did the lfs do me wrong?

[copterdoc]

i set up a sw tank about three months ago after successfully keeping fw for years. i talked with the owner of a lfs for a few weeks before he won me over to the world of sw. but after reading all of the posts on here...i think he wasnt too knowlegable..or just told me what worked for him. i set up a 55 gal . he told me to run 2 filters...a fluval 304 and a penguin 330. he said no skimmer was needed. he suggested cc instead of ls. he told me the cost of lr but said it wasnt exactly neccassary right away...something i could add peridically. so after buying a skimmer (aqua c remora) switching to sand (southdown seeded with ls) and looking into lr. i went with the damsel cycle method suggested by him. the tank is still cycling because i didnt realize i wasnt supposed to do any water changes during that time and couldnt figure out why my nitrites werent not going away. anyway the fish are still alive...amazingly. anyway, im looking into get the orbit 4x65 because im keeping my tank relatively simple for now...fish and maybe some soft corals in the future. this site has been amazing in the info provided. is there anything else i need to do differently? and what about running carbon in the filters? i thought that was a good thing? not i see people only doing it a few days a month. sorry this is so long...thanks for any input!

 

[bang guy]

The only wrong way to set up a tank is the way that doesn't work. Most of the advice you'll see here will give you better odds of success but there is no one "Right Way" of doing it.
I don't think you have enough water flow. Most Tropical freash water fish enjoy calm water. Saltwater fish thrive in turbulent water. IMO a 55 gallon tank should have a turnover rate of 500 - 1000 gallons per hour.
Carbon has its uses but quickly loses capacity in saltwater - about 48 hours in my experience. After that it's just another biological filter.
I suggest just using it for a couple days when you notice a yellow or green tinge to the water.
I'm a critter person so I tend to get a lot of enjoyment from live rock that has been cured in good water. Several pounds of live rock could have done the job of adding nutrients to your system instead of the Damsel.

 

[copterdoc]

i just wish i had found this site before i took the advice of one person...that is what is so great about this site. i forgot to add that i have two powerheads running... 250 gph each. that would put it in the range. are the orbit lights decent? everyone says the coral life are junk...lr is definitly next on the list...
i know there isnt a right or wrong way to set tanks up...which can be frustrating in its own right, but the common advice of many raises the odds of success like you said. its tough applying what you have learned in one system...such as the fw, and learning something completly new for sw. ill keep the carbon thing in mind and see what happens. thanks..

 

[bang guy]

Glad to hear about the powerheads... perfect!
To be honest I don't know anything about the Orbit fixtures. However, I haven't purchased anything from Coralife in quite a while, nor do I plan on doing so.

 

[ericholcek]

I use the current-usa satellite... it is very similiar to the lights you have. Im not sure but i think the only difference is that the satellite comes with a fan and lunar lights. the fan gets rid of excess heat. The lights however give you about 4-5 watts per gallon which will allow you to keep a wide variety of polyps and softie. Maybe even an anemonie once your tank is stable.

 

[badkharma]

EricHolcek, IMO (and many others), the watts per gallon rule is pretty much useless. You will probably not be able to keep an anemone at all with those lights. IMO, metal halide is a requirement for those animals. Like you mentioned, however, he will be able to keep some softies though, like shrooms, etc.

 

[copterdoc]

yeah just some softies...hopefully in the to far future. thanks guys!

 

[ericholcek]

I could have sworn bubble tip anemone's will do very well under those lights. I think there are even people who on this board who have succesfully kept them under this lighting. If i am wrong sorry for the min-information.

 

[badkharma]

Like you mentioned, I have heard of cases with anemones kept under non-MH lights successfully, but I think it is pretty rare and your chances would be a lot better with the MH lights. You are correct in that the bubble-tips are considered the easier species to keep.

 

[atf88]

i agree with bad, a bta probably could be kept under those lights, but its NOT recomended, and MH would obviously improve the chances of it surviving a long period of time.

 

[andystl]

I had a 4 x 65 watt CF fixture and kept a rose BTA for about a year. During this time the BTA almost tripled in size and looked great. I switched to 2 x 250 MH and within a month the BTA lost all of its bubble tips and split. The new BTA’s look great and healthy, but no longer have the bubble tips. Just 1 persons experience so take it at that. I do think you can keep a BTA with that amount of lighting IME.