Have I made a Big Mistake?

[krboles]

My tank came from Wal-Mart. So my set up consist of my filter that came with my tank, and I purchased a Magnum 350, which it was like $175. In the city that I live in, there are only two SW stores. So I went to the second one and they informed me that I had purchased a horrible filter and that I need a trickle (looks like a wet/dry filter) and a skimmer. I know I needed a skimmer but they only sold the ones that went inside a sump and with the filter that they sold. My canister filter doesnt have a sump. So I did a litle research on line and this is what I came up with. I could purchase a euroreef skimmer and place it inside a smaller tank that I have already (10gal) and use it that way or I could purchase this Tunze Doc Skimmer which hangs from the tank. But I was informed that those type of skimmers causes water to run onto the floor. The Tunze pretty costly, but it appears that that is whatI need. But before I make that purchase I just want to know is that the right thing to do. Can my two filters that I have whole up a little 55gal. Or do I need a whole new filteration system. :help: :help:

 

[teresaq]

your going to be fine. I ran a 55 for over a yr. my filter system was a hang on back filter, a canister filter and an aqua remora pro skimmer. my levels were always fine. you will also need a couple of pwerheads for circulation.
Is the filter that came with the tank the hob. (hang on back) if so you can just run filter floss in it, or turn it into a mini fuge. the canister-what is it rated for?? I ran renew (its like carbon) and filter floss in mine. Just be sure to change floss once a month and carbon every couple.
I have a few sites for catologs if you want them. I ordered my aqua pro on line, much cheaper then any fish store.
also look in the classifieds here, you can pick up a used one pretty cheap.
you can e-mail me if you need help m0m24 at earthlink dot net

 

[torno]

I agree with teresa, I bought two of my saltwater tanks from walmart and I love the one on the 55 gallon, it circulates the water great. I haven't replaced either filter, and on my 29 gallon that is the only filter I use. I would recommend a protein skimmer though.

 

[teresaq]

The aqua remora pro i have works great. never really had to adjust. just move the collection cup up or down.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by Torno
I agree with teresa, I bought two of my saltwater tanks from walmart and I love the one on the 55 gallon, it circulates the water great. I haven't replaced either filter, and on my 29 gallon that is the only filter I use. I would recommend a protein skimmer though.

 

[unleashed]

there is absolutely nothing wrong with a magnum 350 canister in fact i use one on my 125 ..as for the wet/dry filters they can also be efficiant but also need maintaning to stay efficiant this is the part LFS neglect to tell consumers.is how to maintain them or else they can and will become nitrate factories..out of all the tanks i have set up in the last 5 yrs i can honestly say i have tried H.O.T filters wet/dry,canister,sumps/refuge ..and have had good results with each type ps i dont run skimmers on most of my tanks except reef

 

[krboles]

Thank you guys.

. So I suppose I just need a skimmer and powerheads. I checked my nitrate level today and it was good. Mt tester kit was kinda color coded, and my color was yellow. On my chart yellow was 0. But there was a darker yellow right under it that read 10 which it my have been that color yellow also. I was instructed the the number told you the % that you needed to replace. So Tuesday on my day off Im doing a water change. I have sand also. At the store, the salesman told me sand was bad and hard to clean and that upon doing my cleaning and water change that I need to remove the sand bit by bit. Should I ? I feel like this, san d is in the ocean, what harm could it be?

 

[joncat24]

with the two filters you have, if you added a hang on skimmer you would be good to go. I would get a coralife ss65 stick it on there and you are golden.
One other route would be to get a overflow box and a fuge and put all your filtration in it. BUt since you already gopt the magnum I would just add the super skimmer and you are done...you can get one for around $75 online. And it would be awesome on a 55.

No way ....leave the sand . You dont stir the sand the crabs and snails will take care of the sand.

 

[krboles]

Originally Posted by joncat24
with the two filters you have, if you added a hang on skimmer you would be good to go. I would get a coralife ss65 stick it on there and you are golden.
One other route would be to get a overflow box and a fuge and put all your filtration in it. BUt since you already gopt the magnum I would just add the super skimmer and you are done...you can get one for around $75 online. And it would be awesome on a 55.

No way ....leave the sand . You dont stir the sand the crabs and snails will take care of the sand.
Thats what I thought :joy:

 

[joncat24]

what are your plans for the tank. fish only , or a reef?

 

[krboles]

Originally Posted by joncat24
what are your plans for the tank. fish only , or a reef?
I want fish and some corals. Right now Im learning as I go.

 

[joncat24]

then if you want corals your next step will be lighting for the corals...the hoods that came with the atnk will not work for that.

 

[ninjamini]

Filter, you don't need no stink'n filter. Thats what the rocks are for. Just get a few power heads thats enough.
And no I'm not kidding

 

[skyman]

Went to the LFS to get 5 gal bucket of salt when another customer asked me if I was getting ready to fill or do a water change. I told him initial fill. After about ten minutes of discussion he informs me that if he could do it all over again he would set up his bottom different. What I planned on was about 3"-4" of sand. He told me to do is go to Home Depot purchase:
2' of 1/4 pvc pipe
egg crate
enough PLASTIC screen to cover the bottom twice
purchase enough crushed coral for 2"
purchase enough sand for 2-3"
So he told me to cut about dozen pieces of 1/4" pvc in half inch pieces. Place these pieces on bottom of aquarium. Place the egg crate on top of pvc. Leave two inches between egg crate and sides of aquarium. So now the bottom of the eggcrate is 1/2" above bottom of tank. Put first piece of screen on top of egg crate (make sure screen is cut to the size of tank so it will overlap the egg crate) Put two inches of crushed coral on top of screen. Put second screen down again cut to size of tank. Than put the 2"-3" of (preferably live sand) on top of second screen. He told me that this would make the bottom 1/2" of water under egg crate anarobic (consuming Nitrates and releasing Nitrogen gas) thus cutting down on frequency of water changes. So I priced this out and come to find out it will only cost me about fifty dollars more to do this. Waiting to see what I read here before I fill my tank.
125 tall
proclear-150 wet/dry with protein skimmer
6x65 cf lights
Plan on fish only maybe a little live rock
Thanks for any information.