New tank

[Gaines69]

I will be picking up a 47 gal column tank this weekend and I am at a loss as to what fish to put in it. It will be a FOWLR because I am still new to this hobby ( 6 months) and I am not ready to try reef. I plan on taking my time on this tank and I want to do everything right. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Big G]

Start a build thread. Ask as you go. But make it your own. Have you read "The Complete Idiots Guide to Saltwater Aquariums"? I did. Gave me, coming from a freshwater planted tank background, all the vital terminology and basics of saltwater aquarium. Highly recommend it. Probably the best advice I ever got was to understand that we really manage water and water conditions first. Cheers! And enjoy the build.

 

[Gaines69]

Thanks so much. I'll find that book and read it. I'm a research addict and I love to read and learn. My first tank, a 30 gal cube, is doing great. Had one scare with ammonia but got that taken care of. I just need to figure out what fish do wel in a column tank. I really want a puffer but not sure if a column tank would provide a large enough swimming space for one. Decisions decisions.

 

[Big G]

Buy a used copy on Amazon. Save your $$ for your puffer. What are the dimensions of your tank?

 

[Gaines69]

Buy a used copy on Amazon. Save your $$ for your puffer. What are the dimensions of your tank?

Not sure. I'm picking it up Saturday. It's sitting in my friends garage and she said I could have it just have to pick it up. lol I'll research and see if I can find the dimensions.

Found it. 20 x 18 x 30"

 

[Big G]

For a tall narrow tank, like a column tank, perhaps the best way to choose fish would be to eliminate those that need a long tank for their active swim patterns. For example, most tangs need a long tank to stretch out their fins a bit. Fish that are happy hovering would good, like a flame hawkfish, pajama or banggai cardinals, clowns, etc. Check out this other reefer's column tank: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/47-column-softie-tank.302228/

 

[Gaines69]

For a tall narrow tank, like a column tank, perhaps the best way to choose fish would be to eliminate those that need a long tank for their active swim patterns. For example, most tangs need a long tank to stretch out their fins a bit. Fish that are happy hovering would good, like a flame hawkfish, pajama or banggai cardinals, clowns, etc. Check out this other reefer's column tank: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/47-column-softie-tank.302228/

Thanks for the info. Thinking I'll put my little clown from my tank into the new one and get her a mate and a real anemone. Just have a clown tank. Then maybe get my manderian a mate. Have a mandarin tank and a clown tank. Of course I'll add a goby/pistol shrimp pair to the new tank as well. I enjoy watching them dig tunnels all over. I'll start a build thread as soon as I get the tank cycling. This is going to be a slow build because I live on a budget. If I go slow I can get everything I need to make it a healthy tank.

 

[Gaines69]

I can't make up my mind about this tank. I started thinking that I may want another lionfish. A dwarf specimen. Then I could maybe put in a snowflake eel and some kind of cuc. I plan on haveing lots of live rock and I don't mind feeding live and frozen. Ugh. Guess I should work on getting the tank put together. I do know it will be a FOWLR and I'm going to put a 70+ gallon filter and a hob skimmer and possibly a hob refugium. I think I just need more and bigger aquariums.

 

[Gaines69]

So this tank was given to ma and had been sitting empty in a garage for a year +. I'm trying to clean off the hard water stains using vinegar and a aquarium scrub brush but it's not working very well. I have to use a brush of some kind because I'm too short to reach the bottom part of the tank. Anyone have any good ideas for getting the build up off of the glasss without scratching it up. Thanks in advance.

 

[Big G]

Try "Bar Keepers Friend". I've used it on tanks for years. Works pretty good. Sometimes the glass is permanently etched and non-repairable; And you can see the etching when the tank is dry, but when wet it is not too noticeable.

 

[Gaines69]

Try "Bar Keepers Friend". I've used it on tanks for years. Works pretty good. Sometimes the glass is permanently etched and non-repairable; And you can see the etching when the tank is dry, but when wet it is not too noticeable.

Is it safe to use on the inside of the tank just in case there is any residue left? Thanks for the info.

 

[Big G]

I use the original powder version of Bar Keepers Friend. It contains oxalic acid and citric acid. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves and eye protection in case of splashes. Always rinse with clear water thoroughly and wipe down between. I usually rinse and wipe 3 times. The last rinse using RODI. You can find it at most supermarkets and on Amazon. Cheers.

 

[Gaines69]

I use the original powder version of Bar Keepers Friend. It contains oxalic acid and citric acid. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves and eye protection in case of splashes. Always rinse with clear water thoroughly and wipe down between. I usually rinse and wipe 3 times. The last rinse using RODI. You can find it at most supermarkets and on Amazon. Cheers.

Thanks so much. I'm gonna give it a try.

 

[Big G]

Try it in a small area first. This stuff also works great in the kitchen and other places around the house. I even used it on one of my car's side windows that had been splashed with hard water at an event I attended. Nothing else would take the spots off. Nice.

 

[Gaines69]

Try it in a small area first. This stuff also works great in the kitchen and other places around the house. I even used it on one of my car's side windows that had been splashed with hard water at an event I attended. Nothing else would take the spots off. Nice.

I researched it last night. At this point I'm trying to figure out how to rinse it out. I live in a townhome and my only tub is upstairs. No way I can carry this tank up the stairs. Guess I'll try and see if I can get it outside and rinse with a hose.

 

[Gaines69]

Ok. Another question. I want to get the tank started cycling so this weekend I'm getting filter hob marineland 350 for up to 70 gal and sand. My question is how much sand do I need for this tank. 18x20x30. Will a 2" sand bed be enough?

 

[Big G]

Ok. Another question. I want to get the tank started cycling so this weekend I'm getting filter hob marineland 350 for up to 70 gal and sand. My question is how much sand do I need for this tank. 18x20x30. Will a 2" sand bed be enough?

I really like those HOB Emperor Marineland units. Have used them for years. Most suggest sand bed of 1" to 1 1/2". Any more than that and you may get pockets of dead areas creating H2s.

 

[Big G]

Live sand is great. But if too expensive, use a mix of dry sand and live. Your tank will cycle faster the more live sand you use. 40 pounds would be plenty for 47 gallon tank, but your column tank will probably use less due to smaller base. 25-30 lbs. maybe?

 

[Gaines69]

I really like those HOB Emperor Marineland units. Have used them for years. Most suggest sand bed of 1" to 1 1/2". Any more than that and you may get pockets of dead areas creating H2s.

The marineland that I'm using in my first tank is 5+ years old and still works. My tank sat empty for about two years and I was surprised everything still worked. I would like to add more sand to my first tank because goby/pistol shrimp have tunnels dug all the way to the sand all over the tank. Thanks for the info.

 

[Gaines69]

Live sand is great. But if too expensive, use a mix of dry sand and live. Your tank will cycle faster the more live sand you use. 40 pounds would be plenty for 47 gallon tank, but your column tank will probably use less due to smaller base. 25-30 lbs. maybe?

I'm going to use all dry sand. I know it takes longer to cycle but this tank is going to be built slowly. It will be at least three months before I start adding fish. I'll add live rock from my first tank. I have two really nice pieces that have purple coralline algae on them so I'm planning on putting one in the new tank hoping I can get it to spread. I'm only planning on having two fish and some hermit crabs in the tank and neither are diggers so I'm going to do a 1" deep sand bed. Thanks for the info.