Starting up.....

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Kcoastsurfguy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 18, 2009
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I know there is alot of debate and back and forth regarding setups using cannisters vs sumps vs skimmers, etc

I plan on adding a skimmer eventually (probably in a month or so, just want to do some more research first) but for inital set up wondering if I can get away with the live rock, 2 powerheads and possibly one of my canisters (if thats even nessacary)
 
you'll be fine in the long run. I set up my 75 sixth months ago and never used filtration. all i have on the tank now is a skimmer and four powerheads. just make sure you keep up with your water changes. I haven't experienced any problems with my tank, however, i'm moving everything into a 240 and i definitely plan on running a sump.
 
Thanks for the reply...

Im contimplating getting rid of my fresh stuff and going salt but figured Id start with my empty 90 or 75 first before moving to the bigger tanks (to see how I like it)

So the powerheads and rock will be good for awhile?
 
Ideally you want the water to filter thu 5-8x over - the more "running(tumbling)" water thru air the more 02 and other, gas exchange. Cannisters can move water, they can chemically filter water but fall short on gas exchanges and the ability to hold enuff biological filtetration for SW eco's.
More or less the cannister is a very large reactor. You'll get better gas exchange with HOB's

To answer your question yes but not ideal.
 
So better to have a HOB filter and powerheads for the initial start up?

Any advice on specific powerheads to look for as I have read varrying rexiews, tank will be a 90 gallon
 
Yes - Koralia's are great - hi output low watts, Better to have a sump but HOBs IMO are better than canisters w/ SW although many do use them.

To cut thru the Fat and get to the butter - Live Rock is your main filtration for the Nitrogen Cycle. The powerheads move the water across and into the LR where the biology/bacterea lives and converts. Although surface aggitation transfer gases you'd probably need waves to transfer as much as a HOB.
A sump is general designed for large volume flow, the exchange occurs best with faster moving water - the 1st and 3rd chambers of a 3 stage sump.

Protien skimmers are exactly what their named - they catch dissolved protiens and small solids with air bubbles then lift them out of the system into a cup. By removing this stuff from your system the bioload decreases as this stuff eventually becomes - ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. An added benefit is oxygen - the bubbles in the chamber grind away and dissolve then are released back into the system. This is ALL skimmers do. Although carbon can catch this stuff too it's probably not a good idea to run carbon fulltime. Unlike skimmers carbon can catch trace elements too that are essential for a marine enviorment.
 
Thanks for the advice...

Basically Im looking at just the live rock and a HOB at first while its cycling or just to get started cycling, then I can add the powerheads and protien skimmer down the line either during cycling or before any livestock is added.. just really shooting for a FOWLR.
 
Powerheads should be 1st w/HOB they move the water across the LR getting the ammonia into the lil' holes. HOB provides oxygen. You don't need a skimmer til' after you have fish - it's counter productive.You want dissolved protiens during the intial cycle.
 
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