My current setup, is it ok?

[yellowg555]

I have yet to start cycling my new 140G tank, and was wondering if this setup would work ok. The tank I got came with 2 Magnum 350 filters, one with a micron filter to polish the water and the other with charcoal in a mesh sleeve surrounded by a filter pad. The guy I bought it from ran this setup fine in his freshwater tank, but I don't know if this would work in a saltwater environment. It also came with 2 rio powerheads, one of which aerates the water. I have purchased enough aragonite and live sand for a 4" DSB. I am also planning on adding about 70 pounds of live rock. This is going to be a FOWLR tank.
So I guess to sum up...do you guys see anything wrong with this setup? Will charcoal mess things up?
Thanks a bunch.

 

[richard rendos]

Without a biofilter, 70 pounds of live rock is really not enough for that size tank. I would recommend more live rock or adding a biological filter...i.e. wet/dry. Also, I would recommend taking the air line off the RIO powerhead...this will just cause water splash and salt creep in the future. Still use the powerhead, just don't use the air feature. Also, you may want to add a protein skimmer.
Other than that, I think it sounds okay.

 

[yellowg555]

How will the water get oxygen then? About the biofiltration, I don't want a wall of rock look, I just want to make this tank an aggressive tank with plenty of room for them to swim. Won't a 4inch DSB and 70 pounds of live rock be enough for biofiltration? I was thinking of a protein skimmer, but I've read that you don't necessarily need one. I'm kind of on a tight budget.

 

[fshhub]

no, you do not need a protein skimmer. But they are highly reccomended. If you are going to have an ggressive tank, tho I would defintiely have an aggressive skimmer.
More LR is a good idea as well. I takes alot fo rock to make a wall of rock as you have called it. But the extra rock will add to the biofilter. and to the tanks stability.
as for the aerating of water, the pumps and filters will add enough oxygen. Soem people point a powerhead at the surface to creat more aggitation. BUT introducing air is not needed and will become more work for you anyhow.

 

[richard rendos]

As I stated in the post above, add a biological filter like a wet/dry. A wet/dry is a sump that goes under your tank and contains bio-balls. Wet/dry filters are extremely efficient biofilters. This will eliminate the need for more live rock (and the rock wall). Do a search on google.com for wet/dry filter...you will get lots of information.
How will the water get oxygen? - surface aggitation is where oxygenation occurs. If the surface of your water is moving, oxygen is being absorbed. Plus if you add a wet/dry, and/or a protein skimmer, they will add even more oxygen.

 

[landlocked]

I am adding a protein skimmer tonight to my 75 gal. Fish only tank with CC and BioBalls.
I have been up and running since new year's and thought I had cycled. Took out the four mollies today and now have only 2 percula clowns (for past 10 days) and clean up crew (for 3 weeks).
Water is today: SG 1.022; Nitrates <10; pH 8.2;
Ammonia is now 0.25;
Nitrites now spiked to 3.0
Questions:
1. Do I do a partial water change now? I have only ever done one about 10 days ago of 12 gals. Same day clowns went in.
2. Is BioBlend food okay? Switched to that the same day I put in clowns, was using Wardley's flake before.
3. Water used for change was conditioned tap water-used Stress Coat and Stress Zyme and let sit x 3 days. Used Instant Ocean salt.
4. Have been giving the clowns a bit of frozen brine shrimp every other day-is this a problem?
5. Will the protein skimmer help?
THANKS!

 

[yellowg555]

I am getting all my sand by the middle of next week and I had a question about that. If add 40 pounds of live sand (from this website) on top of the dead aragonite sand I'm getting, then add saltwater...will the newly mixed saltwater kill off a lot of the "live" elements of the live sand? Should I add the saltwater to the dead sand first then add the live sand later?