overrated, in other words, they don't move as much water as they claim IMO. Get a pair of Hydor's rated flow of 100gph per hr in saltwater. 2nd - Gas exchange takes place in turbulent fast moving water with atmospheric contact- ie; Waterfalls, rapids, waves,etc.
The HOB simulates this. Although I'm not a big fan of the HOB impeller design for saltwater it will exchange Nitrogen gas, co2, + oxygen. The majority of the O2 your tank gets is thru surface contact of fast moving water, much more so than regular W/C's - keep the HOB.

You need all this "running + moving" water more so in salt systems because there are far more elements in the water than fresh that need to stay in suspension (mixed up with the h20). The suspension of these elements is important for stability of your PH + Alk. Some of these elements are heavy like sodium, calcium, and magnesium, without proper flow they will seperate and wreck havoc on your mechanical filtration parts as well as your fishes comfort zone.
 
I'm gonna disagree with the others about removing the HOB and I'll tell ya why -

For starers saltwater should move at the least, 10x the volume of the tank per hr. The maxi-jet 400 is rated @ 106 gal per hr for freshwater, even less for salt and they are WAY overrated, in other words, they don't move as much water as they claim IMO. Get a pair of Hydor's rated flow of 100gph per hr in saltwater. 2nd - Gas exchange takes place in turbulent fast moving water with atmospheric contact- ie; Waterfalls, rapids, waves,etc.
The HOB simulates this. Although I'm not a big fan of the HOB impeller design for saltwater it will exchange Nitrogen gas, co2, + oxygen. The majority of the O2 your tank gets is thru surface contact of fast moving water, much more so than regular W/C's - keep the HOB.

You need all this "running + moving" water more so in salt systems because there are far more elements in the water than fresh that need to stay in suspension (mixed up with the h20). The suspension of these elements is important for stability of your PH + Alk. Some of these elements are heavy like sodium, calcium, and magnesium, without proper flow they will seperate and wreck havoc on your mechanical filtration parts as well as your fishes comfort zone.

Circulation was definitely my main concern about taking the HOB off. I left it on last night, I unplugged it for a little bit and just from looking at the tank I could tell there wasn't enough current, even if it was a freshwater tank I wouldn't be happy. I think I'll be leaving it on, but what should I use in it? Just a sponge? Keep running carbon?


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use nothing. just let it push water and thats it
 
Agreed - Nothing while the tank cycles, you want dissolved protiens to fuel the inital nitrogen cycle. However your flow rate is still off, like I said get 2 hydor circulation pumps each rated for 100 gal per hr saltwater. Attach them to the sides of the tank facing each other and the rockwork. I would upgrade the HOB to a HOB skimmer but that's just me, not really needed for fish only. If you stick with the HOB, after the cycling add Purgien or Chem-pure Elite for chemical filtration so as the HOB isn't just an oversized Powerhead with the wrong type of impeller construction for saltwater.
 
What about bio balls or some such? Would he be able to put those in the HOB? Or would that be kind of pointless because all of his bacteria is already in the LR? Random thought: Sand and a mangrove shoot?
 
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