Filter Media

[clintain]

I bought a used 12 gallon nano the other day. In the first chamber there were 3 foam blocks and what looks like a small sack of live rock rubble or crushed coral, in the second chamber there was a sack of carbon pieces, a sack of small plastic tubes or some sort, 7 black pieces of plastic kinda shaped like a star, and what looks like a woman's panty hose with some sand knotted in it, and the third chamber had another sack of what looks like more rock rubble or crushed coral along with the return pump and heater. Is this filter media adequate or is there something that others recommend? Thanks

 

[mr. limpid]

I assume this is all dry material not running and just moved. All foam and rock or crushed coral should be rinsed very well. All carbon material thrown out and replaced with new when needed. The sand stuff could be anything I would replace it with rock rubble.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clintain http:///t/389132/filter-media#post_3436655
I bought a used 12 gallon nano the other day. In the first chamber there were 3 foam blocks and what looks like a small sack of live rock rubble or crushed coral, in the second chamber there was a sack of carbon pieces, a sack of small plastic tubes or some sort, 7 black pieces of plastic kinda shaped like a star, and what looks like a woman's panty hose with some sand knotted in it, and the third chamber had another sack of what looks like more rock rubble or crushed coral along with the return pump and heater. Is this filter media adequate or is there something that others recommend? Thanks
Welcome to the boards!!!!!! I hope you enjoy your stay!
Wash all the foam blocks in vinegar and let them soak over night, then wash them out with tap water and let them dry. The live rock rubble - if it's dry, can just stay dry and doesn't need any kind of cleaning at all. Ditch the stuff that looks like crushed coral. The carbon pieces need to be replaced with fresh carbon. The plastic tubes is probably airline tubing that is used in many different applications, but mainly to drip acclimate new livestock. Throw the pantyhose and stuffs away. Soak the pump and heater in vinegar overnight and then scrub it with a new tooth brush, then plug them in with tap water to make sure they work. Also, test to see if there is any voltage coming from the pump or the heater with a voltmeter, and replace accordingly.
Also, I highly suggest also buying a powerhead such as a koralia nano 240 for your tank. The extra flow will greatly help out with water flow - preventing dead spots in the system.
You will find over time that many people on this forum and elsewhere like to use GFO, which is Granular Ferric Oxide... basically purified rust - which cleans the water of impurities and phosphates. It's a bit expensive, but it doesn't have to be replaced but once every three to six months, depending on the application and amount of phosphate absorbed. I also like to use Carbon in small systems like yours as well. Your tank is small enough where, with carbon, GFO, a little live rock and some water flow and water changes - you can have a very happy, healthy system.
So, what are you planning on stocking the tank with?

 

[clintain]

Basic. Few softies and a couple clowns eventually. Im brand new. Can you elaborate on the media you mentioned...which chamber and such. Also, any suggestion on a light upgrade...something to handle some easy corals but nothing for the complicated ones? And I was already planning on a powerhead. Any other suggestions are welcome...I like to upgrade stuff.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Lol, well... post a picture of the tank and a few componants and I can get a better idea of the setup. Get a pic of the back chamber as well, and we can go from there!

 

[clintain]

She said it has a 10K bulb but she didn't say what kind, I haven't taken it out yet to look...she told me about every little thing that was wrong with it and threw in an extra pump so I figured why would she lie. The pic of the filter media is everything described as it came out of the tank. The tank is only 3 months old and has only been empty for a little over a week.

 

[snakeblitz33]

You will probably need to replace that bulb with a 50/50 power compact. You might be able to keep a couple of soft corals with that light, since it's such a small tank.
The name of the game with tanks 20g and under is stability. As long as you can keep your water parameters stable, consistant, and safe - you're good to go. When something goes wrong in a small tank, you need to be able to react to it quickly.
You can use all of that filter media (except the stuff that looks like crushed coral) and replace the carbon pillow with a new one. The filter pads and other biomedia you should take out and rinse in old saltwater every 3 months. (only half at a time) .
You should check all of the electrical connections and test your equipment before filling it up with saltwater.

 

[clintain]

Thanks a lot. Any specific brand on the light? And when you say half at a time u mean half the quantity of the media right? What about the foam cubes...rinse all, 1, or 2? Which chamber would you add GFO and live rock to? Put the GFO in a little sack like the pics I have posted? And how many powerheads? Thanks again.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clintain http:///t/389132/filter-media#post_3436776
Thanks a lot. Any specific brand on the light? And when you say half at a time u mean half the quantity of the media right? What about the foam cubes...rinse all, 1, or 2? Which chamber would you add GFO and live rock to? Put the GFO in a little sack like the pics I have posted? And how many powerheads? Thanks again.
No specific brands, as long as it's a 50/50 PC (Power Compact) light in the length that your current one is. Your bulb also looks like its a "straight pin" plug in style instead of the "square pin". Look at your bulb to make sure that the pins aat the end match the pinson the bulb you buy.
Yes, only rinse half your media at a time in old saltwater from your water change. Don't do all of it, because you will loose more of your biological filtration then necessary and it may cause an ammonia spike or cause your tank to become unstable. Filter media, for me, includes your foam blocks and the ceramic media. Carbon and GFO will have to be replaced when it is exhausted. GFO can be put anywhere in the back chamber except for your return (pump) chamber. You don't want the pump ever getting stopped up with media. GFO usually comes in a "pillow" form, which means that it already contains it's own mesh bag when you buy it. Some forms of GFO are meant to be put in phosphate reactors, and should be avoided unless you get a reactor!
Save a little money in the beginning and don't get the GFO right off the bat. With your filter media and carbon and water changes with a light bioload, water changes and adequate maintenance should be all that your aquarium needs. If you start to have algae problems, cut the lights back , feed less, and add GFO to the system.
BUT the most important thing to remember is research. Read books, read articles, reed online magazines, read everything that you can and ask questions. This hobby is really addicting to me, because there's more than one day to do something - and there's always more to learn.

 

[clintain]

Thanks. I've been reading. I have the Conscientious Aquarists but I like tips and tricks from experienced individuals who have tried different things as well. I also like to hear different product reviews

 

[snakeblitz33]

Sounds like youa re getting a really good head start. I can't wait to see your tank start coming together.
Have you thought about a fish list yet? How about any corals or other inverts?

 

[clintain]

CLOWNS! Who doesn't like em? haha. If I understand correctly I can get a black and white and another from the Ocellaris...like a false percula or maybe a snowflake? Id really like a clown goby as well. Would that be possible if I keep up with water changes and fresh filter media? And what would you recommend for starter corals? How many and what kind of invertebrates would work besides a c.u.c? Id like to see an tuxedo urchin in there.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Clowns do best when paired with the same species clown. Tomato with tomato, ocellaris with ocellaris, percula with percula, etc. Clown gobies are really cool. They perch often and are neat to watch. A neon goby would do well in a small tank as well. Neon gobies don't really add too much to the bioload of the tank, and they are really fun to watch clean the other fish.
Stick to a regular water change routine... 2g a week or 6g a month and you should have very little problem with nitrate and phosphate - as long as you don't overfeed.
For your clean up crew - not much is needed. Three or four asterina snails, four nassarious vibex snails, and a couple of other types of snails and you'de be good to go. MAYBE add one or two hermit crabs to clean up any leftover food, but that would be all. A cleaner shrimp would be pretty awesome in a small tank. Peppermint shrimp are also cool - but hide from light and are mostly nocternal.Make sure you bet a true peppermint shrimp and not accidently a camelback shrimp. A small brittle starfish would be pretty fun to watch and would be a great detrivore as well. I'de stay well away from starfish, conchs, nudibranchs, clams, urchins and cucumbers in such a small tank.
For starter corals with your light - xenia, mushrooms and (some) zoanthids. Protopalythoa would be ok too, with some meaty feedings. Any others require a bit more light then what you have for your tank currently.

 

[clintain]

Sounds good. Now when you say any other coral would require more lighting...I plan on upgrading to the 50/50 power compact you recommended. Does that change anything? Still, I plan on starting very slow but I was just wondering.

 

[snakeblitz33]

You shouldn't get any corals for at least three months after the tank has started. I also recommend getting the new light just before you get coral. Most coral that require more light also require much more space. With such a small tank you are limited to hardy corals that stay small. Zoos, palythoas, mushrooms, Xenia, etc.
Leather corals get big, so do brains over time. The euphillia family has nematocysts which can sting nearby corals. Etc etc. you should do plenty of research before purchasing a live coral.

 

[clintain]

Thanks a lot. I don't have any intentions of getting any coral very soon. I just got this tank to get my feet wet and see if I like it. How long should I have the live rock and sand before any fish? The guy at the fish store said if I got my live rock from them I wouldn't have to cycle my tank and I could start putting fish in within days. I thought it should take longer? Thanks again

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clintain http:///t/389132/filter-media#post_3437147
Thanks a lot. I don't have any intentions of getting any coral very soon. I just got this tank to get my feet wet and see if I like it. How long should I have the live rock and sand before any fish? The guy at the fish store said if I got my live rock from them I wouldn't have to cycle my tank and I could start putting fish in within days. I thought it should take longer? Thanks again
Ahh, blessed horrible LFS advice

The rock you purchased from them is probably fully cured, so you will have a much shorter cycle with not as much of a spike, possibly none at all (I've seen this happen more than once), but you should still wait. Test your water for at least two weeks to make sure everything is stable. I recommend ghost feeding the tank a little. Basically what you'd be doing is pretending you're feeding a fish. See if anything spikes, or if levels are still okay. If levels remain okay, you can start with some cleaners (shrimp, snails, etc).

 

[snakeblitz33]

Btld is right. The only way to know is to test your water and wait. And like she said, ghost feed the tank. When ammonia and nitrite disappears, then you can add a fish.

 

[clintain]

Thanks a lot...both of you. I knew that didn't sound right.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Your welcome! I hope it works out! Keep us posted on your progress and take plenty of pics! Start a build thread soon too! When you do, let me know!