Back in the Game- Need some Help

[WVU-FISHGUY]

i'm just getting back into the saltwater system, and fish tanks in general. 8O I have a 36 gal. corner tank. I'm not looking, initially at putting a lot of money into the system. I wanted to get some advice on the following courses of action.
A Fluval 404
crush coral bottom (very small layer for looks)
twin 24" lights
35lb lr
I plan on making it a clown tank for the most part with some bottom feeders. Any suggestions on things I should do and/or change?
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

I would insure you have thriving plant life like macro algaes right from the start. You might try a simple refugium. Makes the system mature very rapidily, stable, easy to maintain, and forgiving of the woopsies I do.

 

[polcat]

Loose the fluval and get the best protien skimmer you can afford. Everything else is OK, maybe sand instead of crushed coral (it traps detritus).

Don't worry about plants or a fuge. Practice good husbandry and you'll do fine.

 

[WVU-FISHGUY]

Is the skimmer going to move the water enough? I was thinking that the fluval would move the water and then maybe add on a skimmer if the conditions dictated it.

 

[Anonymous]

IME skimmers and filters are secondary to the plant life. Some circulation does seem to help so don't get me wrong. And I do use a diy filter which I fill with crushed oyster shells.

but with plant life established right from the start the water remains clear regardless of any other filtration present. I even had a macro algae culture tank that ran for ~2-4 months before I added a powerhead. And the macros did grow faster after adding the powerhead. But the water remained clear and a baby molly grew to about 1 1/2" with no circulation and no feeding in the presence of the plant life. But then I use no added filtration or circulation af any kind on my FW planted tanks. and they run that way for years.

Sure I recommend some circulation in salt/reef. But that filtration is secondary to getting the plant life established and in control right from the start.

 

[Anonymous]

The skimmer removes gunk from your tank, the water movement it provides is secondary

I would go with a skimmer over the Fluval

and no need for a refugium or plants

Read a lot, visit the New reefkeeper faq's and be sure and get plenty of opinions before you submit to a course of action.

Oh, and have fun!

 

[Len]

:welcome:

A skimmer won't move enough water, but a couple of powerheads (cheap) will fix the circulation issue. IMO, a skimmer is a very big help. Like polcat, I'd lose the canister and invest in a nice skimmer instead. IMO, it's not "secondary" like beaslbob says. Macroalgae is an alternative form of filtration methodology, but one that is not highly regarded except by a few people like beaslbob. Gather all the opinions you can and make an informed decision. IMO, a nice skimmer is definitely worth it's weight in salt.

 

[Anonymous]

Len, you need to teach me how to explain things so well. I wanted to say exactly what you said...

 

[Anonymous]

IMO, it's not "secondary" like beaslbob says. Macroalgae is an alternative form of filtration methodology

I have said this time and time again too Len..At this point I think he is doing just as sabotage method..MO unknown though

 

[Entacmaea]

I noticed that you were thinking of setting up a clowntank- you *could* be ok with the Fluval, but the skimmer is a safer choice. Butif you are planning on adding a anemone, you will need stronger lighting and significantly more robust filtration- a skimmer is a must IMO, plus an RO/DI for water supply. The RO/DI is also a great investment for whatever you are keeping...