I've been away from the hobby for years and am ready to start up a 55 again now that I am a homeowner and not a renter.
I am out of the loop on technology & last recall using a biowheel, UG & in-tank skimmer on a f.o. + anemone tank. I used reef crystals and instant ocean; kept tangs, damsels, clowns, and volitans lion (at varying times, not together necessarily.)
I'd like to get going again w/ a FO tank w/ clowns, a blenny & not much else at first; later acquiring some pink/purple algae coated rock. I would pretty well like to avoid UG but I really don't know which direction to take as far as filtration because when I did attempt a biowheel / skimmer setup, things did not live.
I am going to do a fair amount of reading and do not expect answers on a silver platter, but if you've favourite links / threads as far as "bio filtration what's needed," post up. And I'll keep reading.
I'm starting with a standard 55 (12 x 18 x 48??) on a wood stand, a filter that says aquaclear 500 on the top plate, and seems powered by an aquaclear a-620? It was keeping a cichlid alive for the previous owner; I imagine it will need media changed out at a minimum. If it's completely useless for salt (and not even reasonably useful in a supplementary mode,) I'd appreciate knowing so.
Eventually, a small refugium underneath and an overflow setup of sorts?
That's enough off my chest for now. Back to reading.
I am out of the loop on technology & last recall using a biowheel, UG & in-tank skimmer on a f.o. + anemone tank. I used reef crystals and instant ocean; kept tangs, damsels, clowns, and volitans lion (at varying times, not together necessarily.)
I'd like to get going again w/ a FO tank w/ clowns, a blenny & not much else at first; later acquiring some pink/purple algae coated rock. I would pretty well like to avoid UG but I really don't know which direction to take as far as filtration because when I did attempt a biowheel / skimmer setup, things did not live.
I am going to do a fair amount of reading and do not expect answers on a silver platter, but if you've favourite links / threads as far as "bio filtration what's needed," post up. And I'll keep reading.
I'm starting with a standard 55 (12 x 18 x 48??) on a wood stand, a filter that says aquaclear 500 on the top plate, and seems powered by an aquaclear a-620? It was keeping a cichlid alive for the previous owner; I imagine it will need media changed out at a minimum. If it's completely useless for salt (and not even reasonably useful in a supplementary mode,) I'd appreciate knowing so.
Eventually, a small refugium underneath and an overflow setup of sorts?
That's enough off my chest for now. Back to reading.