Filtration & Lighting

[bwets_angel]

I have a 55gal with a Emporer 400 filter. As I have been reading what people on here have in their tanks I have learned that alot of people have skimmers and wet dry filter, stuff like that. What would you reccomend me getting for my filtration?
Also what kind of lighting should I get? Right now I just have the lights that came with the tank.
I currently have 3 chocolate chips stars, 1 crown of thorns star fish, 1 blenny, 1 sally lightfoot crab, 1 pepermint shrimp, 1 condi anemone, 1 clownfish, 1 huma huma trigger, 1 coral beauty angel, 1 blue damsel, and 20+ hermit crabs. The fish are all doing great but I have alot of algae growing. Is the filtration and lighting contributing to this?
Please Help!!

 

[ty_05_f]

Yeah i would go and get some better lights. Try VHO, Metalhalids, or some more flouresents.

 

[ty_05_f]

Also it would be pretty wise to get a protien skimmer. This would help remove some algae. And do you have any powerheads???

 

[bwets_angel]

Originally posted by Ty_05_f
Also it would be pretty wise to get a protien skimmer. This would help remove some algae. And do you have any powerheads???
What skimmer do you recommend? Is the Prism Skimmer any good the swf.com sells? What exactly is a powerhead? I don't think I have any. What one do you recommend?

 

[ty_05_f]

yes a prizm is good and try a rio for the power head. The powerhead circulates the water better.

 

[saltyshark]

Originally posted by

ets_angel
What skimmer do you recommend and also what powerhead would you recommend?
Not to sure on what skimmer to recommend but I use a CPR Bak-Pak 2 and it works great for me. You will probably hear a lot of suggestions on skimmers but your budget will determine what's best for you. I'd recommend maxi-jets for your powerheads as they are perfered on the board and I like them as well. But I've heard good things about penguins and hagens also.
HTH
SaltyShark

 

[bwets_angel]

What size powerhead would I need for my 55gal? I do only need one don't I? Swf.com has 200-3100.

 

[ty_05_f]

You could go with one or two, get one with a high turnover rate though.

 

[bwets_angel]

IS there a turnover rate that is too high for my aquarium? Which of these would be best?
Rio 200: 138GPH
Rio 400: 144GPH
Rio 600: 200GPH
Rio 800: 211GPH
Rio 1100: 300GPH
Rio 1400: 375GPH
Rio 1700: 642GPH
Rio 2100: 692GPH
Rio 2500: 748GPH
Rio 3100: 900GPH
Sorry for all the questions.

 

[toddpolish]

read more on this board. Rio is not very well liked around here AT ALL. From what I've read, they are really faulty.
Maxi-Jets are supposed to be some of the best powerheads.
you're going to want at least 10x the amount of circulation in your tank, so your 55 gallon x 10 = 555gph.

 

[ty_05_f]

well i figured that the pump would turnover a large amount of water, and that

ets_angel wouldn't need a larger powerhead. But i guess i was mistaken

 

[bwets_angel]

SeaClone Protein Skimmer - Is this a good skimmer? Or would something like a PRIZM DELUXE PROTEIN SKIMMER w/Media+Skimbox be better for me? Please help I have no clue about skimmers. Would I still need my filter or would I do away with it after I get the skimmer?

 

[ty_05_f]

If you can afford it get a Cpr Bak-pak. It has bilogical filtration plus a protien skimmer

 

[bwets_angel]

Originally posted by Ty_05_f
If you can afford it get a Cpr Bak-pak. It has bilogical filtration plus a protien skimmer
How much do those usually run and where can I find one? Also you don't have to do any drilling through the glass or anything like that do you? It is best that I get stuff where I don't have to do anything to the tank to make it work so I don't ruin my tank.

 

[ty_05_f]

nope the cpr you just hang it on the back and plug it in. It costs about 130.00

 

[bwets_angel]

Do you know anything about lighting? I know I need new light but how do I go about changing them. Right now I just have the lights that came with the tank. My dad made me the stand and the hood for the aquarium so is there something I can get to put in the hood for lighting or what should I do? Would I do away with the lights that came with the tank then? Can you please help!!!

 

[newreefers]

I run the aqua c remora skimmer with a 1200 maxi jet. under $200.00. It works great with my emperior 400.
for the lights it all depends on what you would like to keep in your tank. certain corals and clams require very intense lighting, some of the soft corals and mushrooms require less lighting. if you do a search on lighting you will find a ton of posts regarding this. probably information overload.

 

[bwets_angel]

I'm leaning more toward a FOWLR setup. I currently have a huma huma trigger and would like more agressive fish also. Like maybe a lionfish and a

[hr]
trigger. What kind of lighting would be good for that kind of tank?

 

[ty_05_f]

For just a FO tank you could just keep the lights you have.

 

[shimmy yaz]

I see where people say that you should have about 10X the circulation for your tank and that everyone seems to like the maxi-jets but I am planning on having a 90 gallon tank which means i should have around 900gph but the biggest maxi-jets i can find are only 295. So what should i do have 3 of the 295's to come close to the 10X mark?????