New 55 Gallon Setup
- Thread starter CrunchyToast
- Start date
I'm assuming a powerhead is a water circulator? Can anyone point me in the direction of a good site or something where I won't have to spend an arm and a leg on anything? Lol.
Powerheads are just water pumps, all they do is move water around the tank. Good water movement in a saltwater tank is vitally important, more so than in a freshwater tank.
I like Koralia and Nanostream powerheads because they move large amounts of water in a wide stream and not just in a single fast jet. Sorry can't help you with cheap sites, I only know aussie ones
. You can get powerheads secondhand also.
I like Koralia and Nanostream powerheads because they move large amounts of water in a wide stream and not just in a single fast jet. Sorry can't help you with cheap sites, I only know aussie ones
. You can get powerheads secondhand also.
The live rock I put in the tank before was actually cured live rock and not just live rock. I don't know if there is a difference or not, but anyways...I just purchased a nice powerhead from a local pet store. It rotates back and fourth automatically and has the option to add a breather tube to oxygenate the water, which you may know pushes air into the water, but it's louder if I do that. What is your recommendation? Air, or no air?
It is a Zoo Med Aquatic PowerSweep Automatic Self Rotating Powerhead Wavemaker for aquariums up to 75 Gallons, 270 GPH. I'll be posting a few photos of my setup here in just a few.
It is a Zoo Med Aquatic PowerSweep Automatic Self Rotating Powerhead Wavemaker for aquariums up to 75 Gallons, 270 GPH. I'll be posting a few photos of my setup here in just a few.
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Images 
Powerhead
Live Rock (YES! There are two damsel fish in there. I know all the cruelties to this type of cycling)
Side
Video
Powerhead
Live Rock (YES! There are two damsel fish in there. I know all the cruelties to this type of cycling)
Side
Video
Can't edit my post anymore, so here's the video
Oh yes...How often should I test my water? Last time I tested was yesterday and everything was spot on, probably because the system hasn't started yet.
Oh yes...How often should I test my water? Last time I tested was yesterday and everything was spot on, probably because the system hasn't started yet.
That's not a very good powerhead. Read the reviews on it. I would have gotten a pair of Koralia 2 or 3s, myself. Do not use the venturi/air feature of your Powersweep. It's not good for saltwater setups.
Also, if you can afford to, you'll need alot more live rock than that. You want to shoot for around 1 pound of rock per 1 gallon of water or at least 1/2 pound per gallon.
I'm sorry but this looks like a disaster in the making. you dont have the needed equiptment nor near enough live rock I would say you need at least 65 pounds. those filters arent even worth using on a fresh water tank and its a crime walmart evens sells them. saltwater tanks are a major investment in equiptment and up keep yes buying used equiptment saves money but it still is expensive to keep a healthy thriving saltwater tank. but look everywhere for deals on good used powerheads and a better filter. check craigslist/Ebay often I have alot of local people always selling there used equiptment when they upgrade and they offer sweet deals and you can see the items working so you dont go buy someones junk. and very nice cured live rock is often sold for 1.00 - 1.50 a pound locally you just have to shop around and meet and greet other local saltwater people and you will find alot of help/items you need.
Yeah I know the live rock thing. It's expensive where I got it. I got that one piece just to help start something which is better than nothing. I have it already planned for more LR but I don't have the cash atm to just immediately spend hundreds of dollars at once for something. I realize this isn't a cheap project but it's all I can do for the moment. I can always upgrade everything.
As for the powerhead, I needed something on the fly and so this was a quick fix to get some circulation going.
Tested my water again today. Tank has been up for about 3 or 4 days and everything is still fine.
As for the powerhead, I needed something on the fly and so this was a quick fix to get some circulation going.
Tested my water again today. Tank has been up for about 3 or 4 days and everything is still fine.
You're not off to a bad start, you should keep reading and learning before you go any further though. It was your #1 priority for a power head, it's good that you got one - but it's also unfortunate you bought one that doesn't really perform the way you will need it to. You need more surface agitation, definitely could use some stronger lighting, but your LR will be okay without it, corals would be another story..
I think what everyone is trying to get across, you are on a small budget - it's better to be on a small budget and buy the equipment you need ONCE, by researching, rather than tossing $50 here, $25 there. Eventually that adds up, and in many cases in 3 months you'll have $500 worth of equipment that isn't worth a snot.
Crunchytoast, you will likely not find a 1 dollar per pound cured live rock deal..anywhere unless you stumble upon someone getting out of the hobby. Everywhere I've looked, it doesn't get any cheaper than what I pay locally. But if you have a source for cured live rock, if it's truly cured and in good shape, you may not ever detect a cycle. I never detected a cycle in my tank using cured live rock.
What is your SG?
I think what everyone is trying to get across, you are on a small budget - it's better to be on a small budget and buy the equipment you need ONCE, by researching, rather than tossing $50 here, $25 there. Eventually that adds up, and in many cases in 3 months you'll have $500 worth of equipment that isn't worth a snot.
Crunchytoast, you will likely not find a 1 dollar per pound cured live rock deal..anywhere unless you stumble upon someone getting out of the hobby. Everywhere I've looked, it doesn't get any cheaper than what I pay locally. But if you have a source for cured live rock, if it's truly cured and in good shape, you may not ever detect a cycle. I never detected a cycle in my tank using cured live rock.
What is your SG?
