Hardware for cycling?

F

fishyclown

Guest
I had a huge question arise in my brain as I considered what I would need to do during the cycling of my tank.
I've read and understood what I'm going to be looking for as the tank cycles... but what I don't know is what hardware I will need to have engaged during the process.
I have a 70 gal. rectangle tank that is about 4 feet long, 18" deep and 18" tall. I have two hang-on-the-back double Emperor trickle filters (or at least I think they're considered trickle), one heater that's stuck at 80 degrees and won't move, a floating thermometer, and two lights: 1 - 40 watt Marine-Glo and 1 - 40 watt Power-Glo.
I'll need to use one of the filters to maintain the 30 gal. temporary tank I've got going now, and the heater. This means I'll need a new heater, which I was planning to get anyway. I'm going for 200 watts for a 70 gal. tank. Does that sound right?
Will the bacteria and LR need lighting and water disturbance? Since some corraline algae has taken hold of my rocks w/out any lighting at all I assume I don't need it for them, but will the bacteria need it?
Will I need the filter to provide the water turbulence? I'm guessing a big YES! :) What do you all think?
Later I'd like to consider an anemone for my little clown fish friend. Do I need more lighting for an anemone?
Thanks so much for reading through all this and replying... if you do.
Shelly :rolleyes:
 
lu

lu

Member
First of all, save yourself a LOT of aggrivation and forget the anemone for now. They are difficult to keep if you don't know what you're doing. Read up on them first and get aquainted with what it takes to keep one before you attempt it. Keeping all the parameters at ideal levels will be difficult too while your in your cycle. Once your tank is older and established you should be able to start adding the cool stuff. The big thing here is take your time, it's a huge investment.
The 200 watt heater should work fine, your lights will work for now or until you decide you want to start raising corals in the tank and if you don't think you have enough water movement, Id suggest a power head. All they do is move water, makes for better gas exchange. Hope this helped??
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
You would be better off with two smaller heaters than one big one.If your 200watt heater was to malfunction,it would boil your fish very quickly.But with two 100 watters if one was to stick on,it would take alot longer to kill the tank.This would give you a chance to catch the problem.Two heaters will also heat the tank more equally if you put one at each end of the tank...
 
F

fishyclown

Guest
I definitely was planning on waiting to add the anemone, but just wondered if the lighting I had would be enough for one.
I also planned on keeping both heaters, but needed to get a new one so that I could keep my temporary tank warm while cycling and setting up the 70 gal. tank. I then planned on using both of them in the larger tank, one on each end just like you said. It's common sense. :)
So do I need to have all this stuff hooked up and funtioning while my cycle is taking off? I wondered if it would be okay if I didn't use my lights, because it will be hard for algae to bloom if there's no light source, right? Whaddaya think?
Shelly
 
F

farieslayer

Guest
yes u do need those turn on when u cycling, i am not sure about the lighting though, i think u need to leave it on, what so bad about algae, is natural food for the fishes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top