New to Saltwater! HELP :s

[mcherri]

Hi, I'm new to this saltwater hobby. I've been reading a lot, and have visited six LFS and have too much information on my hands to decide. I need to know what's right for the set up I want.

I have a 42g Oceanic Hexagon that is about 22" deep.

I have a 18" 15watt 50/50 6000K daylight/Actinic 03 blue Coralife inside a the 20" fixture that came with the oceanic tank.

I'm a college student and I don't have that much cash at hand for this so I'm not planning on going full scale with this. I just wanted a FO tank at first, but now a "nemo" pair and a host anenome and live rock is the bear minimum I'm thinking of establishing.

What lighting to do I need for the nemo/anenome set up?

What lighting would I need for my tank if I decide to become a full scale reefer?

What lighting should I have as a bear minimum for hardiest corals?

 

[cindre2000]

What lighting to do I need for the nemo/anenome set up?

Metal Halide

What lighting would I need for my tank if I decide to become a full scale reefer?

Metal Halide

What lighting should I have as a bear minimum for hardiest corals?

Power Compact (or metal halide)

......

Your problem is you decided on an anemone. Anemones require high light and therefor you need metal halide for that particularly shaped tank. A simple 150w pendant should do.

If you decide to not do the anemone right away (yes "nemo" can live with out an anemone), you could get away with some 'shrooms or zoo's at the very top of the tank. Other than that, a metal halide is pretty much the only (and cheapest) solution.

Also, how do you plan to filter?

 

[mcherri]

Thanks a lot, finally an answer...so metal halide is the answer.

As for filtration, well each LFS gives me different information.

One ancient place told me to creat a "wet/dry" system with a whisper filter along with an undergravel filter topped with bioballs, a wire mesh, and then gravel.

All the other stores don't agree with that method. One store tried selling me a biowheel filter. Emperor penguin or something.

Another store said I needed to overdo things and buy fluval canister filter, 402 or something.

Finally, the guy at the last store recommended excellent lighting, good water flow created by powerheads and lots of live rock. He did recommend a protein skimmer too.

right now I have a whisper power filter designed for 60 gallons.

that's what i have running right now. Is it enough?

 

[Anonymous]

Finally, the guy at the last store recommended excellent lighting, good water flow created by powerheads and lots of live rock. He did recommend a protein skimmer too.

This guy was bang on. All the others either didn't know what they were talking about or were trying to sell you stuff.

Though to be fair, if they didn't know you wanted to keep a nem and thought you were going for a FOWLR, it wouldn't be such terrible advice.

To put it simply, your rock is your biological filter, with the protein skimmer keeping nitrates down by removing organics from the water before they start to produce nitrates by rotting etc. The water flow helps avoid dead spots, where little water movement means the protein skimmer can't remove the organics because they're never taken down to your sump, where the skimmer is (or up the pump to where it's hanging on the side of the tank).

There are people with more expertise here than me, but I think that sums it up.

I'd get rid of the filter and buy the best protein skimmer you can afford (if money's short, see if someone's willing to sell you a decent model second hand).

 

[cindre2000]

Right on with what The Escaped Ape said.

The biggest issue you are going to face is your tanks shape. Since they do not come "reef ready" or drilled to allow a sump, you will either need to do that your self, use a hang on skimmer, or skip the skimmer completly.

Drill it yourself-

Basically you will drill a hole on the 'back' of the tank and put in a bulkhead. This allows for you to install a sump for a in-sump or inline skimmer. You would also have to create some sort of overflow box to allow surface skimming and quieter operation. The DIY forum can help a lot with this.

DO NOT use a hang on overflow. They work, until they fail. Which is too often for me to find comfort in.

Hang on skimmer-

There are some good hang on skimmers, ask around for which are the best. But make sure they will fit on your tank. The hex design might limit you.

No skimmer-

If you allow for a VERY LIGHT bio load, as in one or two clown fish as your only fish inhabitents, this will work (as long as you do not over feed). Plenty of live rock is a very good filtration method, combined with regular water changes, but it only works when you have the self control not to overstock.

 

[mcherri]

Thanks a lot for the help.

I don't plan to overstock...just two "nemos", if I can get any that get along.

But I'm definately going to look into purchasing a good protein skimmer.

One last thing, are DIY skimmers any good?

 

[trido]

I have quite a bit of DIY projects for my tank. A skimmer is not a project i will do and I like to build this stuff.

 

[mcherri]

Thanks again for all your help everyone. I'm going get a protein skimmer and a metal halide if I can find some good deals. This forum has been really helpfull. Good luck to all!

 

[mr_X]

i think you should use an overflow and a sump under the cabinet maybe. put the skimmer below where it's mostly out of sight. the more water volume you are dealing with, the better off you are. so..using a 20 gallon long perhapse, would be a nice addition to the existing tank. now you are dealing with a 55+- gallon system. plus, this is where you can add suppliments/additives, things that you don't want to pour in the main display. finally, alot gravitate to a refugium later on down the road, and you may or may not head this way too. if you use the sump, with some baffles to split it up (intake/fuge area/return area) you'll be ready to go.
it's an affordable and quite efficient setup. :wink:

 

[cindre2000]

Hey mr_X, just wanted to point out:

I have a 42g Oceanic Hexagon that is about 22" deep

A standard sized tank will not really work as a sump on that tank.

 

[mr_X]

oops...why was i thinking bowfront?...sorry.

 

[mcherri]

Thanks for all your input everyone.

I haven't been able to find a clownfish pair, so I bought a single maroon goldstripe clownfish in the meantime. If my LFS gets a pair, I'll trade the one I have for the pair and pay the difference.

Again, thanks for your input.