Newbie 55GAL Reef

[dntlohr]

55GAL tank, oak base w/ hinged canopy. 65lbs Fiji LR, 5 damsels, 10 turbo snails, 10 crabs, live sand. Running 2 Emperor Bio-Wheel filters, 20"hang on venturi protein skimmer with Rio600 pump. Lighting is JBJ 48"Power Compact Retro Kit (65x4) , 2 actinic blue , 2 10K day bulbs. Lighting just installed beginning of August 2003.

 

[CeeJay]

Good luck wiith the tank, but I would remove those biowheels they will become nitrate factories and you don't need them with live rock. Also turbo snails get really big and can knock things over and also get trapped on their backs and the crabs will eat them. And good luck with the damsels if you get more fish later on and they pick on the fish you will probably have to take your tank apart to catch all the damsels. If you do have to catch them get 2 nets with long handles and leave them in the tank for awhile then feed the fish and they might get destracted enough by the food and forget about the nets and you might get lucky.

 

[dntlohr]

Thanks CeeJay for the info. I am planning to get rid of the bio-wheels and go with a wet/dry. Any recommendations on a protein skimmer? My U.S. Aquarium Skimmer just doesn't seem to be doing a thing, other than dumping a lot of micro bubbles into the tank. It has been on the tank since 8/01/03, seem to be getting almost nothing in the collection cup, but the riser tube is 1/2 full of white foamy bubbles. Any skimmer help is greatly appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

How is the tank doin now. Is your skimmer collecting anything yet?