justnu
Member
I am completely new to this so I hope my explanations make sense, and you (all) can help me along the way. I will be setting up a fish-only tank.ONLY. No live sand, no live rock.FISH, aragonite subtrate and tufa(?)/lava rock.
My tank has the overflow corner.(glass in the corner, 1" lower from top of tank, and the hole in the bottom.
First of all, this is the only type of saltwater tank I have seen. I have read other messages that think that a sump that need a pump to return the water is bad, but this is what I have. Each to their own,right?
What I plan on doing is:
Tube fit into hole on the bottom, sponge at the end of tube to collect larger waste particles.Plexi-glass divider.(2nd sect.)water flows over bio-balls.Plexi divider.(3rd)main section. I have read about others who have heaters in their sumps, I like that idea. BUT...in case my return pump dies when I'm away I am considering 200w in the sump and 200W submersible in tank....??
Is it necessary for water to be forced through activated carbon or is it as effective to flow through it. Don't know if I need an extra section for act.carbon or just attach Aquaclear 300 to the side.
Is it OK to put protein skimmer in this section?
BTW here's my rookie question...lol..what is the point of a protein skimmer in a fish-only tank anyway??? The only info I find on them claim to "remove all organic waste", isn't that referring to a reef-tank? I have read articles that say most waste is in the upper portion of the tank, so with my overflow isn't it going down into a filtration system as it is..? Sorry for the un-educated ignorance, but I (as well as my husband) have to question the function of such an expensive piece of equipment, and whether it relates to us. Which I wonder about powerheads too. For a fish-only tank we only need to worry about circulation for waste removal and for oxygen, don't we??Or does every saltwater tank need a powerhead?
Thanks in advance and sorry so long.
My tank has the overflow corner.(glass in the corner, 1" lower from top of tank, and the hole in the bottom.
First of all, this is the only type of saltwater tank I have seen. I have read other messages that think that a sump that need a pump to return the water is bad, but this is what I have. Each to their own,right?
What I plan on doing is:
Tube fit into hole on the bottom, sponge at the end of tube to collect larger waste particles.Plexi-glass divider.(2nd sect.)water flows over bio-balls.Plexi divider.(3rd)main section. I have read about others who have heaters in their sumps, I like that idea. BUT...in case my return pump dies when I'm away I am considering 200w in the sump and 200W submersible in tank....??
Is it necessary for water to be forced through activated carbon or is it as effective to flow through it. Don't know if I need an extra section for act.carbon or just attach Aquaclear 300 to the side.
Is it OK to put protein skimmer in this section?
BTW here's my rookie question...lol..what is the point of a protein skimmer in a fish-only tank anyway??? The only info I find on them claim to "remove all organic waste", isn't that referring to a reef-tank? I have read articles that say most waste is in the upper portion of the tank, so with my overflow isn't it going down into a filtration system as it is..? Sorry for the un-educated ignorance, but I (as well as my husband) have to question the function of such an expensive piece of equipment, and whether it relates to us. Which I wonder about powerheads too. For a fish-only tank we only need to worry about circulation for waste removal and for oxygen, don't we??Or does every saltwater tank need a powerhead?
Thanks in advance and sorry so long.
