How to convert.....Quickly

florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Ok just addressing the pic of your sump you need to wash off all the salt deposits that’s more then salt creep the reason you have it on your influent pipes and top of your bio ball box is that your blue filter material is so dirty that the water is backing up through the holes in the top of the box where the pipe fits in they are usually not water tight also the lip you see on the right side of the cover belongs inside the box you may have to fool with it but it will fit inside
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/2867263
As an aside - you have a lot to learn - but one quick thing is please do not flush that algae, it is highly invasive. So much so that some are even illegal in certain states! Yikes!
There are lots of things to learn. You may want to start in our archives forum for some good threads.
Search for Cycling and overall just browse through the forums.
You can get a list of what equipment you have which will dictate a lot about what you can keep.
If you are going to dispose of the caulerpa put it in zip lock bags and in your freezer over night then in the garbage
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by cveverly
http:///forum/post/2869725
I might consider a 20 gallon quarantine tank. A small bio wheel filter is ok. I like the AquaClear because they use a foam bio filter. You can have the foam in your sump until you are ready to use it. That way it will be loaded with good bacteria. When you are done just clean the filter good and put the sponge part back in the sump. Small power head is good to keep the bottom clean. You don't want to have to much flow and stress the fish. The lights don't matter much. Anything you have will work. Even a clamp light will work. Skip the sand but you can add some sections of PVC pipe for the fish to hide.
What are you going to do with the 210. If it is FOWLR (fish only with live rock) it will be cheaper and easier to get started. In my opinion sand is a determent because of the waste it traps. If you do use sand I would use just a thin layer. My tanks are bare bottom. I never have any waste with the exception of what gets trapped in the rock. You can use a turkey baster to blow the rocks off and let the sump filter sock and skimmer pull out the debris.
I would invest in a good skimmer. Since you have a sump look into the MSX or Reef Octopus skimmers. If your tank is not overstocked the Reef Octopus Extreme 200 would be a good choice. There are better skimmers but these are great for the money.
In addition to that get a couple more power heads. Like mentioned above the K4 is a good choice. Personally I would get 4. Point two at the live rock so water move through the rock. The other two at opposite side of the tank pointed at each other.
With FOWLR you do not need the high power lights or wave systems.
If you want to do a reef tank they require more lighting, better filter/skimmer and would benefit from wave makers.
The reason for mentioning the 10 gal and the stuff listed with it is because I already have them. If they will work, it would save me money that I can put into the 210 gal.
Thanks for the tips on the sump.
I will use everything that comes with it for now, unless something is broken. As money comes available, I will start upgrading then.
I like the looks of sand so unless it is a major problem, I plan on putting it in.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2869747
If you are going to dispose of the caulerpa put it in zip lock bags and in your freezer over night then in the garbage
Can I not just put it in my trash and put it in the dumster with the rest of my gargage?
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2869740
Ok just addressing the pic of your sump you need to wash off all the salt deposits that’s more then salt creep the reason you have it on your influent pipes and top of your bio ball box is that your blue filter material is so dirty that the water is backing up through the holes in the top of the box where the pipe fits in they are usually not water tight also the lip you see on the right side of the cover belongs inside the box you may have to fool with it but it will fit inside

Thanked the wrong person for the sump help, sorry...
Very informitive, Thanks
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2869366
I have not! Any sugestions would be great.
i assume your going reef...
cleaner crew -
dont do hermits IMO. they tend to eat snails. go with a bunch of snails( say 30 turbos & 10 cerith), a few emerald crabs, a cleaner shrimp, a coral banded shrimp, and a few peppermint shrimp or camel shrimp. they will do the hermits job. get a sand sifting star, and maybe a brittle star.
fish-
first i would add a small school of anthias or green chromis. cheap, peaceful, and relatively hardy, 5 -11 total. then i would get a maroon or gold/maroon clown. i would make sure a few anemone's are in place for it to host. next i would add a goby of some sort and a psuedochromis or basslet. last would be a foxface and up to 3 tangs. my faves are powder brown, purple, chevron, black, gold rim, powder blue, sail fin, achilles, and yellow. if i was gonna add 3 tangs to a 210 i would get them all around 2 to 3 inches and add them at the same time.
if your not going reef and are doing a LR/ fish only tank -
i would add a blue star fish and an urchin to the CUC. i would also seriously consider a large angel or a dwarf angel. queen, koran, majestic or few large ones i like. flame and coral beautys are awesome little fish. sub for the fox face.
in a FOWLR with proper lighting you can still keep anemones for clowns..
your in the fun position all of us hobbyist's envy, setting up a new tank...
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2869801
Can I not just put it in my trash and put it in the dumster with the rest of my gargage?
You most likely can with not consciences but for the better meant of the oceans please freeze
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by VinnyRaptor
http:///forum/post/2869858
i assume your going reef...
cleaner crew -
dont do hermits IMO. they tend to eat snails. go with a bunch of snails( say 30 turbos & 10 cerith), a few emerald crabs, a cleaner shrimp, a coral banded shrimp, and a few peppermint shrimp or camel shrimp. they will do the hermits job. get a sand sifting star, and maybe a brittle star.
fish-
first i would add a small school of anthias or green chromis. cheap, peaceful, and relatively hardy, 5 -11 total. then i would get a maroon or gold/maroon clown. i would make sure a few anemone's are in place for it to host. next i would add a goby of some sort and a psuedochromis or basslet. last would be a foxface and up to 3 tangs. my faves are powder brown, purple, chevron, black, gold rim, powder blue, sail fin, achilles, and yellow. if i was gonna add 3 tangs to a 210 i would get them all around 2 to 3 inches and add them at the same time.
if your not going reef and are doing a LR/ fish only tank -
i would add a blue star fish and an urchin to the CUC. i would also seriously consider a large angel or a dwarf angel. queen, koran, majestic or few large ones i like. flame and coral beautys are awesome little fish. sub for the fox face.
in a FOWLR with proper lighting you can still keep anemones for clowns..
your in the fun position all of us hobbyist's envy, setting up a new tank...

As I stated earlier, I know very little to nothing about saltwater tanks. With that said, how much harder is it to do Reef vs fowlr? Is there a lot of more stuff to purchase to go reef? Can I set up what I have, let it cycle, then decide?
I have never heard of most of the fish you listed, I will read up on them and give my thoughts. Thanks for the list. BTW, that seems like a lot of stuff listed in your cleanup crew.
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
as far as a CUC it's a 210 gal. so no i dont think its too much. you can always start with a FOWLR then go reef but you have to make sure the fish and inverts are reef safe.
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
Why is there such a rush on setting up the tank?
I understand there is livestock, but just drop the fish at your nearest shop and take some credit for when you have a better grip on your situation.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
http:///forum/post/2870478
Why is there such a rush on setting up the tank?
I understand there is livestock, but just drop the fish at your nearest shop and take some credit for when you have a better grip on your situation.

The tank is going to my store. It is small and has no extra room to store it. The only place to keep it will be its end location. I have to remove a glass display case and put the tank there. I am the only employee and my wife is the only one that can fill in. Friday and Saterday of this week is one of the few times I can get her to work for me, and I am closed on Sunday. This gives me three days to get the tank set back up. Confession time
I am the LFS...
It is a small pet store with all the furry critters, reptiles, birds and yes, freshwater fish. With the exception of walmart, I have the only fish within 40 miles. I have wanted to do saltwater but the store just opened this past Febuary and I did not want to incure the expense and have not had the time to study saltwater. When I was told I could have this tank, I thought it was the perfect time to get into saltwater. After I learn more by taking care of this tank, I will set up some saltwater tanks for fish resale. I currently sell some saltwater fish but the customers must pick them up the same day they are delivered to the store, I have no tank to keep them in.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
First, I would like to thank everyone that has answered this thread. Your help has been invaluable and I couldnt have done this without ya...

Ok, the plan:
I have 3 gargage cans with wheels. They are 65 gal., and 2 @ 80 gal. I will pump the water from the tank into these. I think I can get around 120 gallons in them. I will be pulling a trailer and these will go on it.
I have 4 totes that are 29 gallon each. I will put the live rock and tank water in these. This should be about another 40-60 gallons of water. These will be loaded in an SUV as soon as they are ready. Someone will transfer them to the store and put a powerhead and heater in each one.
Question: After I have the powerhead and heater in the totes with the LR, do I leave the lids off or close them up?
The "fish sitter" will be there and we will bag the fish for him to take to his tank.
I have a 35 gallon trash can to put the sand in. I will try to vacuum most of the algae off it and put the sand in the trash can with some more water. I am not real concerned about the sand as I have ordered more to put in the tank.
When everything is out of the tank, we will disassemble what is nessacary and load the tank and stand in the back of my truck and head for the store.
At the store, we will remove the display case and set the stand there. Next I will clean the tank, just the tank, and put it on the stand. I hope to have this done on Friday.
My RO unit will arrive on Friday and I will start making water then. It is 65gpd so I should have enough made by Sunday to top off the tank. My salt and sand will be here today.
Saturday I will try to get all of the tank accessories cleaned and installed.
Sunday I will work on cleaning the LR and placing it back in the tank with the sand and water from the garbage cans. I hope to turn everything back on Sunday afternoon.
Does this sound doable? What have I left out?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2869973
I live 600 miles from the ocean, is it still a problem?
Just do this take it out of your tank late at night (very important) decide it’s to late to dump it in the trash put it in your freezer. When you get up the next morning throw it out
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2870851
First, I would like to thank everyone that has answered this thread. Your help has been invaluable and I couldnt have done this without ya...

Ok, the plan:
I have 3 gargage cans with wheels. They are 65 gal., and 2 @ 80 gal. I will pump the water from the tank into these. I think I can get around 120 gallons in them. I will be pulling a trailer and these will go on it.
I have 4 totes that are 29 gallon each. I will put the live rock and tank water in these. This should be about another 40-60 gallons of water. These will be loaded in an SUV as soon as they are ready. Someone will transfer them to the store and put a powerhead and heater in each one.
Question: After I have the powerhead and heater in the totes with the LR, do I leave the lids off or close them up?
The "fish sitter" will be there and we will bag the fish for him to take to his tank.
I have a 35 gallon trash can to put the sand in. I will try to vacuum most of the algae off it and put the sand in the trash can with some more water. I am not real concerned about the sand as I have ordered more to put in the tank.
When everything is out of the tank, we will disassemble what is nessacary and load the tank and stand in the back of my truck and head for the store.
At the store, we will remove the display case and set the stand there. Next I will clean the tank, just the tank, and put it on the stand. I hope to have this done on Friday.
My RO unit will arrive on Friday and I will start making water then. It is 65gpd so I should have enough made by Sunday to top off the tank. My salt and sand will be here today.
Saturday I will try to get all of the tank accessories cleaned and installed.
Sunday I will work on cleaning the LR and placing it back in the tank with the sand and water from the garbage cans. I hope to turn everything back on Sunday afternoon.
Does this sound doable? What have I left out?
doesn't matter if lids are on or off unless there being stored in an area where stuff can get in the water. also since your an LFS might aswell drop some airstones in there too.
you dont need ALL of the sand a few lb.s of it will quickly seed the new sand. scoop out some cleaner looking sand from the bottom an put in in a nylon or sleeve and drop it in with the LR.
how many fish do you have and what are they? you could easily keep them alive in a new smaller tank with the 75% of the old tank water and some of the LR until the big tank is ready. a backpak skimmer and a few powerheads will suffice in a barebottomed tank with LR. when i say smaller i mean 55 gal or more or split up over several 29's maybe. depends on the livestock.
overall your plan is doable but i would plan on losing most of the fish. that big of a tank wont even stablize by sunday. get a list of the fish up and any inverts or corals you have and we'll be able to help you a little more....
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by VinnyRaptor
http:///forum/post/2871031
doesn't matter if lids are on or off unless there being stored in an area where stuff can get in the water. also since your an LFS might aswell drop some airstones in there too.
you dont need ALL of the sand a few lb.s of it will quickly seed the new sand. scoop out some cleaner looking sand from the bottom an put in in a nylon or sleeve and drop it in with the LR.
how many fish do you have and what are they? you could easily keep them alive in a new smaller tank with the 75% of the old tank water and some of the LR until the big tank is ready. a backpak skimmer and a few powerheads will suffice in a barebottomed tank with LR. when i say smaller i mean 55 gal or more or split up over several 29's maybe. depends on the livestock.
overall your plan is doable but i would plan on losing most of the fish. that big of a tank wont even stablize by sunday. get a list of the fish up and any inverts or corals you have and we'll be able to help you a little more....
Thanks for the sugestions. i will add air stones to the totes and use some of the sand like you stated.
The fish will be going to a "fish sitter" so they should be ok until the tank is ready for them.
 
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