am new need help

chuckie

chuckie

New Member
i am making the big switch to salt and i need some advice and info please.will my filter i have work and can i keep my cc or go with sand.i have a mag 350 with dual bio-wheels and filled with fuval biomax rings.and a hot mag 250 with same media in it.i havs a cap-600 pump for movment.we are looking at doing a fish only tank for now and adding live rock as we can.any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
thank you
 
karajay

karajay

Active Member
Go with the sand, and get as much LR as you can. They will both add natural filtration.
I ran the 350 mag. w/ biowheels on a 55FO I used to have and liked it.
IMO, I'd say you can set up what you have and if you need more circulation, you can always add a powerhead or two later.
:)
 
jhead

jhead

Member
Sounds good enough to get the adiction started to me.
Before long you'll have halides, and a chiller, and a Calcium reactor, and a sump, and a...........
Well you get the idea :p
CC tends to lead to a detris build up I agree that your better off starting with a sand or argonite base.
 
doodle1800

doodle1800

Active Member
Before you go with sand, consider a thin layer of cc and LR. Do some research on this, ask your LFS and other sources of information, books, other sites, stores, etc.... I have sand, at first its a pain to keep clean, algae, etc... but now its fine - takes time to be right. My next tank - a 45 corner inwall will be a thin layer of cc though. I'm going to see which I like better. So... this post doesn't help much, but the point is read more on the subject and talk with your LFS and make your own decision about your substrate.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
First of all welcome to salt
I would recommend a sand substrate with a thin layer of crushed coral or crushed oyster shells on top. I like sand because it provides foot holds for plants. To save money play sand from homedepot or lowes can be used. I use about 3" and it costs ~$3/50# bag. The Crushed oyster shells are available in 40# sacks from your feed and seed stores. Mine was $4.00 for 40#. So with a 75g about $20.00 will provide the substrait.
First, foremost, and the most overlooked or ignored is to establish a thriving plant growth then do the rest. So put the sand in, mix up the salt water and then run the system for a few days. Then add all the macro algaes/marine plants you can get your hands on. Then wait a week and do whatever else. That way you have a system which you know can at least support plant life and has been constantly filtered by the plants for several weeks. Local salt water hobbiest are probably throwing away macros each month, so you may be able to get the plants for free.
I would let the entire system minus fish run for at least three weeks. That is to allow fish born parasites to die off from lack of a host fish.
Your current filters should be enough for this system.
Good luck and again welcome.
 
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