I bought this skimmer.....http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4392+4400&pcatid=4400 and Im gonna get this light CD-21108, 199.99.....https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12772&prodid=25123&catid=3..................... I don't mind waiting to get the fish hopefully by then the tank would be fully cycled. Only fish I know Im gonna get as of now(not now) are 2 or 3 clown fish. BTW do I get a clean up crew after the cycle or during. I was told to get them before I add any fish but I don't know when to get them before or after cycle. Thanks for the help so far, i will be asking many more questions so bear with me!! i want to do this right, I already made a mistake by adding the salt to the tank instead of mixing it first and I hope its the last mistake I make.Pufferpunk;1113647; said:
Cloudy water, new set up. Is this normal??
- Thread starter ahfu25
- Start date
if you're running only a FOWLR, then you don't need such strong lights. It will heat your tank a bit & PCs really are all you need. Look on Ebay, you can find a 48" light for $150 shipped.
As far as the skimmer, I think you'll be much happier with this a Coralife Super Skimmer 125. When I bought mine, it was only $127. It looks like the price has gone up a lot now.
Add all your live creatures after the tank is cycle. Do you have test kits for mmonia, nitrite, nitrate & pH? IMO, it doesn't matter if you mix the salt in the tank, as long as there are no live animals in there. After that, you'll have to mic it somewhere else.
As far as the skimmer, I think you'll be much happier with this a Coralife Super Skimmer 125. When I bought mine, it was only $127. It looks like the price has gone up a lot now.
Add all your live creatures after the tank is cycle. Do you have test kits for mmonia, nitrite, nitrate & pH? IMO, it doesn't matter if you mix the salt in the tank, as long as there are no live animals in there. After that, you'll have to mic it somewhere else.
"Power Compact"--although, if you're really only keeping fish in there, regular flourescent lighting is fine too.
......4 dollars a pound, 50 pounds = 200 that I would Have spent on that light.
Better idea! Check to see if you have a local reef club in your area. Sometims folks are selling cured, coraline-covered LR from their tanks for $1/lb.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=80
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=80
I wouldn't go with normal flourescents.
That's all you need for viewing the fish but I think you'll be happier with some healthy coraline. 1. Coralline somewhat keeps other ugly unwanted algaes from growing on your rock. 2. It's nice to look at. Plain rock really isn't that great looking, and with too low a light level they usually start growing brown algaes and stuff.
Rock with some coralline growth.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb142/anostomusternetzi/20longwrock.jpg
(pic is cloudy from when I got done moving the stuff over from the 75g. Ignore the little purple "rock" on the sand bed, that's a polyp colony that's not out, not a rock, lol)
Wish I had a better and recent closeup of one of my rocks, but my fish are asleep right now.
Looks better than rock covered in green or brown stuff.
If you get good live rock that already has coralline you'll definately want more than just a couple of flourescent bulbs, because if coralline starts to die it turns white. Plus, I know you're not planning on a reef tank, but you'll still get some small interesting critters on your rock with a little better lighting, and while it's nice to view fish, one of the major pluses of saltwater is the stuff you get to see on your rock.
You don't need the lights you were originally planning on though.
This would suffice.
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+9654+9871&pcatid=9871
I think you'll be happy with the Coralife skimmer. I have a 220g Super Skimmer and it's easy to use and works good.
And nothing wrong if you'd rather skimp on the lights and go for live rock. Live rock is infinately more important because it's your filtration, but if you want something that looks nice too you'll be better off with better lighting and as much live rock as possible on your budget.
That's all you need for viewing the fish but I think you'll be happier with some healthy coraline. 1. Coralline somewhat keeps other ugly unwanted algaes from growing on your rock. 2. It's nice to look at. Plain rock really isn't that great looking, and with too low a light level they usually start growing brown algaes and stuff.
Rock with some coralline growth.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb142/anostomusternetzi/20longwrock.jpg
(pic is cloudy from when I got done moving the stuff over from the 75g. Ignore the little purple "rock" on the sand bed, that's a polyp colony that's not out, not a rock, lol)
Wish I had a better and recent closeup of one of my rocks, but my fish are asleep right now.
Looks better than rock covered in green or brown stuff.
If you get good live rock that already has coralline you'll definately want more than just a couple of flourescent bulbs, because if coralline starts to die it turns white. Plus, I know you're not planning on a reef tank, but you'll still get some small interesting critters on your rock with a little better lighting, and while it's nice to view fish, one of the major pluses of saltwater is the stuff you get to see on your rock.
You don't need the lights you were originally planning on though.
This would suffice.
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+9654+9871&pcatid=9871
I think you'll be happy with the Coralife skimmer. I have a 220g Super Skimmer and it's easy to use and works good.
And nothing wrong if you'd rather skimp on the lights and go for live rock. Live rock is infinately more important because it's your filtration, but if you want something that looks nice too you'll be better off with better lighting and as much live rock as possible on your budget.
