Fresh to Salt

chefjoer

chefjoer

AC Members
Jan 21, 2008
5
0
0
Marietta, GA
First off, I would like to thank all in advance for helping out and just say how informative this site has been for me. Also, I know this is a long post, but in my mind, there is nothing wrong with too much information, just a lack of the correct information. I do apologize. Ok, I know you have had this question asked so many times, and yes I have been going through all the posts to find my answers. I have been doing as much research as I can and have started to narrow things down. Currently my set-up is this (on a freshwater tank):

46 gallon bow-front
emperor 280 power filter with bio-wheel
have a 20 gallon cycling tank

Now I am looking to convert this to a reef tank and here are things that I know I need (with approximate cost):

Live rock (60 lbs.) - $360 (about $6 lb. from lfs)
substrate (40 lbs.) - $35 (guessing at this one)
light fixture (t5 http://www.aquacon.com/CurrentUSANovaExtreme.html 36 inch) - $200
Powerhead (Hydor Koralia 2) - $40
Aquarium Salt (200 gallon) - $40
High Ph test kit - $10
Nitrite Test kit - $20
Hydrometer - $9
Ammonia Test kit - $30
Calcium Test kit - $10

So far the cost is $754. Ok, not as bad as I thought, but still a little high (thanks to the recession, please no political blogging now :silly:!) I am trying to this on a budget and here are the questions:

From research on live rock, it is said that I need approx. 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. per gallon. Is there an absolute (you know what I mean) minimum or, for budget sakes, buy in stages? If I can buy in stages, I understand it will take longer to cycle the tank, but that is fine by me, I would rather it be right than wrong.

As for the cleaning of the tank, I plan on using just some warm water with as mild and chemical free cleaner as I can find. Any suggestions?

I plan on using the 20 gallon tank as a cycling tank for fresh saltwater when I do my changes. Is this a good idea? Do I need any special equipment? live rock in it as well? I don't plan on keeping any fish in there, but I would like your opinion on that (for new additions?). (remember budget:))

Talking with some of the guys at the LFS (I go to both Marine Fish in Marietta and Optimum Aquarium off Canton Rd.), I was told that the filter that I have can still be used (provided it is cleaned), but to just get rid of the bio-wheel. Opinions?

How am I doing so far?
Is there any essential equipment that I have missed?
I have heard many differing opinions about protein skimmer, sumps, RO/DI, etc... but these seem to be optional.

I have not tested my tap water (yes I know I need to:duh:), but I believe that with enough filtration in the 20 gallon, it should be ok. More on that later.

I do not have plans to have an award winning tank, but would like to eventually end up with something nice and eye-pleasing. Once again thanks for the help and sorry about the now extremely long post. I'll do my research on corals and ask some more questions on that later. I think this enough for now.
 
LOL you are heading in the right direction. I would recomend you start of with a fowler to start with, resist the urge to by corals untill your tank has fully matured.
Are you going to set up your 20gal tank as a filter tank./sump tank.
 
Just a note on the protine skimmer. There is no such thing as to much filtration in my book. id say go for it. It certinlly dosnt hurt.
 
ram303 said:
LOL you are heading in the right direction. I would recomend you start of with a fowler to start with, resist the urge to by corals untill your tank has fully matured.
Are you going to set up your 20gal tank as a filter tank./sump tank.
Click to expand...


i do plan on making my 20 gal a filter tank, any ideas on how to best make that happen? Just to let you know, my wife (not being too happy about all this, but is willing to compromise) would like to keep it as discreet as possible. The stand that I have is not made for under storage. It looks similar to this http://www.petcentreonline.co.uk/ecommerce/ProdImages/stand80.jpg

The 20 gal sits next to my tank. I do not wish to do any drilling, not sure about the stability of the tank or my handyman skill.
 
where abouts do u live Chefjoer. in australia i get plenty of glass from my local dump. and its really cheap. u will need to cut pices of glass to devide your filter tank into stages. im curantly working on a 200ltr filter tank, or sump tank as there comanly called, myself. and it will have 5 stages Stage 1 is filter media,(foam) course on top and fine underneath. 2nd stage is bio balls, for bacteria. after that carbon foam. the last stage i have put my protine skimmer.
 
I would use great caution with an overflow system if your pump should fail u may wind up with a saltwater livingroom. Again u can use old glass from the tip, dump,
a glass cutter will set u back about $10 and u can get a hole put in it for only a few dollars.If ur unsure about drilling you tank then try and drilling a spair end. but make sure you use glass of the same thickness. once you have a pice of glass the same size and thickness as one end of your tank, with a hole in it, all you need to do is replace one end of your tank. this isnt as hard as it seems. pull apart a disposable razor and use the blade and 2 pencils to push the razor down the seam. it works a treat. i use disposable razors becouse there verry thin and verry sharp. but please be carfull..
Like You i have to work with a buget. and i have found the best way is to do as much as you can by yourself. For my tank stand i found a 25x25 steel tube frame from the tip, and a solid door. all up it cost me $20... hung a sheet around it to hide the filter and hey presto.
 
You can use your HOB filter without the bio-wheel for added water circulation, it's not really worth anything biologically to the best of my knowledge. Bio-Wheels are good for being nitrate factory's, so I've read. IF you don't use your HOB, I would get another #2 powerhead so you have something to help break up the surface and help with oxygen.

If you are buying CURED live rock, you don't have to start with the full 1lb per gallon rule. I started with CURED live rock, seeded gravel & never experienced any detectible Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrates, I think I was lucky but my LFS stresses the cured Live Rock & Seeded gravel made the initial cycle very easy. I only started with 15lb live rock and 15lb dry rock and have since added more LR, 3 weeks later my dry rock is already growing coralline algae.

I started without a skimmer & have stuck with consistant weekly 15% water changes and my coral has only thrived since being added to my tank. I'm absolutely going to do a skimmer soon...but if you are impatient and want to get started without blowing your piggy bank - you can get away without one but a lot of people will say NO don't do that...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom