Taking a leap

Tomorrow I am going to turn my 50 gal FW tank into a salt tank. Pretty excited, not going to lie. This picture is my tank as of right now. I will post pics when I have it all done.

The filtration that I have on my 26gal( aqua remora hob skimmer and tetra ex 70 hob filter) is all i will have until i can upgrade my skimmer. I will buy more live rock and have 50 plus lbs of it. I will also be doing weekly 15 to 20 % water changes.

I have a fluval canister filter that I was using for the 50 fw. Should I use that? Not sure if is worth buying all new filter media.

Amy thoughts?

 

first of all congrats ;D the tank looks good, I like the scape.

a few questions though what lights are you running, do you have you levels on nitrates-nitrites-phosphates-ammionia, EXT. and how long has it been up and running?

I have used a canister filter on my 20 gallon and can say dont do it. there is a palce for the use of one but IMO not on a saltwater tank, It just produced alot of nitrates.


water changes are my saving grace for keeping teh water in good shape I think that helps more than the skimmers and filters. some people dont use filters on tanks that small they just change the water and it keeps eveerything happy and healthy.

again cool tank

 

Thank you very much! This tank has been my baby ever since I started it like 4 months ago. I actually had my numbers checked today and everything was perfect. So if there is any time to switch tanks, i thought tomorrow would be the day.

You may have not have heard correctly i DO in fact have a skimmer, aqua remora, i think it is actually rated for a 65 or 70 gal. Not sure, but I agree they help out a lot. I just heard it was better to go bigger.

 

The lights I have as of right now is a ho t5 2 bulb fixture. So I will be putting all my coals to the side the light is on and will be using the regular fixture with a coral Sun bulb. I only have 5 corals but they are all low lighters and I think will be OK for couple weeks until i get my led lights. That is, if I can figure out which one i want.

 

whoops LOL I did not get the memo ;D

I would not worry about the other filters at all then you might wasnt to concider takin themm out. or you caoul make then into a HOB refugium and run cheto in them.

I would not upgrade the skimmer, there id such thing as to big. I can say that you have more than enough filtration with that skimmer. I have read that if you go to big in the skimmer it wont function properly and cause more problems that it will good.

and sorry I cant read today I guess LOL

 

well for your tank I would look into the boost led bulbs I have three over my standered 20 gallon and love them. they dont get hot, lighting is perfect, I can grow anything I want from softied to SPS, and LPS. plus they give a discount if you buy more than 2.

 

No worries! That is good advise. I would like to get rid of the filter.... Is kinda a pain using to change the filters inside every month. I def wouldn't mind turning it into a refugium but how would I go about doing that and what are the benefits for having one.

 

I cant say from personal experiance but it can give you pod growth since they have a place of refuge LOL but it also lets you have a plant from of nitrate reduction. this will also help keep nuscence algae down in the DT.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/make-shift-hob-refugium-94868-3.html

there are a ton of links like this you just have to search for them

 

So I did it! 55 galllons of saltwater fun. Pretty stored on how if all went. Hopped over to the lfs yesterday and bought 28lbs of lr so that makes a combined 54lbs. Doesn't it look like less? Must be pretty dense rock.

Check out my scape and tell me what you think!