New Tank Setup Questions

[englewood jack]

Hello All,
I have a couple of questions regarding a new saltwater tank setup. Currently I have a cichlid tank that is extremely boring and I would like to convert it to a saltwater tank.
List of gear:
90 gallon tank
standard tank light
UV light
Rena xp4
2 powerheads
1 HOB filter (very common one, just forgot the name).
I would like to purchase some live sand (2" across the bottom) and purchase some base rock and seed them both with a some live rock.
I know you should start it right and have 1-2lb per gallon for the live rock but that is not possible in my current $$$ situation. I would like to build it slowly adding stuff as I go.
I am looking to start a FOWLR tank. No plans for coral.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Chuck

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Englewood Jack
http:///forum/post/3210995
Hello All,
I have a couple of questions regarding a new saltwater tank setup. Currently I have a cichlid tank that is extremely boring and I would like to convert it to a saltwater tank.
List of gear:
90 gallon tank
standard tank light
UV light
Rena xp4
2 powerheads
1 HOB filter (very common one, just forgot the name).
I would like to purchase some live sand (2" across the bottom) and purchase some base rock and seed them both with a some live rock.
I know you should start it right and have 1-2lb per gallon for the live rock but that is not possible in my current $$$ situation. I would like to build it slowly adding stuff as I go.
I am looking to start a FOWLR tank. No plans for coral.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Chuck

For fish only you would be good to go. Building your rocks slow is no problem, but make very sure the rock is stable as you build. Always rock should be on the bottom, then add the sand.
HOB filters cause allot of splash and therefore salt creep. I use caniser filters myself, I don't like plumbing.

 

[englewood jack]

Thank you very much for the reply!!

 

[bigalulrich]

I might be over-cautious here, but be careful with the sand bed depth. Rule of thumb is more than 4 inches (for a deep sand bed) or very shallow....probably less than an inch
Reason is that dead-spots form in the bed, anaerobic bacteria get in there and it 'could' cause problems down the road.
Probably not likely, but not sure why you picked 2 inches--if you're not 100% bought in to that, I'd consider going thinner...maybe just a light coating
Hope that helps. Otherwise, plan looks fine. Make sure to cycle your tank fully and add fish slowly!!!

 

[florida joe]

Ok I really really really am sorry but this is why i need to vent.
I might be over-cautious here, but be careful with the sand bed depth. Rule of thumb is more than 4 inches (for a deep sand bed) or very shallow....probably less than an inch
Reason is that dead-spots form in the bed, anaerobic bacteria get in there and it 'could' cause problems down the road.
Probably not likely, but not sure why you picked 2 inches--if you're not 100% bought in to that, I'd consider going thinner...maybe just a light coating
If anyone else sees a problem with the quote above PLEASE help the OP out

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by bigalulrich
http:///forum/post/3218191
I might be over-cautious here, but be careful with the sand bed depth. Rule of thumb is more than 4 inches (for a deep sand bed) or very shallow....probably less than an inch
Reason is that dead-spots form in the bed, anaerobic bacteria get in there and it 'could' cause problems down the road.
Probably not likely, but not sure why you picked 2 inches--if you're not 100% bought in to that, I'd consider going thinner...maybe just a light coating
Hope that helps. Otherwise, plan looks fine. Make sure to cycle your tank fully and add fish slowly!!!
Hey Bigal. A little clarification here.
DSB (deep sand beds) are best at 4+inches. In a DSB part of the logistics that happen are that there are areas of low oxygen. (anaerobic areas) In these areas the anaerobic bacteria thrive. These are the bacteria that convert nitrates into harmless nitrogen gas. Definitely a good thing. The planning for a DSB and the maintenance of them that need to be completely understood before attempting them, just like anything else in this hobby. The dead spots that you speak of occur when there are not enough sand dwelling, stirring, sifting creatures in the sand to keep the detritus consumed and the detritus decaying causing pockets of gas that if released in quantity cause problems in the tank. The sand dwelling creatures keep this detritus in check and keep the sand stirred so that whatever gas is released is done so in small insignificant quantities
On the shallow end of a sand bed usually the recommendation is less than 3 inches.
To the original poster you should be fine with what you want to do. The 2" sandbed works and whatever you can get or want for some rock right now is good. Hopefully you have gone to the sticky threads at the top of this section and read up on starting a tank, the nitrogen cycle and all of the other pertinent information amassed there. If you have any other question that you can't grasp from the information please keep posting here so you have a good basic knowledge before setting up your system.
And we enjoy seeing progress pictures as you get into the wonderful hobby you have chosen.