New 30g setup

Oceansinmybasement · Apr 30, 2020

Hello, new to the site and the hobby. I’ve had numerous freshwater setups of all sizes with great success and have decided to do a saltwater setup for the first time. I am planning on doing a FOWLR to start but eventually adding a few soft coral hardier types, and eventually a larger tank as i will be moving into a larger home that has the space for this. I’ve done quite a bit of reading and am looking for suggestions on a few topics. I have a 30g tank with a HOB Biowheel 350 (heard many thing about biowheels remove/keep) and a 2 small power heads for flow. I started with 40lb dry base rock and was going to go with regular sand but unintentionally ordered live sand (1.5inch deep bed).

So first any suggestions on the tank setup to do with filtration? Bio wheels in or out? I don’t have space for a sump, I have thought about diy HOB Refugium but question the effectivenessOf a small system.

Secondly looking for some help with cycling, I initially planned to use dr Tim’s one and only bottled product but I seem to have misunderstood instructions. Was initially planning on cycling with a fish (i know it’s controversial) But didn’t realize I needed the fish immediately after adding the product. So, Tanks been up for a week, I added the bacteria in a bottle product on day 2 and some fish food day 3 after realizing I was suppose to add fish or ammonia but had none. Current parameters ammonia 0.4ppm, nitrite 0.05ppm, nitrate 5ppm, pH 8.2, salinity 1.025, alkalinity 11dKH, phosphate 0.08ppm, temp 78F.

Looking for any advice on setup and next steps.

Surf985 · Apr 30, 2020

Welcome! New to the forum, but I've been in the hobby a few years. It's addicting...

I actually did something similar and started with a converted 20 gallon, kept it a few years, and moved to a 75 gallon when I got my own place. From that experience, I can say your plan is, at least for the most part, a good place to start.

As for setup: in my experience, freshwater filtration didnt help with nitrates. Your plan isnt as delicate to them as others that keep sensitive acros or something, but still worth considering. So, that said, ditch the bio-whatever. It just collects detritus, and you'll never get low nitrates. If you maintain something like a carbon filter, I didnt have issues, but you'll get mixed reviews. (For fowlr or softies, I had it, and they did ok. Dont worry about the fancy sumps; you dont need it.) Your live rock will act as the filter as the organisms populate in it and decompose waste. Actually, if you want the benefit without the setup, I just got cool looking macro algae and put it in the display. The movement and color adds a lot to a system, and helps fill in where you wont have huge coral colonies. If you get the right kind, you can easily pull it out (basically not entrusting algae). Anyhow...

That leads me to my next point. Live sand helps. Live rock (actual live or base rock) helps. You still want to get through the cycle, and if ammonia and nitrite are present, you arent ready for fish. Even hardy saltwater fish are relatively fragile to some degree. Let the system balance out, and remember that, even after the initial cycle, it cant support the ocean. My biggest mistake was moving too fast through impulse buys, and not assuming everything was diseased. Living fish are worth the wait.

When it stabilizes, buy from a reputable store, and quarantine your fish. That mindset broke a streak of losing "healthy" fish. A few dollars in something like methelyne blue and prazipro, and not just buying cheap fish, made a massive difference. Remember, every fish is diseased. Treat it that way.

I'd say next steps, plan out what you want to keep, and how their compatibility aligns. Get a good cleanup crew. Then buy something like a clown or two, treat it a bit, then add it. Then let it sit a month before your next purchase. Plan your lighting if you go with coral. I like my current led setup, but I got by with a rigged t-8 for awhile. Be innovative and try stuff. This is a hobby where even rock placement makes a huge difference long term. Start right, and you'll be steps ahead! Best of luck!

Teri NewbieReefer · Apr 30, 2020

Hello and Welcome to R2R. There's a lot of friendly people who will help you out when you need it. Sounds like you have a solid plan, although I agree with Surf985 who is telling you that the rocks are your filtration. I know, I had freshwater and planted tanks before going FOWLR and Reef, and I couldn't wrap my head around it. I have a 20 gallon cube with a HOB refugium, and even with my spouse always dumping more food in thinking 'the fish look hungry', I don't have any problems with nitrates/phosphates. Start slow, be patient, and have fun.

Oceansinmybasement · Apr 30, 2020

Seems the general consensus is the bio whee is no good for this setup, can anyone recommend whether to just remove the bio wheel and keep the floss/carbon cartridge, or completely eliminate the HOB filter?

I was even thinking of going to something like an aqua clear where I can select to just use carbon(or other chemical mediums) and no sponge/floss. Or if there’s a decent han on back or in tank skimmer?I feel like something has to collect anything that might be floating around.

Anyone have an idea on how long it takes for my dry rock to become live rock that will sufficiently filter water? My concern is if I just fill out the HOB and my rock is not established or “live” the tank will decline and bacteria or algae will overtake.

and with the cycling should I just leave the tank be? Continue adding food? My FW tanks were different in regard to cycling