New Tank Setup - comments and questions

[Aroon]

Hi,

I am in the process of setting up my first sal****er tank (55g), and
have a few questions. I have included my basic plans as well, in-case
anyone has any comments that could improve my first tank setup.

I have read many posts on various boards that discuss new tank setups
and include protein skimmers. Some say not to start the skimmer till
cycling of the tank is complete, but some say go with it.

I have purchased a coralife protein skimmer (needle-wheel), and a
proclear 75 wet/dry filter (sump-style).
I am planning on hanging the skimmer on the side of the wet/dry filter
that will placed under the tank stand.

The current state of the tank is that I have added sal****er to the
top which I mixed in the tank itself over a period of 3 days.. The
temp is set to 80degC. Wet/dry filter is running. I am planning on
purchasing 45lbs of fiji premium LR online any day now.

Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?

Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
skimmer?

How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?
My guess is that the return pump from the wet/dry will produce decent
water motion for the kind of animals I would like (below). But, just
in-case I have also ordered a powersweep 228 powerhead. But, its not
in the tank yet.

My goal is a fish and invert tank. I am planning a hardy damsel to
start, then an ocellis clownfish, and then a six-line wrasse. other
than a snail or two to control algae, i was going to wait 6 months
before any inverts.

Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?

Thanks for any comments on these plans, and answers my questions.

Cheers.

[KurtG]

Aroon wrote:
> Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?

More is better, so that's fine. I've heard 1#/gallon as a general rule,
which seems about right for most tanks.

>
> Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
> skimmer?

I'd say yes. There are a few philosophies of rock curing which go from
creating a stew to get bacteria going (no skimmer) to preserving life on
the live-rock (definitely skim). I go with the latter crowd.

> How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?

2-3 and you want somewhere between 10x to 30x flow in the tank, so the
sum of the powerheads and return should be between 550 gallons per hour
to 1650 gallons per hour. Hard corals like it on the high end.

> Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?

Generally, no. Anemones are currently wild captured and difficult to
keep, so I'd recommend getting more expertise first. Some live for
centuries in the wild, but only a few short years in captivity. They
also require special lighting and feeding requirements.

You're clown will be fine without one and you'll have plenty of time to
research how to keep one once the tank is set up.

--Kurt

[Wayne Sallee]

You might see a duplicate of this post. I'm trying
out TeraNews.com. So far I'm not impressed. The
other post has not shown yet, so I'm sending this
one through Earthlink.
**

Yes, set up the protein skimmer from the beginning.
The wet dry filter will be helpful in curing the
live rock, but after you have established live rock,
and live sand, start taking the bioballs out a
little at a time so that the live rock and live sand
will do a better job of denitrifying.

You will need to hold off on the anemones, and you
will eventualy need to get hight intensity lighing
for the anemones. So right now you can window-shop
for lighting.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Aroon wrote on 5/23/2007 12:52 AM:
> Hi,
>
> I am in the process of setting up my first sal****er tank (55g), and
> have a few questions. I have included my basic plans as well, in-case
> anyone has any comments that could improve my first tank setup.
>
> I have read many posts on various boards that discuss new tank setups
> and include protein skimmers. Some say not to start the skimmer till
> cycling of the tank is complete, but some say go with it.
>
> I have purchased a coralife protein skimmer (needle-wheel), and a
> proclear 75 wet/dry filter (sump-style).
> I am planning on hanging the skimmer on the side of the wet/dry filter
> that will placed under the tank stand.
>
> The current state of the tank is that I have added sal****er to the
> top which I mixed in the tank itself over a period of 3 days.. The
> temp is set to 80degC. Wet/dry filter is running. I am planning on
> purchasing 45lbs of fiji premium LR online any day now.
>
> Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?
>
> Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
> skimmer?
>
> How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?
> My guess is that the return pump from the wet/dry will produce decent
> water motion for the kind of animals I would like (below). But, just
> in-case I have also ordered a powersweep 228 powerhead. But, its not
> in the tank yet.
>
> My goal is a fish and invert tank. I am planning a hardy damsel to
> start, then an ocellis clownfish, and then a six-line wrasse. other
> than a snail or two to control algae, i was going to wait 6 months
> before any inverts.
>
> Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?
>
> Thanks for any comments on these plans, and answers my questions.
>
> Cheers.
>

[Wayne Sallee]

Yes, set up the protein skimmer from the beginning.
The wet dry filter will be helpful in curing the
live rock, but after you have established live rock,
and live sand, start taking the bioballs out a
little at a time so that the live rock and live sand
will do a better job of denitrifying.

You will need to hold off on the anemones, and you
will eventualy need to get hight intensity lighing
for the anemones. So right now you can window-shop
for lighting.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Aroon wrote on 5/23/2007 12:52 AM:
> Hi,
>
> I am in the process of setting up my first sal****er tank (55g), and
> have a few questions. I have included my basic plans as well, in-case
> anyone has any comments that could improve my first tank setup.
>
> I have read many posts on various boards that discuss new tank setups
> and include protein skimmers. Some say not to start the skimmer till
> cycling of the tank is complete, but some say go with it.
>
> I have purchased a coralife protein skimmer (needle-wheel), and a
> proclear 75 wet/dry filter (sump-style).
> I am planning on hanging the skimmer on the side of the wet/dry filter
> that will placed under the tank stand.
>
> The current state of the tank is that I have added sal****er to the
> top which I mixed in the tank itself over a period of 3 days.. The
> temp is set to 80degC. Wet/dry filter is running. I am planning on
> purchasing 45lbs of fiji premium LR online any day now.
>
> Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?
>
> Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
> skimmer?
>
> How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?
> My guess is that the return pump from the wet/dry will produce decent
> water motion for the kind of animals I would like (below). But, just
> in-case I have also ordered a powersweep 228 powerhead. But, its not
> in the tank yet.
>
> My goal is a fish and invert tank. I am planning a hardy damsel to
> start, then an ocellis clownfish, and then a six-line wrasse. other
> than a snail or two to control algae, i was going to wait 6 months
> before any inverts.
>
> Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?
>
> Thanks for any comments on these plans, and answers my questions.
>
> Cheers.
>

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Pondmeister]

what the **** dumbass, you stutter as well as have fits when replying
to get so may dam duplicated posts.Should have ****ing known, yet
another dumbass user of Teranews...duh! That says it all along with
asking for info on this useless group of whiney asses.


-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[George Patterson]

Aroon wrote:
> I am planning on
> purchasing 45lbs of fiji premium LR online any day now.
> Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?

That's not bad for a 55 gallon. A little more wouldn't hurt, but you don't want
to take up all of the floor space with rock.

> Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
> skimmer?

I would.

> How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?

You want a total flow of about 600 gph to maybe 1,000 gph for that size tank.
The problem with powerheads for that is the fact that they use a lot of power
for what you get, and this adds heat to the tank. There are several types of
units that use small propellors with tiny motors; Tunze makes one. These are
much more efficient. Tunze is pretty expensive for what you get, so you want to
check out other brands. Someone will remember the name and post a reply.

> Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?

Make sure your lighting is adequate for this. Wayne recommends something like 5
watts per gallon. Something like an "Orbit" brand light will do.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[Aroon]

On May 23, 8:05 pm, George Patterson > wrote:
> Aroon wrote:
> > I am planning on
> > purchasing 45lbs of fiji premium LR online any day now.
> > Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?
>
> That's not bad for a 55 gallon. A little more wouldn't hurt, but you don't want
> to take up all of the floor space with rock.
>
> > Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
> > skimmer?
>
> I would.
>
> > How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?
>
> You want a total flow of about 600 gph to maybe 1,000 gph for that size tank.
> The problem with powerheads for that is the fact that they use a lot of power
> for what you get, and this adds heat to the tank. There are several types of
> units that use small propellors with tiny motors; Tunze makes one. These are
> much more efficient. Tunze is pretty expensive for what you get, so you want to
> check out other brands. Someone will remember the name and post a reply.
>
> > Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?
>
> Make sure your lighting is adequate for this. Wayne recommends something like 5
> watts per gallon. Something like an "Orbit" brand light will do.
>
> George Patterson
> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
> to anything.

thanks.

a friend recommended the tunze nanostream 6025. however, its
relatively expensive compared to other brands.
do you have any experience with the Zoo Med POWERSWEEP 228. the
rotating powerhead seems worth it if its decent.

[Wayne Sallee]

LOL well I see that this post through TeraNews.com
finally made it through. That's pathetically slow.

And the pathetic path that it took is :
newsspool2.news.pas.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas .earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf2!newsfeed.earthlink.net!nx02.iad01.newshosting. com!newshosting.com!83.128.0.11.MISMATCH!news-out1.kabelfoon.nl!newsfeed.kabelfoon.nl!xindi.nntp .kabelfoon.nl!213.132.189.2.MISMATCH!multikabel.ne t!feed20.multikabel.net!news2.euro.net!nntpserver. com!zeus.nntpserver.com!10.1.1.41.MISMATCH!pfilter-v0.1!not-for-mail

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Wayne Sallee wrote on 5/23/2007 10:36 AM:
> Yes, set up the protein skimmer from the beginning. The wet dry filter
> will be helpful in curing the live rock, but after you have established
> live rock, and live sand, start taking the bioballs out a little at a
> time so that the live rock and live sand will do a better job of
> denitrifying.
>
> You will need to hold off on the anemones, and you will eventualy need
> to get hight intensity lighing for the anemones. So right now you can
> window-shop for lighting.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
> Aroon wrote on 5/23/2007 12:52 AM:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am in the process of setting up my first sal****er tank (55g), and
>> have a few questions. I have included my basic plans as well, in-case
>> anyone has any comments that could improve my first tank setup.
>>
>> I have read many posts on various boards that discuss new tank setups
>> and include protein skimmers. Some say not to start the skimmer till
>> cycling of the tank is complete, but some say go with it.
>>
>> I have purchased a coralife protein skimmer (needle-wheel), and a
>> proclear 75 wet/dry filter (sump-style).
>> I am planning on hanging the skimmer on the side of the wet/dry filter
>> that will placed under the tank stand.
>>
>> The current state of the tank is that I have added sal****er to the
>> top which I mixed in the tank itself over a period of 3 days.. The
>> temp is set to 80degC. Wet/dry filter is running. I am planning on
>> purchasing 45lbs of fiji premium LR online any day now.
>>
>> Is this too much rock to start with considering I have no experience?
>>
>> Once I place the semi-cured live rock in the tank, should I start the
>> skimmer?
>>
>> How many powerheads do I need in a 55G tank?
>> My guess is that the return pump from the wet/dry will produce decent
>> water motion for the kind of animals I would like (below). But, just
>> in-case I have also ordered a powersweep 228 powerhead. But, its not
>> in the tank yet.
>>
>> My goal is a fish and invert tank. I am planning a hardy damsel to
>> start, then an ocellis clownfish, and then a six-line wrasse. other
>> than a snail or two to control algae, i was going to wait 6 months
>> before any inverts.
>>
>> Are any anemones ok to add to this sort of tank b4 6 months?
>>
>> Thanks for any comments on these plans, and answers my questions.
>>
>> Cheers.
>>
>

[George Patterson]

Aroon wrote:

> do you have any experience with the Zoo Med POWERSWEEP 228. the
> rotating powerhead seems worth it if its decent.

No, I don't. I went with the Tunze because it uses very little electricity. That
translates into lower water temperatures during the Summer.

I've been intrigued by this unit, though. Similar to a Tunze, but a better
mounting arrangement and cheaper.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15955&inm=1&N=2004+22788+2035

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[Aroon]

On May 24, 7:18 pm, George Patterson > wrote:
> Aroon wrote:
> > do you have any experience with the Zoo Med POWERSWEEP 228. the
> > rotating powerhead seems worth it if its decent.
>
> No, I don't. I went with the Tunze because it uses very little electricity. That
> translates into lower water temperatures during the Summer.
>
> I've been intrigued by this unit, though. Similar to a Tunze, but a better
> mounting arrangement and cheaper.
>
> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15955&i...
>
> George Patterson
> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
> to anything.

hydor koralia was the other brand my friend with the tunze mentioned.
its cheaper here.

http://www.petsolutions.com/Hydor+Koralia+Pumps-I-41400498-I-C-49-C-.aspx