New to Marine Aquarium, seeking advice

[dan_chng]

Hi Everybody, was wondering if anyone can help answer some of my queries. I now have a 250 lit tank with a 70 lit sump, over flow. Planning to start off with fish only and then add corals and inverts. Thanks a million :roll:

1. What are good positioning of power heads for creating water movement in the tank? How powerful powerheads shld I use?

2. I am using an overflow with a sump at the bottom with 4 compartments. The 1st is for mechanical (sponges). Which compartment should I be placing my skimmer, before or after biological.

3. How long shld the skimmer be turned on for and when should I start using the skimmer.

 

[ChrisRD]

1. What are good positioning of power heads for creating water movement in the tank? How powerful powerheads shld I use?

What are the dimensions of the tank? Back corners are a popular spot for powerheads, but in a tank that size there may be a few other spots you'd want them too.

2. I am using an overflow with a sump at the bottom with 4 compartments. The 1st is for mechanical (sponges). Which compartment should I be placing my skimmer, before or after biological.

I'd put it before the biological.

3. How long shld the skimmer be turned on for and when should I start using the skimmer.

Assuming you're planning on using live rock, I'd run the skimmer 24/7 right from the beginning as it will have lots to do while the rock is curing.

 

[Len]

Most people put them in the upper rear corners, pointed towards the center. You can get creative and hide them in rocks if you'd like. The one key idea to keep in mind when placing these powerheads is to have flow distributed throughout the entire tank.

I'd use two 1000+ lph powerheads in conjunction with your return pump from the sump. A wavemaker would be nice to alternate the flow.

As for the sump, most people don't use biological filtration in the filter anymore since live rock and sand is all you'll need for this function. I'd remove it from the sump. Place the skimmer in any compartment before the return pump section. If you plan on using sponges, then place it after the sponges. Make sure to clean the sponges regularly as they'll clog up pretty fast. Skimmers are usually run 24 hours a day. Some people start using it the second they start the tank (while cycling the tank) and some people use it after the nitrogen cycle has completed. I usually skim my new tank, for what it's worth.

Welcome to our community and our hobby

 

[netjets2k]

1. What are good positioning of power heads for creating water movement in the tank? How powerful powerheads shld I use?

Check out this DIY under gravel jet system

It's a pretty nice idea.

Steve

 

[ChrisRD]

As for the sump, most people don't use biological filtration in the filter anymore since live rock and sand is all you'll need for this function.

Just to clarify - I was assuming by a "biological" compartment you'd have extra live rock, macroalgae, etc. in there - I wasn't thinking plastic media. I agree with Len - bioballs, etc. won't be necessary if you're setting up the system with live rock/sand.

I also misread your tank size as 250 gallons instead of liters...

Sorry, my reading comprehension is a bit off today...LOL

 

[ChrisRD]

Check out this DIY under gravel jet system

It's a pretty nice idea.

Steve

Hey Steve - welcome to Reefs.Org.

Buring the circulation pipes under the sand like that and hooking powerheads up to them is an interesting idea. I've seen tanks where people buried their closed-loop plumbing in the sand or the rockwork in a similar fashion...

 

[dan_chng]

Dear All,

Thanks for the feedback. Just need some further inputs.

1. The dimension of my tank is 48"x18"x19". I have 3 power heads each about 1500 lit/hr and a return pump (rated 2500 lit/hr, actual after head pressure etc only about 900 lit/hr) from the sump. Using only timers, how should I time my pumps to create "natural" waves.

2. As for bio filters I am planning to use bio rings. I am also using live rocks and normal coral sand. If I plan to keep about 7 - 10 mid size fishes, will be bio load be too high to just depend on live rocks? How much live rocks shld I be using?

3. Still confused about skimmers. How big shld I get (a lot of diff. views) how do I gauge the size, by the pump or volume in the skimmers?

4. I have added a bigger sump (32"x18"x12") to cater for a bigger skimmer, so now when we do any measurements for water conditioners etc, do I have to take in consideration of tank + sump volume?

5. Lighting, to begin with fish only (FOWLR) I am planning to use only 2 x 30 watt Fluorescents tubes. Is it enough. One is a Arcadia Blue and the other should I use 6,500K, 10,000 K or 20,000K tube.