I just purchased a 225 gal tank today and I need HELP!!

[Charlenewing]

I plan to use the GARF Bullet Proof System and make my own rock.

I went to purchase a 100 gal tank and she had a 225 gal tank that was set up for a reef tank several years ago. She has been using it for fresh water.

It has a wet/dry filtration system and PVC piping running across the back.

I will pick it up next weekend (got to make space for it.

I have several major questions

Can I divide the tank so I can have 2/3 reef and 1/3 fish.
Would it be better to do 1/3 reef(2 feet) 1/3 fish and 1/3 reef or
2/3 reef and 1/3 fish

I want a Lion fish. I am assuming that 70 gallons will be enough space or should I give him more space and add other fish?

Or is this something that is totally impossible

Please help me out. I had a salt water (fish only) tank in the mid 80's and so much has changed (for the better)

Thank you!!
Charlene
[email protected]

 

[SnowManSnow]

I don't want to seem demoralizing, but the tank wasn't properly set up for a reef it incorporates a wet/dry system. Most ppl will agree that your live rock and sand will offer plenty of biological filtration. All you need is a GOOD protein skimmer (not somthing you want to skimp on). As far as specific suggestions I'm not sure for a tank that size, but I'm sure someone here can suggest somthing.

2nd You won't be able to keep a lion fish with most types of corals and so forth. Personally, I believe you would save yourself a lot of heart ache if you just made the entire aquarium reef. But to each his own.

3rd nothing is impossible!

If I had advice to give that is sound it is this. Don't skimp on your skimmer and lighting. These 2 will pretty much dictate what you will be able to do with your tank. Also, move slow. Remember, it takes time to set things up right and get the ecosystem your creating to work correctly.

OH, and when your diatom aglae blooms for the first time, dont freak out.. just wait it out (thats the brown stuff you'll see in about a month and a half).

Good luck..

Post specific questions when you get your "feet wet" _

B.

 

[Anonymous]

How exactly were you going to divide it up? Partitions or what?

 

[Bojangles]

The problems I see are that if you divide the tank you'll have a hella flow problem. You'll have to either have multiple returns or buy a huge return pump and divide the line among all the sections. I've learned IME that flow is one of the most important things to my personal success and beauty / upkeep.

Secondly I agree with the wet/dry system. Ditch it and add a refugium instead, large enough to have a equipment section for heaters ect.

I would keep the tank whole and get what you can depending on your needs. Personally I think ANYTHING can be kept in a reef or semi - reef that doesn't directly eat the corals you are trying to keep. The question is what are you willing to sacrifice. What I'm trying to say is *(example)* if you want an invert eater you are going to have to deal with the fact that you cannot keep inverts and that is your choice alone to make...

 

[Tarasco]

Well, I would probably skip the whole partitioning thing. It seems like it would be difficult to do. Lionfish can be kept in a reeftank, as they won't bother any of the corals. They will, however, munch on shrimp and small fish. So just make it a lionfish tank with another large reef safe fish or two, that way you won't have to partition it.

As was noted, the wet/dry system isn't the best. These are good at breaking down nitrites into nitrates, but don't do much for the nitrates. As such, it would be very difficult for you to maintain many of the more difficult to keep corals, such as SPS. What kind of corals do you want to keep? The answer to this will determine what to do with the wet/dry. If you just want to keep mushrooms, leathers, and other resilient, easy to keep corals, it might be ok to use. If you want to keep LPS and SPS, you may need to change the system.

I would suggest doing a lot of reading before going much further as well.