Hi all, I'm new to this hobby and site and just had a few questions:
I've had fish tanks all my life (all freshwater) and recently decided to get into the saltwater arena. So far I am extremely stoked and overwhelmed at the same time. I have two saltwater tanks, a 55g reef and a 125g fish only (to be set up in january when i move from a tiny apt to a house). My questions are pretty much related to the reef setup. When I first purchased the tank used, I was given about 50lbs of dead live-rock and purchased another 10lbs after being told the coraline algea would spread rapidly to the dead rock. I started with about 50lbs of crushed coral, but after extensive reading here am planning to put that into the 125g and go with some finer live sand. Where I am most concerned is in my filtration. I am currently running an Aqua-Clear 500 and a protien skimmer (no idea what brand as it was used, and all stickers had been removed- kind of looks like a berlin just because of coloration). Is a plenum set up really all it's cracked up to be? Do I need the Aqua-Clear at all? I understand the LR and LS will do a lot of the biological filtration, but after 4 months havn't seen the coraline algea spread, just lots of diatom or red algea growing. I've been adding the B-Ionic to increase calcium in hopes of a healthier tank. Currently I have three smaller damsels: 1 blue, 1 yellow-tail and 1 four stripe, 2 huge, 4"+ domino damsels and a snowflake eel. (The eel and large damsels are going in the big tank cause I want it mostly aggressive) So I'm not too concerned if everything has to die or go back to the LFS in order to make the tank more healthy to support more life in the long run.
Two other simplier (hopefully) questions. I'm looking to maximize water flow are the SQWD's any good, or are the Powersweeps ok? And secondly what's the most ideal temperature range to keep both tanks at? I've heard anywhere from 72 to 88 and was looking for something more specific.
Any help would be appreciated. So far I've been greatly impressed with these forums, the amount of knowledge and friendlyness to us stupid newbies :wink: and plan on taking advantage of them and hopefully contributing in the near future.
Thanks again,
Scott
I've had fish tanks all my life (all freshwater) and recently decided to get into the saltwater arena. So far I am extremely stoked and overwhelmed at the same time. I have two saltwater tanks, a 55g reef and a 125g fish only (to be set up in january when i move from a tiny apt to a house). My questions are pretty much related to the reef setup. When I first purchased the tank used, I was given about 50lbs of dead live-rock and purchased another 10lbs after being told the coraline algea would spread rapidly to the dead rock. I started with about 50lbs of crushed coral, but after extensive reading here am planning to put that into the 125g and go with some finer live sand. Where I am most concerned is in my filtration. I am currently running an Aqua-Clear 500 and a protien skimmer (no idea what brand as it was used, and all stickers had been removed- kind of looks like a berlin just because of coloration). Is a plenum set up really all it's cracked up to be? Do I need the Aqua-Clear at all? I understand the LR and LS will do a lot of the biological filtration, but after 4 months havn't seen the coraline algea spread, just lots of diatom or red algea growing. I've been adding the B-Ionic to increase calcium in hopes of a healthier tank. Currently I have three smaller damsels: 1 blue, 1 yellow-tail and 1 four stripe, 2 huge, 4"+ domino damsels and a snowflake eel. (The eel and large damsels are going in the big tank cause I want it mostly aggressive) So I'm not too concerned if everything has to die or go back to the LFS in order to make the tank more healthy to support more life in the long run.
Two other simplier (hopefully) questions. I'm looking to maximize water flow are the SQWD's any good, or are the Powersweeps ok? And secondly what's the most ideal temperature range to keep both tanks at? I've heard anywhere from 72 to 88 and was looking for something more specific.
Any help would be appreciated. So far I've been greatly impressed with these forums, the amount of knowledge and friendlyness to us stupid newbies :wink: and plan on taking advantage of them and hopefully contributing in the near future.
Thanks again,
Scott
