250l reef with canister filter only... A bad idea?

[Simon]

Hi all

I have a quick question. How feasible would a 250l setup be with only a
Fluval 404, a couple of small powerheads and lots of live rock? Is all the
other paraphernalia such as skimmers absolutely necessary? Essentially all
I want is a couple of small fish, and some of the easier to keep inverts. I
have seen a couple of nice setups like this. If it's a bad idea I'd rather
not and stick to my malawis....

Thanks
Simon

[Marc Levenson]

Hi Simon,

You can have your 250l with lots of LR and a protein skimmer. I'd skip the use
of a canister filter.

Here's a brief overview of what you should consider when setting up a sal****er
tank. Since you want a few fish and some easy invertebrates, lighting won't be
a big expense/consideration.

http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm

Marc


Simon wrote:

> Hi all
>
> I have a quick question. How feasible would a 250l setup be with only a
> Fluval 404, a couple of small powerheads and lots of live rock? Is all the
> other paraphernalia such as skimmers absolutely necessary? Essentially all
> I want is a couple of small fish, and some of the easier to keep inverts. I
> have seen a couple of nice setups like this. If it's a bad idea I'd rather
> not and stick to my malawis....
>
> Thanks
> Simon

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Simon]

Marc

OK, to expand on a couple fo your points, would a Berlin Prizm or Prizm
Delux perform adequately? I like the hang-on-the-back ability and it's
compactness.

Secondly, do power-compacts = compact flourescents? If they do how does the
formula for recommended wattage compare between the two. In other words, if
I need 3-4watts/gallon (according to reefcentral), how does that translate
to wattages. Unless I am confused a 14W compact flourescent has similar (or
more) output than a 40W "standard" flourescent?


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Simon,
>
> You can have your 250l with lots of LR and a protein skimmer. I'd skip
the use
> of a canister filter.
>
> Here's a brief overview of what you should consider when setting up a
sal****er
> tank. Since you want a few fish and some easy invertebrates, lighting
won't be
> a big expense/consideration.
>
> http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm
>
> Marc
>
>
> Simon wrote:
>
> > Hi all
> >
> > I have a quick question. How feasible would a 250l setup be with only a
> > Fluval 404, a couple of small powerheads and lots of live rock? Is all
the
> > other paraphernalia such as skimmers absolutely necessary? Essentially
all
> > I want is a couple of small fish, and some of the easier to keep
inverts. I
> > have seen a couple of nice setups like this. If it's a bad idea I'd
rather
> > not and stick to my malawis....
> >
> > Thanks
> > Simon
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

> OK, to expand on a couple fo your points, would a Berlin Prizm or Prizm
> Delux perform adequately? I like the hang-on-the-back ability and it's
> compactness.

the remora or remora pro are better choices IMO.


>
> Secondly, do power-compacts = compact flourescents? If they do how does
the
> formula for recommended wattage compare between the two. In other words,
if
> I need 3-4watts/gallon (according to reefcentral), how does that translate
> to wattages. Unless I am confused a 14W compact flourescent has similar
(or
> more) output than a 40W "standard" flourescent?

watts per gallon is a bad analogy to use or get in the habit of using for
any form of reef keeping. it is dependant on type of light and depth of
tank. what are the measurements of your tank? this will give better help
on telling you what might be acceptable for you tank in PC (which is the
same as compact fluorescents)

kc

[Marc Levenson]

Dragon Slayer wrote:

> > OK, to expand on a couple fo your points, would a Berlin Prizm or Prizm
> > Delux perform adequately? I like the hang-on-the-back ability and it's
> > compactness.
>
> the remora or remora pro are better choices IMO.

I agree with KC here. I love the Remora. If your tank is over 55g, get the
Remora Pro. Get it with the MaxiJet or the Mag drive, not the RIO pump.

> watts per gallon is a bad analogy to use or get in the habit of using for
> any form of reef keeping. it is dependant on type of light and depth of
> tank. what are the measurements of your tank? this will give better help
> on telling you what might be acceptable for you tank in PC (which is the
> same as compact fluorescents)

Ditto.

Marc


--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Simon]

Tank dimensions are 100cm by 50cm by 50cm...


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Dragon Slayer wrote:
>
> > > OK, to expand on a couple fo your points, would a Berlin Prizm or
Prizm
> > > Delux perform adequately? I like the hang-on-the-back ability and
it's
> > > compactness.
> >
> > the remora or remora pro are better choices IMO.
>
> I agree with KC here. I love the Remora. If your tank is over 55g, get
the
> Remora Pro. Get it with the MaxiJet or the Mag drive, not the RIO pump.
>
> > watts per gallon is a bad analogy to use or get in the habit of using
for
> > any form of reef keeping. it is dependant on type of light and depth of
> > tank. what are the measurements of your tank? this will give better
help
> > on telling you what might be acceptable for you tank in PC (which is the
> > same as compact fluorescents)
>
> Ditto.
>
> Marc
>
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

anyone got that in inches....................its 3am and I cant cipher that
out.

kc

"Simon" > wrote in message
...
> Tank dimensions are 100cm by 50cm by 50cm...
>
>
> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> > Dragon Slayer wrote:
> >
> > > > OK, to expand on a couple fo your points, would a Berlin Prizm or
> Prizm
> > > > Delux perform adequately? I like the hang-on-the-back ability and
> it's
> > > > compactness.
> > >
> > > the remora or remora pro are better choices IMO.
> >
> > I agree with KC here. I love the Remora. If your tank is over 55g, get
> the
> > Remora Pro. Get it with the MaxiJet or the Mag drive, not the RIO pump.
> >
> > > watts per gallon is a bad analogy to use or get in the habit of using
> for
> > > any form of reef keeping. it is dependant on type of light and depth
of
> > > tank. what are the measurements of your tank? this will give better
> help
> > > on telling you what might be acceptable for you tank in PC (which is
the
> > > same as compact fluorescents)
> >
> > Ditto.
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> > --
> > Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> > Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> > Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
> >
> >
>
>

[Chris Taylor]

40 x 20 x 20

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
> anyone got that in inches....................its 3am and I cant cipher
that
> out.
>
> kc
>
> "Simon" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Tank dimensions are 100cm by 50cm by 50cm...
> >
> >
> > "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > >
> > > Dragon Slayer wrote:
> > >
> > > > > OK, to expand on a couple fo your points, would a Berlin Prizm or
> > Prizm
> > > > > Delux perform adequately? I like the hang-on-the-back ability and
> > it's
> > > > > compactness.
> > > >
> > > > the remora or remora pro are better choices IMO.
> > >
> > > I agree with KC here. I love the Remora. If your tank is over 55g,
get
> > the
> > > Remora Pro. Get it with the MaxiJet or the Mag drive, not the RIO
pump.
> > >
> > > > watts per gallon is a bad analogy to use or get in the habit of
using
> > for
> > > > any form of reef keeping. it is dependant on type of light and
depth
> of
> > > > tank. what are the measurements of your tank? this will give
better
> > help
> > > > on telling you what might be acceptable for you tank in PC (which is
> the
> > > > same as compact fluorescents)
> > >
> > > Ditto.
> > >
> > > Marc
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> > > Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> > > Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

Thanks Chris,

for a tank that size if you want to go with PC's I'd recommend you start
with at least 4x96w. and stager the bulbs (they are only 34" ea) if you
wanted to keep higher light demanding clams/sps/anemone then 6x or 8x 96w
would be a better choice if you were sticking with PC's.

I like lots of light, but 2x175w MH would be perfect on a tank that size
(personally I'd go 250w ea MH)

kc

[Simon]

Thanks, but the problem I have in the backwaters where I live (South
Africa), is where the hell do I get 96w pc's from? Although I can't expect
you to answer that....



"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks Chris,
>
> for a tank that size if you want to go with PC's I'd recommend you start
> with at least 4x96w. and stager the bulbs (they are only 34" ea) if you
> wanted to keep higher light demanding clams/sps/anemone then 6x or 8x 96w
> would be a better choice if you were sticking with PC's.
>
> I like lots of light, but 2x175w MH would be perfect on a tank that size
> (personally I'd go 250w ea MH)
>
> kc
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

i have not a clue as to where you can get them if you cant find someone to
ship them.

with that beind said. what type lighting can you get?
might have another suggestion if you let us know.

kc


"Simon" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks, but the problem I have in the backwaters where I live (South
> Africa), is where the hell do I get 96w pc's from? Although I can't
expect
> you to answer that....
>
>
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Thanks Chris,
> >
> > for a tank that size if you want to go with PC's I'd recommend you start
> > with at least 4x96w. and stager the bulbs (they are only 34" ea) if
you
> > wanted to keep higher light demanding clams/sps/anemone then 6x or 8x
96w
> > would be a better choice if you were sticking with PC's.
> >
> > I like lots of light, but 2x175w MH would be perfect on a tank that size
> > (personally I'd go 250w ea MH)
> >
> > kc
> >
> >
>
>

[Chris Taylor]

Hi Simon

Where in SA are you, I knew of a reasonable marine supplier in Doornfontein
some years ago, don't know if they're still going but there should be a
number of places going in Natal or the Cape?

If you're not lucky locating places down there,try a few of the UK mail
order web sites for your lighting requirements (let me know if you need a
couple of URL's). The Rooineks are usually proficient and familiar with
shipping products abroad. I've not seen PC (specifically) in the UK although
a different terminology may be used? I'd be careful buying from the US as
they're on 110V AC you're on 220V AC.

I do pop down there once or twice a year and occasionally spend an hour or
two in Jhb or Cape Town airport before heading to PE (and onward to St
Francis Bay). For smaller items I may be able to accommodate on the
occasional trip.

Regards


Chris




"Simon" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks, but the problem I have in the backwaters where I live (South
> Africa), is where the hell do I get 96w pc's from? Although I can't
expect
> you to answer that....
>
>
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Thanks Chris,
> >
> > for a tank that size if you want to go with PC's I'd recommend you start
> > with at least 4x96w. and stager the bulbs (they are only 34" ea) if
you
> > wanted to keep higher light demanding clams/sps/anemone then 6x or 8x
96w
> > would be a better choice if you were sticking with PC's.
> >
> > I like lots of light, but 2x175w MH would be perfect on a tank that size
> > (personally I'd go 250w ea MH)
> >
> > kc
> >
> >
>
>

[Happy'Cam'per]

Hi Simon

Try here, these guys know what they're doing. www.aquatic-concepts.co.za
You'll find "reefer" lights there.

Regards
Cam



"Chris Taylor" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Simon
>
> Where in SA are you, I knew of a reasonable marine supplier in
Doornfontein
> some years ago, don't know if they're still going but there should be a
> number of places going in Natal or the Cape?
>
> If you're not lucky locating places down there,try a few of the UK mail
> order web sites for your lighting requirements (let me know if you need a
> couple of URL's). The Rooineks are usually proficient and familiar with
> shipping products abroad. I've not seen PC (specifically) in the UK
although
> a different terminology may be used? I'd be careful buying from the US as
> they're on 110V AC you're on 220V AC.
>
> I do pop down there once or twice a year and occasionally spend an hour or
> two in Jhb or Cape Town airport before heading to PE (and onward to St
> Francis Bay). For smaller items I may be able to accommodate on the
> occasional trip.
>
> Regards
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
> "Simon" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Thanks, but the problem I have in the backwaters where I live (South
> > Africa), is where the hell do I get 96w pc's from? Although I can't
> expect
> > you to answer that....
> >
> >
> >
> > "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Thanks Chris,
> > >
> > > for a tank that size if you want to go with PC's I'd recommend you
start
> > > with at least 4x96w. and stager the bulbs (they are only 34" ea) if
> you
> > > wanted to keep higher light demanding clams/sps/anemone then 6x or 8x
> 96w
> > > would be a better choice if you were sticking with PC's.
> > >
> > > I like lots of light, but 2x175w MH would be perfect on a tank that
size
> > > (personally I'd go 250w ea MH)
> > >
> > > kc
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>