kas2247
Member
Hi everyone,
I have a 20H tank that used to be freshwater, but when a horrendous outbreak of Ich killed my entire tank, I decided to tear it down and wait a little while until I could afford to set it up as saltwater. I don't expect a whole lot from this tank, i'm looking at it as big learning experience and don't plan to add fish for quite a while. I've been reading on this board off and on for at least a year and have learned TONS of info, but now I have a few questions of my own. Basically, all I really want to do right now is fill it up with water, 20ish# LR & 20ish#LS, cycle, add some crabs, shrimp, etc... a decent sized clean-up crew (and yes, I know they will clean the tank then have nothing else to eat, so I plan to keep feeding the tank to create waste... will this work?). Maybe in 6 months or so, I'll add a clown or two and maybe one or two other small fish.
What pieces of equipment can I absolutely not do without? I would like to add a sump/fuge down the road, but can't right now. I have a HOB carbon filter that was used for FW, there are no metal parts in it to rust, can this be run? Also, all I have are the standard floursecent lights that came on it. Will these be sufficient for what I plan to do? Are there any corals that I could eventually add with only floursecent lights? And last, without fish in the tank, do I absolutely need a skimmer? If so, could someone recommend a not-too-pricey one that will do the job? I'd like a HOB AND In-Sump model so that I can use it now, but still be able to put it in my sump down the road a bit. I bought salt, a refractometer, and a bunch of test kits a few months ago, so all of that is already taken care of.
Thanks in advance for the help--I know people say not to skimp on the equipment, but I don't have any choice right now and I really want to get this tank set back up--even if all it has is the rock & sand. It's just sitting here empty begging to be filled with water and making me very depressed.
Thanks and Hello to everyone!
I have a 20H tank that used to be freshwater, but when a horrendous outbreak of Ich killed my entire tank, I decided to tear it down and wait a little while until I could afford to set it up as saltwater. I don't expect a whole lot from this tank, i'm looking at it as big learning experience and don't plan to add fish for quite a while. I've been reading on this board off and on for at least a year and have learned TONS of info, but now I have a few questions of my own. Basically, all I really want to do right now is fill it up with water, 20ish# LR & 20ish#LS, cycle, add some crabs, shrimp, etc... a decent sized clean-up crew (and yes, I know they will clean the tank then have nothing else to eat, so I plan to keep feeding the tank to create waste... will this work?). Maybe in 6 months or so, I'll add a clown or two and maybe one or two other small fish.
What pieces of equipment can I absolutely not do without? I would like to add a sump/fuge down the road, but can't right now. I have a HOB carbon filter that was used for FW, there are no metal parts in it to rust, can this be run? Also, all I have are the standard floursecent lights that came on it. Will these be sufficient for what I plan to do? Are there any corals that I could eventually add with only floursecent lights? And last, without fish in the tank, do I absolutely need a skimmer? If so, could someone recommend a not-too-pricey one that will do the job? I'd like a HOB AND In-Sump model so that I can use it now, but still be able to put it in my sump down the road a bit. I bought salt, a refractometer, and a bunch of test kits a few months ago, so all of that is already taken care of.
Thanks in advance for the help--I know people say not to skimp on the equipment, but I don't have any choice right now and I really want to get this tank set back up--even if all it has is the rock & sand. It's just sitting here empty begging to be filled with water and making me very depressed.
Thanks and Hello to everyone!