Need some questions answered

I am not a complete noob with saltwater. I had a tank for about 10 months but due to some things I had to break the tank down. Now that I am a little more stable in my living situation I want to maybe dive into saltwater again, but this time do it right.

Last time I had a 20g, with a aquonero protein skimmer, a ac70 HOB filter with sponges and biomax and heater for equipment. Lighting was a deepblue fixture. I went with the TB saltwater route which sets you up almost instantly with an amazing saltwater tank but I got more then I really wanted or needed. This time I want to go with my own rock, and build to my liking, even if it takes months to seed.

So here are my questions.

1. Does my equipment sound good if I want to do it again with a 29g possibly? I would love to do a sump but I have yet to try it and am quite intimidated by it.

2. Salt creeping on the equipment was very annoying. Is there anything people do to help this or is it something you have to clean every week or 2?

3. My aquanero was full almost every day or 2. Is it common that I would have to dump/clean this every other day?

4. I also have a 150g, 90g, 55g, and a 29g. I have the equipment to possibly do a sump for the bigger tanks, but I have everything needed for the 29g I think. Would I have a better experience starting with a bigger tank or should I start small again, get a hang of it, and upgrade when the time is right?

I think that is all my questions for now. Thank in advanced for your answers!

 

1.Your equipment sounds fine. The HOB is not perfect but will work as long as you clean it regularly.Sumps can be scary but as long as its done properly they are a valuable addition to any fishtank!!
2. I rarely have salt creep on anything except down in my sump were it is easily cleaned and even if not you can't see it.lol With todays light fixtures it is possible to hang them much higher on the tank eleiminating much on your fixture. Hob's can accumulate salt but thats the nature of using that style filter.
3.Thats not exactly a bad thing. Your skimmer is doing its job but perhaps the reason it filled so quickly was caused by an overstock of animals, or from overfeeding,or both.
4. When I was running a Nano (24gallon) and my 90 at the same time. I spent 75% of my time messing with the nano!!!IMO a bigger tank is much more stable and less likely that a small mistake becomes a huge problem. The more water volume the less likely it is to have major swings in parameters and buffers our accidents much better.
Good luck!!!

 

What would you suggest other than the HOB?

 

A sump.

 

haha, yeah of course. What kind of things is best for a sump for a smaller tank? Just some liverock and sand and chaeto?

 

Actually you can use it for a myriad of things. Chaeto,a place to add carbon,GFO,LR, it is also a good place to hide equipment like skimmers (allows you to use a much safer in sump skimmer).

 

Vinny is right, sumps are the way to go. I went without one on my 55 for a while but once I upgraded I will never go back. Grow some macro algae, farm some pods and hide your equipment! also, its a better place to add water/dose if needed

 

You can do a simple reef stocked with hardy (and colorful) soft corals and LPS with minimal filtration, as long as you take several precautions to avoid algae hell.

First, start with mostly dry rock and introduce only 1 small piece of live rock from a healthy, pest-algae free tank to avoid introducing any viable populations of pest algae. This takes longer to cycle, but it does definitely help. Also, be picky about your corals, don't buy anything with suspicious looking algae on it, and remove bubble algae if it's on the frag plug or rock.


Second, commit yourself to very light feedings and stock very lightly. This is the key.


Third, stock fast growing soft corals first, like green stars and anthelia. The more of these you have, the more they compete with algae for nutrients.


My 11g tank has 4 small fish and gets fed only a pinch of flake or wafer every day (dry food), and has a ton of coral frags, and very very little algae to be seen. I do have to clean the front every three days or so, but I have no skimmer, no HOB filter, no sump, no mechanical filtration, no activated carbon, and no GFO, and I only do occasional water changes (ie, not often). Essentially, it's just water, LED lights, two powerheads, and a wavemaker (optional ).


I don't actually suggest you go totally filter-free, but I am suggesting you stock lightly, feed lightly, and stock as much fast growing soft corals as you can if you're looking to stay cheap.

 

My thing with sumps is I dont know where to start. I have a 55g I want to set up as a sump for my 150g freshwater tank but I am so intimidated.

 

Vinnyboombatz hit it right on the nose...small tanks have more trouble with water parameters...Nitrates being the biggest problem,and a sump is the way to go!!!I had a 24 gal nano(wet dry)...and a 29 gal(10 gal sump)...I now have a 90 gal with a 30 gal sump.Ive learned the smaller the tank the bigger the problems.With a smaller tank simple water changes not done correctly may cause you and your fish/inverts/corals to have a very bad day.Having a sump; makes water changes easier,less clutter in your display,and creates more water movement(which means better filtration)as well as the perks it comes along with...being able to maintain a population of copepods,placing Mangroves in sump which reduces nitrates.Adding a sump is the best way to go!!!!


90 GALLON DISPLAY
IN DISPLAY TANK;

180 LBS FIJI PREMIUM LIVE ROCK
95 LBS LIVE SAND
(2) 50 GPH POWERHEADS(CARBON STUFFED)
(2) 1300 GPH POWER HEADS

LIGHTING IN DISPLAY;
T5 NOVAS 48 INCH(6 BULB FIXTURES)
48 INCH MARINLAND L.E.D REEF LIGHTING(18K)
48 INCH (24) BLUE LED MOONLIGHT

30 GALLON SUMP
IN SUMP;
40 LBS LIVE SAND
15 LBS FIJI PREMIUM LIVE ROCK.
35 LBS REFUGIUM RUBBLE
PHOSBAN REACTOR(150)
10 WATT U.V STEROLIZER (DONT HAVE AN ICK PROB)BUT BETTER SAFE THEN SORRY
CORALIFE SUPER SKIMMER(120)
(ELITE) 200 WATT HEATER
(10)MANGROVES

LIGHTING ;
IN SUMP
30-90 WATT FLOOD LAMP

FISH
SAILFIN TANG,YELLOW TANG,BLUE HIPPO TANG,DIAMOND WATCHMAN GOBY,SIZZORTAIL GOBY,BLUE DAMSEL(6) BLUE GREEN CHROMIS(4)ENGINEER GOBY

CORALS AND INVERTS
BLUE RICORDEA,SEBAE ANENOME,DUNCAN POLYPS,BROWN BUTTON POLYPS,RED AND PURPLE MUSHROOMS COLONY(6) SKUNK SHRIMP (3) CAMEL SHRIMP(6)PEPPERMINT SHRIMP(8)MEXICAN TURBO SNAILS,(6)CERITH SNAILS,(4)ZEBRA SNAILS(5)RED LEGGED HERMIT CRABS,(5) BLUE LEGGED HERMIT CRABS,

IN SUMP;
(2)GREEN EMERALD CRABS
(5) BLUE LEGGED HERMIT CRABS
(5) RED LEGGED HEMIT CRABS

TO tHoSe WhO rOcK...WiTh A fiLTeR sOcK.....
>>>>>>> I SOLUTE YOU <<<<<<<<