Fish Only Setup

[mjhulik]

If I were to setup a Fish only tank, What kind of sand or bottom stuff should I put in there. And do I just put fake decor in there and not live rock. I'm not really sure on what to do? I currently have a 12 gal with live rock and live sand, is my tank considered a reef tank or not. I need to get the logo down. Oh and one more question....I tried to download a picture and it said it has to be 500x500, so I tried to send it VGA and it didn't send...How come! Thanks

 

[kittykitty]

a reef is a reef when it has corals. your 12g setup sounds like a FOWLR tank.
....Fish Only With Live Rock.
Live rock helps with filtration on a fish only tank, but its not going to live unless you have good lighting on the top of your tank and calcium in your water.
You would be fine doing decorations. Its really just your preference.
Using live sand is better, as it contains lots of beneficial bacteria.

 

[aftrhrs]

I currently have a fish only with live rock tank and it looks really good. As soon as I upgrade the lighting, I am planning on starting to add corals.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by mjhulik
If I were to setup a Fish only tank, What kind of sand or bottom stuff should I put in there.

Salt tanks use calcium carbonate based substraits for buffering. Crushed coral, crushed oyster shells, and sands like LS or southdown are used. In my system I use plain old play sand with some Crushed coral on top. Also crushed oyster shells in a diy filter box.
And do I just put fake decor in there and not live rock. I'm not really sure on what to do?
Most do not like fake decors. Some FW may be actually bad in a salt tank. But more than anything else it is personal preference. I used a dead coral in my first tank years ago. Just to make it look a little more like a salt tank. Currently, I use base rock. Of course some more LR things have come in with various things i added.
I currently have a 12 gal with live rock and live sand, is my tank considered a reef tank or not. I need to get the logo down.
most consider it a reef tank if you have corals there. Especially if you have a "wall" of rocks.
Oh and one more question....I tried to download a picture and it said it has to be 500x500, so I tried to send it VGA and it didn't send...How come! Thanks
they just want to reduce the memory on the server. What I do is use the photo software that came with my digitial camera and resize it. I make the longest edge 5", maintain the aspect ratio, then set the pixs per inch to 99. Comes out right at the correct size for posting here.
Finally, I recommend you get a thriving plant life going. System is much easier to maintain that way. (Had to add that ) HTH

 

[daniel411]

Originally posted by beaslbob
Salt tanks use calcium carbonate based substraits for buffering. Crushed coral, crushed oyster shells, and sands like LS or southdown are used. In my system I use plain old play sand with some Crushed coral on top. [/B]
The buffering capabilities are not necessary though. As demonstrated by so many successful bare bottom aquariums. As well as the buffering capabilites themselves being questionable of many substrates.