Looking for some of your advice

[aussiesk8]

Hi there guys,

I had posted about a year ago when i was considering setting up in marine but decided to give it a little more time.

Well i will have a fluval roma 200 litre setup 100 cm W x 40 cm D x 55 cm and its current occupants will be leaving it on wednesday.

I was thinking of converting this to marine at some point and would just like some of your recommendations.

I will probably be ugrading the fluval 205 filter to something with a bit more capacity.

What should i consider in terms of stocking that would work with the capacity available?

Thanks in advance for anyone taking time to reply to this thread and hopefully your recommendations will help me gather all the information i'll need to get started.

Aus

 

[fishy12]

I say a fu mancu lionfish and 2 black ocel clowns with anenomes and corals or if you don't want anenomes and corals a mantis shrimp such as peacock

 

[aussiesk8]

Thanks for your suggestions fishy12 i'll be sure to have a look into them.

As for the equipment side of things, what will i require initially to start off? Are there any items of equipment that i could get away without at first?

For those that use canisters as opposed to sumps are there any drawbacks?

I would have to get powerheads, r/o unit and a protein skimmer. Are uv filters a must initially?

Will live rock and sand assist the cycling? I know that i would also have to invest in the correct lighting if i was to have live rock.

Sorry about the rant and i am aware that these questions will be asked time and time again. I am working my way through all the threads to find out as much as i can.

Thanks

 

[Nighthawk]

If by uv you mean ultra violet then the answer is no. You don't need that initially or ever for that matter. Live rock can be the means by which you cycle your tank and it can also be the sole biological filter for the tank. Sumps and canisters are not needed. However a sump can come in handy for extra water capacity, a place for your skimmer (if you choose to use one), and heater. Many people use filter socks for the mechanical filtration in their sump. I do not have a sump, skimmer or UV. I use canisters for mechanical filtration and water flow. On my 180 I have 2 Magnum 350's with microns and an Eheim 2217 with floss and noodles. They are mechanical only and cleaned weekly. I also have 2 aqua clear 500's with nothing at all in them and 2 Koralia power heads for circulation. The tank has a large volitan lion and 2 medium size angels and a yellow tang. I keep nitrates in check with water changes. This works for me. There are many, many ways to set up a marine tank. YMMV.

 

[Nighthawk]

I forgot to mention that a canister filter can become a big nitrate factory in a marine system if used as the only means of filtration. Use your rocks for bio and canister for mechanical.

Lighting is unimportant in FOWLR. However, it becomes important if you want to grow coralline algae, macro algae, anemeones or coral.

 

[aussiesk8]

Thanks for the informative post, i kept the UV filter question seperately as i have heard it is something that is not required.

So in the instance of using live rock this will prevent an excess of nitrate build up with the canister filter when used in unison?

Also what do you keep in your canister filters, i currently use the sponge pads and cermaic rings as well as activated carbon. Are there any of these that should be omitted to prevent this excess build-up of nitrates? Obviously i will replace these with new media when i switch over.

I'll wade through some of the threads and if there is anything that i think im missing then i'll ask.

Andy

 

[Nighthawk]

The use of live rock and sand will help control the build up of nitrates. Live rock can house the bacteria that will consume nitrates. A deep sand bed (at least 6") can also house the bacteria that will consume nitrates. Macro algae will consume nitrates. A good skimmer will help get rid of waste before it is broken down by bacteria and becomes a part of the nitrogen cycle. The type of fish you keep and how many you keep along with their nutritional requirements will be a huge part of how much nitrate builds up in your tank. How often you do water changes and the quantity of water changed will also help determine the amount of nitrate in your system.

I use my canister filters for mechanical filtration only. I clean them once a week. There is no media in my aqua clears, I use them for circulation only. The Magnums have micron cartridges and the Eheim has noodles and floss. I used to use my canisters for biological, chemical and mechanical filtration. But I've seen for myself how using the live rock for biological filtration and the canisters for mechanical or mechanical/chemical is a huge benefit.

When you set up your tank you can buy a small amount of live rock and a larger amount of base rock. The live rock will seed the base rock. This will save you some money in your initial set up.

A skimmer is not necessary in a lightly stocked tank or a moderately stocked tank with macro algae. However, it will be a huge benefit if you plan on stocking your tank with lots of fish or fish that create large amounts of waste (lions, triggers, groupers, etc.) or if you decide to go with a full blown reef tank.

 

[TheCanuck]

The use of live rock and sand will help control the build up of nitrates. Live rock can house the bacteria that will consume nitrates. A deep sand bed (at least 6") can also house the bacteria that will consume nitrates. Macro algae will consume nitrates. A good skimmer will help get rid of waste before it is broken down by bacteria and becomes a part of the nitrogen cycle. The type of fish you keep and how many you keep along with their nutritional requirements will be a huge part of how much nitrate builds up in your tank. How often you do water changes and the quantity of water changed will also help determine the amount of nitrate in your system.

I use my canister filters for mechanical filtration only. I clean them once a week. There is no media in my aqua clears, I use them for circulation only. The Magnums have micron cartridges and the Eheim has noodles and floss. I used to use my canisters for biological, chemical and mechanical filtration. But I've seen for myself how using the live rock for biological filtration and the canisters for mechanical or mechanical/chemical is a huge benefit.

When you set up your tank you can buy a small amount of live rock and a larger amount of base rock. The live rock will seed the base rock. This will save you some money in your initial set up.

A skimmer is not necessary in a lightly stocked tank or a moderately stocked tank with macro algae. However, it will be a huge benefit if you plan on stocking your tank with lots of fish or fish that create large amounts of waste (lions, triggers, groupers, etc.) or if you decide to go with a full blown reef tank.

Very good info here. One thing though that live rock and sand will not eat nitrates. Only algae and other refrum plants will do this. Skimmer remove the waste before it can even break down. Water changes and skimmers remove nitrates. They can be weakened to smaller numbers though, but from my knowledge they can not be broken down by anything but the algae and plants.


Ill write up a stock list for you.

 

[Nighthawk]

I did not say that live rock or a deep sand bed would eat nitrates. I said it "can" house the bacteria that consume nitrates. Just because it can does not mean it will. There are many variables that will decide whether the bacteria that consume nitrates will or will not grow in these areas.

Skimmers do not remove nitrates. They remove waste before it is broken down and becomes part of the nitrogen cycle. If your nitrates are 100 ppm and you add a skimmer and nothing else your nitrates will not drop. They 'may' not rise but they will not drop. At least that's been my understanding.

 

[TheCanuck]

I did not say that live rock or a deep sand bed would eat nitrates. I said it "can" house the bacteria that consume nitrates. Just because it can does not mean it will. There are many variables that will decide whether the bacteria that consume nitrates will or will not grow in these areas.

Skimmers do not remove nitrates. They remove waste before it is broken down and becomes part of the nitrogen cycle. If your nitrates are 100 ppm and you add a skimmer and nothing else your nitrates will not drop. They 'may' not rise but they will not drop. At least that's been my understanding.

Correct about the skimmer.

To my knowledge there is no bacteria that can eat nitrAtes. Only amonia and nitrites. Water changes remove nitrates and adding a skimmer wont help current problems only future.

Algae and other pods things can eat nitrate. Thats why algae scrubbers are made, to remove nitrAtes.

BUT to add a little to what you said, technically live rock and live sand can reduce nitrates. Worms and hitch hikers can eat waste before its broken down, almost acting as a skimmer.

Nitrates will only ever be removed by water changes or refuigums. Also an algae scrubber.

Other things can reduce them.