20 gallon SW questions

[Andy16]

Ive been hoping to make my tank SW for months now and i still haev some questions. First of all, do i need a protein skimmer and a UV sterilizer? I know that LR is just about all the filtration i need, and i heard that you dont need bio-wheels yet other people say taht you should have one. I have a penguin so should i take out the bio-wheel? I decided that i am going to leave my HOB filters on sicne it cant hurt.
also, sicne the tank that ill be turning into SW is already cycled, would i need to cycle it again with new water, or just keep the water a add the salt, LR and LS?
i might be able to get LR from my brothers tank but im not sure yet. i hope so cuz i dont want to wait until i can afford it. How many pounds of LR will i need anyways?

thanks in advance!

[OrionGirl]

A protein skimmer will help immensely, but is not required. It helps remove dissolved nasties from the water, but many critters won't care--fish, and live rock, for example.

A UV is NOT needed--it's not even recommended. UV's work by killing everything that passes through them. In reef tanks, not only will this hinder the spread of good critters, but it kills off the food source for all the filter feeders (tube worms, feather dusters, etc). Quarantining new arrivals before adding them to the tank is a much better practice.

The biowheel is not needed. The bacteria will happily colonize the rock and sand, while the biowheel will end up clogged with salt creep--you'll be fiddling with it constantly, I think. I'd just pull it, and any other media, completely off. Use the external filter for moving water, and for chemical filtration if needed, rather than full time.

The bacteria that process ammonia/nitrites in FW will die in SW, so the tank will recycle. No way to avoid it. I would drain the tank completely, and add new, clean water, to avoid importing any detritus/wastes--these may well play havoc with your cycle. You'll want about 30-40 lbs of rock, total, but you can use base rock to supplement--so figure 20-30 lbs base, then 10-20 live rock.

What fish are you planning on having? Clean up crew?

[Ray Pollett]

OrionGirl gave you some good advice.

We disagree on one point( a point many in the hobby fall on both sides) ; I would continue to use the media inserts in the penguin.

Second if you have used any med with copper in the fresh water tank I would not use it for a saltwater tank. The copper is deadly to a lot of animals on the saltwater side. You can add one or two snails to your freshwater tank. If they live for about 2 weeks the tank Should be ok for most saltwate4r animals.

Ray

[mogurnda]

In general agreement. Dump the biowheel and don't bother with the UV. However, I would say that a good skimmer is a very important component of any SW system. It will get dissolved organics out of the tank before they are broken down to nitrate. This reduces the work your LR has to do. It helps aerate as an added bonus. IMO it acts as insurance in a fish-only system and is critical in a reef. For a 20, you can do well with a CPR BakPak 2R or an AquaC Remora.

[Ray Pollett]

Hi Mogurnda,

More and more people no long use protein skimmers on reef tanks. A lot of people have removed theirs with great success. A protein skimmer may actually remove wanted items ( for lack of a better word) from the water.

Ray

[mogurnda]

Clearly a matter of debate. I have seen several threads about it on Reef Central, and, as far as I can tell, there's no detectable benefit from removing the skimmer. As far as the economics, $120-$150 on a skimmer is a small expense in the long term.
Since I have always skimmed, I can't offer firsthand experience. Both you and OrionGirl are experienced aquarists, so the fact that you have had successful reefs without skimmers is worth listening to.
I was just offering an opinion based on what I consider to be mainstream thinking.

[OrionGirl]

Guess this tank didn't look to be a reef setup to me. I agree that the benefits of the skimmer in a reef far outway any complaints about cost. However, unlike salt, they are not required for a salt water tank. I've run the tank either way, and think the benefits of the skimmer are noticable for many corals. In the FO, not so much.

[mogurnda]

Here's my initial statement:
IMO it acts as insurance in a fish-only system and is critical in a reef If we limit it to FO systems, then I have to admit that I was skimmerless in the dark ages and things were fine.

[Andy16]

This wont be a reef tank when i first get it going. It might be in like a year or so when i can afford the lighting and all the other stuff. So i dont think im going to buy a protein skimmer right away. Ill end up buying one later but id rather wait until i have enough money to buy a really nice one. Anyways, im only going to go with 2 perculas until i get the hang of things then ill get more fish. For inverts i want to get a couple of astrea turbo snails and hermit crabs. I also want a cleaner shrimp of two, along with an emerald crab. What is base rock? I will also leave the HOB on just for some mechanical filteration to clear up the water a bit.

[Ray Pollett]

Sounds fine Andy.

Remember there are a lot of different ways to do tanks. Wish you the best, and continue to ask questions and read.

Ray

[Andy16]

Thanks Ray, i thought there was more to it but i guess not. It is almost easier then FW IMO. Me and my friend are going to try and mow people lawns for money. hopefully i earn enough money.

[Ray Pollett]

Base rock is rock we stack under the live rock. It does not have to be live rock; but becomes live rock over time.

Here is a place that sells it and tells more about their type. There are a number of types of rock people use.

http://www.hirocks.com/pages/894239/index.htm

[wayne]

Any advice on water changes if you're not using a skimmer, or indeed are? Any effect stocking levels (not I guess if you're playing safe)?
I confess - I might be lazy but I love water changes!

[Andy16]

thanks for the link ray. i guess ill use base rock and LR now since it is less expensive.

[Ray Pollett]

I know there are a lot of people who never do water changes. I am not one of them. I do water changes either every week or every other week on my tanks.

My stocking levels would be considered Med to Med-high. Some people would call some of them overstocked. When you sell set up and maintain tanks for a living you do not get to do "safe stocking levels" very often. Businesses and private tanks want numberous colorful moving fish in their tanks.

Ray