Just getting started...need filtration advice

[blu11]

Hi there
I am starting my first saltwater tank & have a few q's. I just purchased a 46G Oceanic bow front....for now it will be a fish only, but after a few months I would like to try adding some anemones & soft corals. My plan is to put in 40-50lbs of live rock and a AquaC Remora MaxiJet 1200 skimmer. I was not planning on doing a sump but just adding either a canister or a power filter & probably a powerhead as well. Will this be effective enough flitration? If so what would you guys recommend more, a canister filter or power filter? I have been doing a lot of research but every book seems to tell you something different...
Any help you can give would be great...thanks

 

[airforceb2]

Welcome to the Boards!!
Fist of all...you should wait longer than a FEW months before adding an anemone or soft coral...at least 6 months.
IMO you should get a cannister over a HOB filter.
You will need more than one powerhead too. You want about 1100gph flow in your tank including skimmer and filter.

 

[blu11]

Thanks for the advice...that was going to be my 2nd question...how long to wait before adding anenomes? So about 6 months...how do I know when my tank is ready? When it is stable? I will probably get the canister filter then & a couple powerheads. Then I should be good to go huh...

 

[airforceb2]

Yeah, I would suggest a Cascade 1000 or 1200 and a couple Maxi-Jet 1200's with your skimmer would give you around 1100gph.
You won't really be able to tell when your tank is ready for anemones, you just have to give it time to mature. Your tank just has to get used to the environment. You can, however, tell when your tank is ready for inverts and fish. You mentioned that you were reading books which is awesome. I'm sure you have read about the cycle and all that. As soon as your ammonia and nitrites are at 0 and the nitrates are down around 20 you are ready to add the live stuff.

 

[wax32]

You don't need a filter, that's what your sand and rocks are for. I run a tiny aquaclear HoB filter on my tank with no filter pads or anything, just some LR rubble, as a mini-refugium and I occasionally put a small bag of carbon in there. I use the remora skimmer and it does a superb job of keeping my tank clean.
You will need a couple of MJ's like airforceb2 mentioned to keep your water flow up where corals like it.

 

[blu11]

Cool...thanks again for the info. I have 3 books I am working from...mainly "The New Marine Aquariium". Doing saltwater seems like a pretty big undertaking so I want to take it slow & do it right the first time. Know all about the cycling...hopefully I will have my first fish in a month or so

 

[wax32]

The Paletta book is a good one. Try the Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner too. I have a list of my favorite books on my webpage.

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by wax32
You don't need a filter, that's what your sand and rocks are for. I run a tiny aquaclear HoB filter on my tank with no filter pads or anything, just some LR rubble, as a mini-refugium and I occasionally put a small bag of carbon in there. I use the remora skimmer and it does a superb job of keeping my tank clean.
You will need a couple of MJ's like airforceb2 mentioned to keep your water flow up where corals like it.
Wow, don't need a filter? What size tank do you have?
This is enough for a 46gallon? No need for a sump or refug?
I may consider the 46 instead of my 65 if thats the case.
thanks in advance for any info!