Consulted with reef store today are they correct though

[dbeaty78]

I went a a reef store today and talked with them. they told me for a fish only and live rock i could make use of my fluval fx5 canister filter for now just to build up my live rock and a few fish until I can get me a drilled aquarium to go to a full reef tank and then get a sump and skimmer with power heads and lights. They said this was probably my best choice to be able to go ahead and get started buying my cured live rock and also to get used to a saltwater system that way I could build up my live rock for natural filtration when I can get a tank. It would also give me a chance to buy all parts separately instead of trying to save for a long time to get a bigger tank with drilled holes like I want. My question is is this were they correct in saying that my canister filter would be ok for now just to support live rock and fish for a few months until I can save a little money to buy a drilled tank?

 

[Aquaph8]

That's how I started, I had an 80 gallon with two canister filters. You just gotta go easy on the fish additions and starting with some good live rock is key.

 

[mike007]

Yes that should be fine for now. But you should keep that cannister clean so as not to get a nitrate buildup. Down the road you will want to get rid of the cannister. Good luck and don't overfeed.

 

[Ian]

I think you should go for a drilled tank from the start, that way all your filtration is down below.

You could get a regular tank and drill it yourself and add an over flow. I thing it's better to think ahead and start out with an over flow, that's just my opinion..

 

[On388]

I think you should go for a drilled tank from the start, that way all your filtration is down below.

You could get a regular tank and drill it yourself and add an over flow. I thing it's better to think ahead and start out with an over flow, that's just my opinion..

+1 you can still buy slowly after you have a drilled tank, it would be a pain to have to drain a tank to drill it and stress out all the fish by moving them.

 

[Johmanda]

I started with an Eheim canister on my 46 bowfront. This was my first saltwater tank and I started out wanting a reef. At times it has been challenging but it does work and I don't plan to change the filter any time soon. When I do go to a larger tank for my reef then I will probably go with the drilled/sump/etc. system.

 

[Clearwater]

I just think for maintenance sake a sump is just so much more easier.

 

[dbeaty78]

I do plan on going with a drilled tank when I get some money in a few months. For now though I had a 110 gallon and the fluval fx5 given to me by an elderly man who said he wanted to get out of the hobby. So for now I just want to start out with some thing I can learn with and start my live rock collection and maybe a few small fish along. In a few months though I plan on getting a drilled tank and transferring things over. But for now this is a way I can start getting live rock because its not cheap. I also have live sand to add for the bottom. This is just a way to get started with buying live rock and a few fish to start learning. Also when I get my drilled tank I will go with a sump and good skimmer. i may keep this 110 gallon as a hospital tank after I get my drilled tank. Just trying to get started and learn and I have a lot of learning to do before I go full on reef. Even when I get my drilled tank I will probably still continue to buy live rock and get it all like I want before I start adding coral and other really cool stuff. Just excited and want to get started collecting my live rock and a few small fish.

 

[3dees]

if going with live rock, why use the cannister at all? I am going to convert my 120 gal. fw to a fowlr and plan on the lr, skimmer and power heads without a sump for now. you certainly don't need a drilled tank. a sump with an overflow will work although drilled tanks are the best option.

 

[ReefEnvy]

if going with live rock, why use the cannister at all? I am going to convert my 120 gal. fw to a fowlr and plan on the lr, skimmer and power heads without a sump for now. you certainly don't need a drilled tank. a sump with an overflow will work although drilled tanks are the best option.

Sounds like he's got the filter already. Doesn't have a skimmer and needs some type of mechanical filtration. I see what you are saying, but then he'd have to drop coin on a skimmer.

 

[gmoney243]

People are always gettng.out of the hobby. You can probly find everything you need for cheap off CL and your local club forums.

 

[dbeaty78]

Ok so I have been told conflicting information from what the reef store told me and what a local store here told me. I was told by the reef store to mix my saltwater first and then put my live sand in and lay the bag on the bottom of the tank and cut the bottom open and let it very carefully slide out because my saltwater need to be mixed first. A local shop here told me it made no difference he advised me to put my live sand in and then add water by opuring in a bowl to reduce sand from going crazy then conditioner then salt to my tank for start up who is correct? I am leaning more towards the first advice from the reef shop and not the local shop. Another question what size refugium would I need for my 110 gallon tank well really one that would support up to and 125 gallon tank so if I upgrade to a drilled tank in a few months it will support it. I saw a cpr today and am thinking about ordering one and building my own refugium because I have watched a few videos on it and it doesn't seem real hard Just need to know what size I would because I would like to put a skimmer in it and also the heater to minimize just power heads to the tank later when I upgrade to a bigger drilled tank. Sorry for all the questions I am just starting with saltwater and I am really excited to start my new hobby. I have had freshwater for a while now and still have my 55 gallon freshwater but am anxious to get started on saltwater. I really like this site though because people actually respond and help me out and answer questions unlike other sites I have tried int he past few weeks. Sorry for so many questions just trying to learn from some of you have already been down some of these roads.

 

[kschweer]

You should be fine either way. I would fill the tank with rodi water first and mix the salt in the tank with a small powerhead. Then add the sand and rock. As far as the tank clouding up from adding sand it's going to happen anyway you do it. I have always done it by putting the bag in the tank and cutting it under water. There should be no need for water conditioner especially with rodi water. Many of the common salts also have a conditioner in them. Hope this helps some.

 

[glb]

I'd put the sand in afterwards. It will cloud a little but not nearly as much as if you put it in first. That's how I've always done it.

 

[Wrx5803]

I found the best way is to rince the sand if it is a dry bag, put that in a quick poor or small container and then slowly put that to the bottom of the tank. No matter what it will get cloudy but this helps keep it to a min. I also think the canister filter will be fine. After the tank has cylced yoy can always remove the media they give you and add a bag of chemi-pure or carbon.

 

[mattvisocky2003]

Either sand method is fine. I have always placed sand in and aquascaped, then added premixed water.

 

[3dees]

not to hijack the tread, but is there a reason why you can't put the sand and then add water and salt? you can avoid the cloudiness by using a plate or bowl when adding the water.

 

[dbeaty78]

Ok so I went today and found me a used hang on back skimmer that can also be used as sump skimmer also and bought a new power head 1500 gph. The guy told me with the power head and the skimmer there was no need to hook up the canister filter is this correct for me to just start a fish and live rock aquarium for now until I can get a sump and lighting to start my reef. Oh and I plan on ordering a cpr soon. I have salt and water mixing now in the tank with the power head circulating it. Was he correct though in saying the pawer head and skimmer would work for me to start a fish and live rock tank for now though just to start building up my live rock? EXCITED! I am going to add my live sand in the morning. If this set up will be ok for now would it be ok to add some live rock and damsels wednesday? ALso when should I hook up the skimmer?

 

[Mike J.]

You can get by with lots of live rock and a skimmer. I have a CPR102 on one of my tanks and really like it. You can make it fail safe by ensuring that you have plenty of room for the water in the sump for the drainage when the power is off and ensuring that the return section of the sump is small enough that it won't overfill the tank if the overflow fails. Here's a neat video on adding sand to an existing aquarium. Putting Sand in an existing tank. - YouTube

 

[dbeaty78]

but with just a little cured live rock and live sand and a couple fish will the skimmer work ok without the canister filter for now and will it be ok to add live rock and a couple fish after just mixing my water and salt tonight provided my levels are ok