Me and my challenges as a Newbie

[Bayareareefer18]

You can run an HOB for mechanical and chemical but your rock should be your bio

What rock did you use?

 

[Pbh-reef]

Pelvic fins don’t move that much I think they are mostly to stabilize the fish not propel it. If it is a disease what will help is if you look at pictures and videos of sick fish and read up on how to identify illnesses. I’d also suggest taking pictures of the fish you buy and if it dies or seems sick take more pics and post them here for help. Bulk reef supply has a decent video on YouTube about fish diseases that can be a good intro.

Having nitrites is interesting. Did you seed your tank of a bacteria starter? Might want To try that.

For filtration the most common HOB choice is probably the Aquaclear. You could do a 70 or even a 110. In the Aquaclear people put all Sorts of things - filter floss, carbon, phosguard, and bio media like ceramic tubes. Go to the build thread section of REEF2REEF and do a search for Aquaclear and I’m sure you’ll get some ideas! You can even modify the Aquaclear into a refugium for algae like chaeto to grow- there are threads and videos for how to do that here and on google, although maybe that’s something for you to consider doinh a little
Later.

 

[Fish4Sail]

You can run an HOB for mechanical and chemical but your rock should be your bio

What rock did you use?

I'm not sure off hand what rock it is but I bought it from ARC Reef in Florida.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Pelvic fins don’t move that much I think they are mostly to stabilize the fish not propel it. If it is a disease what will help is if you look at pictures and videos of sick fish and read up on how to identify illnesses. I’d also suggest taking pictures of the fish you buy and if it dies or seems sick take more pics and post them here for help. Bulk reef supply has a decent video on YouTube about fish diseases that can be a good intro.

Having nitrites is interesting. Did you seed your tank of a bacteria starter? Might want To try that.

For filtration the most common HOB choice is probably the Aquaclear. You could do a 70 or even a 110. In the Aquaclear people put all Sorts of things - filter floss, carbon, phosguard, and bio media like ceramic tubes. Go to the build thread section of REEF2REEF and do a search for Aquaclear and I’m sure you’ll get some ideas! You can even modify the Aquaclear into a refugium for algae like chaeto to grow- there are threads and videos for how to do that here and on google, although maybe that’s something for you to consider doinh a little
Later.

+1 aquaclears are great filters but I always go bigger. If you have a 30G tank don't get one rated for 30. Go bigger

 

[Fish4Sail]

Pelvic fins don’t move that much I think they are mostly to stabilize the fish not propel it. If it is a disease what will help is if you look at pictures and videos of sick fish and read up on how to identify illnesses. I’d also suggest taking pictures of the fish you buy and if it dies or seems sick take more pics and post them here for help. Bulk reef supply has a decent video on YouTube about fish diseases that can be a good intro.

Having nitrites is interesting. Did you seed your tank of a bacteria starter? Might want To try that.

For filtration the most common HOB choice is probably the Aquaclear. You could do a 70 or even a 110. In the Aquaclear people put all Sorts of things - filter floss, carbon, phosguard, and bio media like ceramic tubes. Go to the build thread section of REEF2REEF and do a search for Aquaclear and I’m sure you’ll get some ideas! You can even modify the Aquaclear into a refugium for algae like chaeto to grow- there are threads and videos for how to do that here and on google, although maybe that’s something for you to consider doinh a little
Later.

Been looking at cost and effectiveness.

To purchase the AC 70 and media basket (which seems necessary to insure water does not bypass media) cost will run up to $100.

There are canister filters available for round that price. What is your opinion on the SunSun HW-404B?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Been looking at cost and effectiveness.

To purchase the AC 70 and media basket (which seems necessary to insure water does not bypass media) cost will run up to $100.

There are canister filters available for round that price. What is your opinion on the SunSun HW-404B?

As far as I know any AC I have ever purchased comes complete with the basket, foam block, carbon and bio rings
You can always ditch the bio and add another foam block or something else.

On Amazon they are like $49

 

[Fish4Sail]

As far as I know any AC I have ever purchased comes complete with the basket, foam block, carbon and bio rings
You can always ditch the bio and add another foam block or something else.

On Amazon they are like $49

Yeah. The filter with the standard basket. This is the basket I was talking about.

What are your thoughts on the canister filter?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Yeah. The filter with the standard basket. This is the basket I was talking about.

What are your thoughts on the canister filter?

I wouldn't worry about the basket. Remember your rock should be your bio. The hob will be for mechanical or any type of chemical you may need to run.

Canisters are good but you have to be very diligent with maintenance. You can create yourself big nutrient problems if not cleaned regularly, that's why people call them nitrate factories.

When I ran canisters on my FW tanks I always ran eheim and loved them so don't know much about the sun sun. It's always a toss up with anything Chinese. I am currently running a jebao dc return pump. It's working great now but I know it could just crap out one day

 

[samnaz]

The InTank media basket isn't needed for the aquaclear. It comes with one that works fine. If you're looking to save some money search the selling forums and ebay. You can find one used for super cheap. Don't get a canister filter. good luck

 

[Fish4Sail]

I wouldn't worry about the basket. Remember your rock should be your bio. The hob will be for mechanical or any type of chemical you may need to run.

Canisters are good but you have to be very diligent with maintenance. You can create yourself big nutrient problems if not cleaned regularly, that's why people call them nitrate factories.

When I ran canisters on my FW tanks I always ran eheim and loved them so don't know much about the sun sun. It's always a toss up with anything Chinese. I am currently running a jebao dc return pump. It's working great now but I know it could just crap out one day

Obviously this is a really difficult decision. I thought having a fish tank was supposed to be serene!?

I was looking at that canister bcoz it has a uv light in it. Your thoughts on UV?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Obviously this is a really difficult decision. I thought having a fish tank was supposed to be serene!?

I was looking at that canister bcoz it has a uv light in it. Your thoughts on UV?

I am a huge proponent for uv, when used correctly. I'm not sure the specs on what you are looking at. Most inexpensive uv units will perform as a clarifier but may not be affective as a sterilizer. The key to uv is sizing it properly and ensuring proper flow rate

 

[Fish4Sail]

Okay. So after watching more YouTube videos and a bit more reading I have gone with the AC 70.

In terms of UV do you have any suggestions? I am looking for a sterilizer more than a clarifier.

Thanks for all the help by the way.

 

[MaddyP]

Welcome to the family!

 

[Pbh-reef]

I don’t have much experience with UV, maybe search this forum and see what others have experienced and recommend?

 

[Pbh-reef]

Just a thought - I wonder if UV is really necessary, it might be best to take things slowly and not buy new equipment until you have your water parameters stable and some more experience. Plenty of tanks succeed without UV and I would think getting fish from a better source than Petco would be a cheaper and simpler place to start than UV. This isn’t advice so much as something for you to consider!

 

[Fish4Sail]

Just a thought - I wonder if UV is really necessary, it might be best to take things slowly and not buy new equipment until you have your water parameters stable and some more experience. Plenty of tanks succeed without UV and I would think getting fish from a better source than Petco would be a cheaper and simpler place to start than UV. This isn’t advice so much as something for you to consider!

So this is the plan.

AC 70 arriving Thursday.

Gonna get it in the tank and still run the Aqueon 30 along side it for a week.

Then get a Damsel from same Petco, toss him in and see what happens. I want to see if there will be any difference with the additional filtration.

I'm doing research on the UV Filter as I don't have a hospital tank and if he doesn't make it...well...

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Just a thought - I wonder if UV is really necessary, it might be best to take things slowly and not buy new equipment until you have your water parameters stable and some more experience. Plenty of tanks succeed without UV and I would think getting fish from a better source than Petco would be a cheaper and simpler place to start than UV. This isn’t advice so much as something for you to consider!

Uv is not necessary but does have benefits.

Using a HOB filter you will be very limited. If you had a sump you have tons of options. There are submersible uv units but that's another piece of equipment in the tank. Are they effective? Not sure


I would agree let your tank stabilize and try not to do too much at once.

 

[Fish4Sail]

Update:
In the end I went with a SunSun 402b canister. Set it up and ran for a week then added a domino and a chromis. 1 week later and the little buggers are still happy swimmers!

Seems like even though my parameters looked all good, it was just not cycling enough gph through the filter.

Gonna keep these guys for a while and then move onto community fish.

Thanks to all for their advise. It really did help!