If you need SW advice - ask an expert

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
F

fw180galma

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 15, 2005
25
0
0
49
Boston, Ma.
Well sort of.

I have been on many forums providing advice for all. Both Equiptment and fish.

I figured I'd make my donation to this community here.

I am experienced in all setups for just about anything you can Imagine up to 300gals.
I'm sure I can help with larger setups..

Anyway, ask away:
 
Thanks for the generous offer ! Whats equipment would you recommend for a fowlr tank
about 200 gallons above, filtration-wise? A tank of sw preds sounds appealing.
 
Well, welcome to MFK! I am sure your expertise will help many. SO, what are your personal set-ups running right now - Size, filtrations, lighting, stocking, etc., etc., etc.?? How long have you been in the hobby? I'm curious.

--Em
 
Hey redtail not to hijack the thread but, I'd get at least 15 times turn over for hour, the biggest skimmer you can and about 1.5 to 2 lbs of live rock per gallon of water. Any filters etc. that you have I'd strongly urge you to run empty to avoid nitrate issues down the road.
hth
Max
 
redtailfool;559263; said:
Thanks for the generous offer ! Whats equipment would you recommend for a fowlr tank
about 200 gallons above, filtration-wise? A tank of sw preds sounds appealing.
Click to expand...

Filtration wise, I personally Like the the all natural method.

Anyway,

For Aggressive SW species, your main source of filtration will be with a protein skimmer.
Keep in mind *most* are waaaay overrated.

For a 200gal+ tank, You'll want a skimmer that can Process Heavily Stocked 400gals per hour, Recirculating type Ideally.. like a EuroReef, MRC, ETSS, bubble king etc.

A sump with Live rock and a fuge is also my recommendation. As big as you can go...I personally would like to see a longer shallower tank for the fuge than deep.

You'll want only about 100-200GPH going through the fuge.

1 Good Sized basket style canister filter to run Carbon (optional but recommended)

1 UV steralizer...there is big debate over this, but in a FOWLR it really can't hurt...Again Very slow water movement Less than 100gph.

You can use maxijet powerhead for water movement or plumb in a closed loop system, Your choice depending on how extraveagent you want to go.



Keep in mind though...if you want sharks, they require very soft fine arragontite sand. and NO rocks...Rocks can be abbrasive and cut them creating a place for infections.

In this case I would recommend an oversized sump to keep 1lb/gal of live rock in.
 
water_baby83;559317; said:
Well, welcome to MFK! I am sure your expertise will help many. SO, what are your personal set-ups running right now - Size, filtrations, lighting, stocking, etc., etc., etc.?? How long have you been in the hobby? I'm curious.

--Em
Click to expand...

The systems are in my Siggy... I've been SW for 4yrs and FW for 15yrs.
I have a ton of tanks and maintain a good amount as well for others.

Due to my son, I do not keep any poisonous species, so I can help with them, but I can't give first hand advice on them.
 
Max;559326; said:
Hey redtail not to hijack the thread but, I'd get at least 15 times turn over for hour, the biggest skimmer you can and about 1.5 to 2 lbs of live rock per gallon of water. Any filters etc. that you have I'd strongly urge you to run empty to avoid nitrate issues down the road.
hth
Max
Click to expand...


Although not Bad start...15x turnover is ok, min is 10x turnover, but you can count all the devices combined as well. FOWLR doesn't count on huge turnovers..

If you have a ballanced system you will not have Nitrate issues regardless of filters. A large fuge is the best way to get rid of nitrates.
 
lol, Unless you're talking about ponies the more water flow the better off your critters are. In a reef as long as the water isn't whirlpooling you're ok. Filter pads cause a lot of people major nitrate issues, the only think I ever run in mine is the occasional handfull of activated carbon to remove meds etc.

Fuges are great ways to reduce nitrates and to grow critters that might have a hard time in your main tank. You don't have to get one though if you have enough live rock and don't overstock. I also think that uv is pretty highly over rated if you keep your water quality up and use a q.t. tank for new introductions you shouldn't ever need it. IMHO your money would be far better spent on more filtration or a better skimmer.
hth
Max
 
Max;559357; said:
lol, Unless you're talking about ponies the more water flow the better off your critters are. In a reef as long as the water isn't whirlpooling you're ok. Filter pads cause a lot of people major nitrate issues, the only think I ever run in mine is the occasional handfull of activated carbon to remove meds etc.

Fuges are great ways to reduce nitrates and to grow critters that might have a hard time in your main tank. You don't have to get one though if you have enough live rock and don't overstock. I also think that uv is pretty highly over rated if you keep your water quality up and use a q.t. tank for new introductions you shouldn't ever need it. IMHO your money would be far better spent on more filtration or a better skimmer.
hth
Max
Click to expand...

I give basics...if you wish to increase flow (which usualy equals more money) then thats up to you.

I wouldn't necessarily say the more water flow the better....Unless you are talking about SPS corals...then it's almost near impossible to have to much flow.


I guess the best way to explain it...is if your tank has tons of dead spots due to amounts of live rock and such...It's better to have 10x of directed flow (meaning strategicly placed closed loops or powerheads) than 20X flow coming out of the overflows blowing across
the top..

Also true enough about the UV....but I always assume that the newby beginners isn't going to spend the time setting up a QT...Anyone that i've seen have bad results with UV have had too much flow going through it and not enough Dwell time. 50-100 gph is max. Which is a tiny pico pump sometimes...

Which brings up and AWSOME point...ALWAYS QT...

Also i'm not sure what size tank you have...

But once you get over 200+ gals the rules change a bit.

As in you don't really have to cycle the tank the way you would a smaller tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom