30 gal. tank setup! Am i on the right path???

[fab71]

Hello everyone and let me first say that i'm extremely happy to be here. Just started with my tank 4 weeks ago and after two previous failed attempts but I'm still making tons of mistakes. I've been reading constantly and can't believe all the misconceptions i had about the hobby.
I have a 30 gallon set up with ls and cc as a base. For filtration I have an Ehiem cannister, a Penguin trickle down 170, bac pak skimmer and 2 powerheads for circulation. Current lighting is 2-30 watt fl. I'm cycling my tank with 2 clowns and a damsal while slowly adding live rock every week and I've been using tap water for exchanges ( a contributer to my second failure with the hobby). Now i've read that i've been going about this all wrong. I just wanted to get some opinions before I started making any changes.
I've read that crushed coral isn't good because it retains nitrates so do I need to get rid of it? It's mixed with my ls and there isn't much. I also found out that i wasted money on my filters because live rock and a good skimmer is all you really need for filtration. I will probably remove the bio balls from the Eheim and use it for water transfer and air supply as soon as i get enough rock.
The last thing i'm worried about are the lights and i've been thinking about power compacts. I'm not very good at do it yourself so will have to go with a manufactured hood and lights. Will they be enough for reef life and my live rock and where do i go for good prices. Please help with these questions if you have the time.
thanks, FA <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[kelly]

fab71,
First off welcome to the forum. Even though I have been running a tank with CC and an undergravel filter for over 10 yrs with no nitrates, I would recommend removing the CC. You can do this with a fish net. The only minor problem that you may have is causing a new cycle to start.
I would recommend a DSB of 4-6". I do not run any outside filters on my tank, but I have lots of live rock, and a skimmer. Good idea on removing the bio balls. Lighting is one of the most debated subjects in the hobby. Presently I only keep soft coral and 1 hard coral, and they all do well under my regular flourescent lighting. (2 triton and 1 actinic 40W)
I would recommend you first decide what kinds of corals you with to keep in the future and adjust your lighting from there. Many have good luck with Power Compacts, or VHO lighting. If you are going to go for hard corals which require alot of light, I would recommend Metal Halides. Sorry I can not be of more help, but it depends on your coral selection. I also have a nano-reef which is in the process of cycling, and it has PC lighting.
Research your corals, and their lighting needs, then light accordingly. Metal Halide is considered to be the best my most reefers, then it is a toss up between VHO and PC lighting. The NO (normal output) lighting I have usually is not considered to be adequate, but it has worked for me and many others. There are many other sites on the web that give good info also. Long before I ran across this board, I found a site called garf.org. They do coral propogation, and use lighting similar to mine with good results. Check them out if you get a change, and look for the bullet proof reef tank.
Keep reading, learn patience, and best wishes with your new reef tank. If you do not have test kits, get them.

 

[broomer5]

fab71
Like so many things - there are a lot of different ways to be successful with a 30 gallon reef tank - and just as many mistakes that can mess you up along the way.
I too have a 30 gallon long tank - that's been running for little over a year now. I keep pretty low light corals and 2 fish, and clean up crew. That's it.
I will offer you my opinions - but please remember what works for me may not for others - and vice versa.
Opinions/Suggestions:
Decide what corals you want to keep - research them - this will help you determine your lighting.
Live rock and live sand DSB is ideal IMO.
Skimmer is not neccessary - but I would have one in a 30 gallon tank. Bak-Pak is great for that size system.
I don't use canisters - too much maintenance and just not my preference. Same holds true for hang on the back powerfilters. Nice to toss on the tank for some extra mechanical filtration and water movement - but must be cleaned regularly, and may not need to have the filter media in 24/7. Occassionally is fine.
Removing the bioballs after the tank has been running, and without enough live rock can be a problem if you remove them all at once. If you do remove them - do it a little at a time over a couple months time.
Is the Penguin trickle down 170 a wet/dry sump with return? If so keep the wet/dry as you've indicated for water circulation. Good place to run some carbon now and then, and add supplements.
Two powerheads should be good - depending on gph output of each.
On my 30 - I have;
CSL 36" x 6" x 4" (1) 96 watt smartlite. It works fine, but I feel I could use more lighting on this tank.
SR2 in sump CPR skimmer
Wet/Dry with most bioballs removed - I don't feel I have enough live rock still, so I keep a handful for biofiltration and to quiet the falling water off the trickle plate.
Mixed sandbed/aragonite shell hash substrate.
Not a DSB at all - but fine for now.
1 bangii 1 damsel that's it
Good luck
Venturi Driven Protein Skimmer

 

[fab71]

Thanks for the help. I only have about 5lbs of lr from a lfs so i won't be eliminating any bio balls for awhile. I will start filtering out the cc later today and try to clean my skimmer with viniger (just learned about clogging). As far as the lights i guess i'll keep on reading and researching. I don't want to fail this time around. It was so depressing when everything died on me last time. My bac pac filter overflowed while I was at work and half the water leaked onto my carpet. I didn't know about ro water at the time and refilled it with tap water. As a result everthing died and I threw in the towel. This time though i'm reading and researching about 10 hours a day. My wife has kept busy watching the lifetime channel and called me an addict earlier today. I guess I am but there are worst things to be hooked on.
One more question though. I put an order for 10lbs of premium deco rock from gulfview.com. Will my lighting be sufficient to keep this alive or do I have to get the pc right away. thanks again, fa.

 

[fab71]

thank you broomer5 and kelly for your responses. i'm still reading but i've one more question. I was going to buy live sand from a local ps. It's the manufactured kind that comes in a bag. Is this sand alright to get? Is it similar to the ls i've seen offered from online stores. thanks again.