couple noob questions

Hey guys, i'm about to setup my first saltwater setup ever, and my first tank in a little over 5 years, so please bear with me. I'm planning on doing a 125 FOWLR for a while and then maybe upgrading to a reef, or just getting another setup for a reef later on (just dont tell the fiancee ;D).

I have a smallish wet dry filter my uncle gave to me awhile ago driven by a rio 2100. I'm looking to put a protein skimmer in there also, but am limited on the footprint and a water level of just over 4", so i was looking to get a marineland 100 pro off ebay for $150. Is there anything else i should be looking at thats around that price range (shipped) with a similar footprint?

Next up is live rock / sand (good lord this crap is pricey). i've gotten my hands on 25# from craigslist thats in a bucket with a small powerhead. i also picked up 20# bio-active aragonite sand stuff. theres another guy with 50# of live rock for sale, along with some 80# of cycled and non-cycled sand. My question is how do i go about adding this hodge-podge assortment to the tank to get it ready to cycle? What gets cleaned / scrubbed, and what does not??

And lastly is it ok to have the output of the wetdry like 12" from the overflow, or should they be on opposite sides of the tank? i have a 1200 gph powerhead i can put at the other end . . . would that be ok?

thanks for any help!!

~Will.

 

I will let someone else answer your skimmer and wet dry questions... As for the live rock and live sand. you dont have to use all live stuff. you can use the 20lbs of LS you already have and mix it with dry sand. you dont need all the live sand. your cycle may last a little bit longer, but that is worth saving $100 i think. Also, for your live rock, you can use base rock for a good portion of it. the base rock will become live rock in time.
The only thing you should clean/scrub is any DRY product. rinse the DRY sand and rock, but dont rinse anything LIVE.

 

thanks very much, that clears up alot for me . . . now if i could just get some info on the skimmer and overflow in / out positions i should be set for awhile.

~Will.

 

YOU CAN HAVE THE RETURN 12" from the overflow but point it away from the overflow, and you will need more power heads than just 1

 

+1 above makes sence

- Your return water needs to be as far away from your overflow as practical

this stops the same water being repeatedly sent through the filter

Skimmer - sorry cant help, use Hang on back skimmer myself

Steve

 

I have a Seastorm 75 PS from Sealife Systems, I'm no expert and can't review in context of other skimmers, but it's active, it makes foam, it gets to the collection cup. They make a 150 version for around $170. I haven't heard anything bad about them (but probably will now...lol).

As for over flow and return...with a good PH/wavemaker as long as the output isn't directed into the overflow you should have enough current that 12" is plenty. For comparison, my intake and out put are about 6" apart, and when it barfs up a bubble I don't see many shoot right back into the overflow.

Also, your 1200gph power head is fine and all, but you'll want at least one more. Also, if you start looking at wavemakers and multiple power heads then you might look at the Vortech MP40W, I have one in my 58 that's pushing about 2400 gph in a standing wave, it moves LR rubble around, and pushed sand around in every corner and in caves...they're an awesome piece of equipment, and for $400 they're comparable to 2-3 PH's and a wavemaker box in price. Also keeps the tank cooler by having the motor outside the tank. good stuff.

-Doug

 

For the rock, I would scrub everything and personally, I would also "nuke" it. By this I mean to soak in a mix of water and bleach, wash it and soak it in a mixture of water and baking soda, then let it dry. That way you will know exactly what's going into your tank and you will not inherit some body else's problem.

 

just buy some play sand from Lowes or Home depot

 

my home depot has some "natural play sand" and at $3 for 50# i dont see how i can not get the stuff. its really fine and a nice light color, i just heard you have to rinse it a whole lot, is that correct? i'm planning on getting 2 bags, then adding my 20# of bio-sand to it after its washed and in the tank (120# total).

i was thinking about scrubbing the rock, but i feel like i want all that living stuff to go into the tank during its first cycle. i got a couple hermit crabs living in the bucket with the LR with a pump running, could the crabs act like canaries in a coal mine? i.e if they die off its a good indication to scrub and re-cure the rock?

i picked up a koralia 4 and i love the way it looks, so i will pick up another one sooner or later. dont know if i can justify dropping 4 bills on a huge powerhead / wave maker setup at this time . . . maybe someday tho.

and some awesome news, i found a 6 stage 100 gpd RO/DI unit on craigslist that i'll be picking up tomorrow on the cheap. and i ordered my skimmer and bio balls for the wet/dry. hoping to get the stand finished by friday / saturday and as soon as i get the media and the skimmer i can start the cycle, and the hood!

thanks for all the help so far, i really appreciate it!

~Will.