setup advice, 46 bowfront reef

getting a 46 bowfront tank/stand/and light this weekend, Im not sure of the lights wattage, but that I can take care of...I need help determining filtering methods though, I know I need some form of filter, a skimmer, a few powerheads...should I have a UV sterilizer?...so I have read canisters are no good on a reef tank, so whats the best "affordable" option, should I look for a used wet/dry, or sump...or is a HOB filter/skimmer acceptable, I was thinking about using a 2 inch deep black sand bed(saw they sell black live sand somewhere) and about 40-50 pounds of live rock depending on price...I saw a HOB combo filter skimmer that was 400 GPH would that do it? also what size and how many powerheads should I have, I was gonna use the Hydor koralias

 

What you want is a AquaC remora. And one or two Korila powerheads...

Spend a few extra bucks up front, and save a fortune in livestock later.
!!!!


Have fun.

Good Luck!

 

thanks omard, so just the aqua c remora skimmer and 1 or two good koralia powerheads is all I'd need, no filter?

 

oh and how many watts should the heater be, the room temp is usually between 65-80 all year, normally around 72-75ish...i was thinking 300watts but if I can use less it'd be nice, oh and yes I am gonna put a ground probe in it...

 

Live rock and live sand will do. If you are going for a reef tank, you will need around 1.5 to 2 pounds per gallon of LR. Also, I would suggest aragonite sand. That and a GOOD quality skimmer as omarD suggested will do you just fine. I wouldn't bother with any other filtration (like a Fluval or the like).

Your sump/fuge should be as large as you can fit underneath the tank. The more water the better. I would consider making your own.....to your own specs. You can do this by modifying an existing tank or constructing one out of acrylic.

Your flow should be around 20 to 25 times the gallonage of your tank. So depending on your return flow rate from the fuge, that will determine which Koralias (and how many)you purchase.

And BTW, you are going to hear a lot of different opinions in this department. Just warning you!!!

Have fun. Peace.......John.

 

so then I do need an additional setup in the form of a sump, and yeah its a reef tank, so Im am gonna add 40-50 pounds of rock depending on price...

 

LR usually runs on the average $7/lb. You cannot lose with this investment though. Do not let the price get you down. Your SW ride will be much smoother with the proper amount of LR in your system. You can start off with 40 to 50 pounds and work your way up to 80 a little at a time. It is the best filtration you can get IMO.

Remember aragonite sand. There is a sand calculator to the left of the home page here that will give you the cost of putting in sand. You will have to decide whether you want a shallow or deep sand bed. I went shallow. Two inches. I don't know enough about the DSB to comment on it. Read through the forums. It will, however, double the price.

A sump is basically another fish tank below your display, adding volume to the system and housing your gear (thermometer, skimmer, return pump, filter sock (if you go this route), etc.). If the sump is big enough, you can divide some of it off and make a refugium. A fuge is a place where you can install a DSB with some macroalgae to help keep the nitrates in check. Building your own is the way to go. It is not that hard and you can save a lot of cash.

Good on the ground probe. Excellent.

300W heater is too much. You don't need it. 200W will suffice. And get a submersible one.

Also, do you have air conditioning?

And where are you going to place the tank? Do not place it in direct sunlight.

Ooops....off to play video games.......my boy is calling me.

Peace.......John.

 

I was gonna go with a 2 inch sand bed, yes to the air conditioning, no to the direct sunlight...so all should be well there, being that the tank is only 36 inches wide (bowfront tank) will the 10-15 gallons I can hold in a sump make a large difference in performance since I will be using an aqua C remora HOB skimmer, and I was gonna add a box around the pump so if takes surface water into it to reduce the buildup on the surface, I really dont mind keeping after the water level or having stuff like the heater in the tank...so do I need the sump, I would get one in the future for sure, but to get the tank running AND being healthy do I need it, It wont be heavily stocked for awhile just do to it being new and price of stocking it...I was gonna put my bluefin damsel in first to get him out of my nano, I like the fish but even though hes not agressive twords my bangai he is always swimming around at warp speed disturbing the other fish.

 

Yes to the sump. Whatever you can put under there, do it. If it only ten gallons, then it is ten gallons, you just increased your total system water volume by 20%. With a sump though, you want to be able to take it out without disturbing the mother ship. So if it developes a leak (thanks Reeron) you will be covered.

And you will not be stocking it at all for awhile. You will let it cycle. The die off from the live rock should start it off no problem. No fish. That was a mistake I made at the advise of my LFS. I was told one inch per twenty gallons, which would be two damsels for you. Evidently, this is not the way to do it. I just ended up killing fish. Without the skimmer in the sump, you could easily baffle it off and turn it into a fuge. Very easily. Look at a 15 gallon tall and see if the dimensions will work for you.

While you are setting up the tank, you should get it all done at once while everything is in pieces. It will make life easier for you.

Peace.......John.

 

Oh....and good on the air conditioning. You won't need a chiller. Unless you run the wicked hot metal halide array......and I am not sure on that. I am about to convert to MH and I am getting nervous. My wife is about to revolt on me. She seems to think this is an expensive hobby. I wonder where she got that idea.