New to SW - FOWLR

ckk125

ckk125

Member
hey all..
is it possible to have a SW aquarium without any substrate but a few LR?mine is a 30 gallon..can it run just on a HOB filter and some live rocks?Can i use a pair of percula clown or any damsels to cycle the tank?i read about this before but the LFS owner told me not to get any for the time being.should i get one?thanks in advance.
 
whitey

whitey

Member
Do not use fish to cycle your tank.
Do a search on cycle at this site and you'll be walked through it.
Too much to explain here, but it's not difficult.
I would always use a substrate. If anything, I would think fish would become stressed by seeing reflections and you don't want stressed fish.
I would also look into getting a protien skimmer for your size tank. The HOB filter will only sustain water quality for so long. Skimmers lead to success.
 
ckk125

ckk125

Member
i'll try to get a skimmer in the next few months..well, can 20+ lbs of LR enough without sand?im only getting 2 percula clowns.
 
whitey

whitey

Member
I would always cover the bottom with somthing.
Glass reflects in weird ways especially with florecsent lighting. This will most likely stress the fish out, and this is when you run into problems with ich.
A sand substrate looks more natural anyways. What is it you don't like about it?
 
ckk125

ckk125

Member
its currently covered with some white stuff from the ocean salt.can i just use conventional ones just to cover the base? its quite costly and if its not necessary, i want to save the money for a skimmer
 
whitey

whitey

Member
If your salt is fully disolved you shouldn't have any white on the bottom.
The last time I checked, sand for a 30 gallon was not too expensive.
I would always use a substrate.
JMO
 
ckk125

ckk125

Member
yea..it is not..but if i buy, i have to buy like 55 pounds or 40 pounds which is way too much..
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Whitey
Glass reflects in weird ways especially with florecsent lighting. This will most likely stress the fish out, and this is when you run into problems with ich.
This is silly, nonsense advice. To suggest that this parasite is born from flourescent lighting and fish reflections is about as accurate as the boogey man.
Many people have had success with bare bottom tanks. Do a search and you'll see some. If you don't want substrate, then you should have more liverock to help with filtration. Unfortunately, this will not save you any money... it would actually be more expensive.
 
ckk125

ckk125

Member
well, if i go and get a another LR, it'll be cheaper than buying one whole big packet of dead sand..the LFS guys dont sell live sand...just dead sand and LR.Thx alot man
 
whitey

whitey

Member
Crimzy you must have a sad little life to try and one up me in every post.
Truth is, you're a moron.
I said nothing about light causing ich. I'm gonna bet that the clowns he adds are not going in a QT tank before the show tank. Which means there is a good chance the clowns from the LFS being in with countless others could be carrying the parasite.
What happens when fish become stressed? Their Immune System breaks down, doing what? Making them more prone to being attacked by the ich that they may have brought into the tank.
Bare bottom tanks do reflect in wierd ways, the same reason you don't use a mirror background. The mirror could stress fish in the same way.
It was simply my opinion and it was based on fact. So just mind your own pitiful life and post relevent thoughts.
 
whitey

whitey

Member
Originally Posted by Saltwater8
Not to be rude, but if you are looking for a hobby you can get by doing cheap - this is NOT that hobby.


Agree
 
dea_mt

dea_mt

Member
jcrim is no moron. in fact he is 100% correct so let's reassess the situation here. many people do in fact do barebottom tanks. many swear by it. some claim that a sand bed is a detritus/nitrate bomb waiting to explode. just so you know that if you do do a BB tank you will have the vacuum it yourself.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Whitey
Crimzy you must have a sad little life to try and one up me in every post.
Truth is, you're a moron.
I said nothing about light causing ich. I'm gonna bet that the clowns he adds are not going in a QT tank before the show tank. Which means there is a good chance the clowns from the LFS being in with countless others could be carrying the parasite.
What happens when fish become stressed? Their Immune System breaks down, doing what? Making them more prone to being attacked by the ich that they may have brought into the tank.
Bare bottom tanks do reflect in wierd ways, the same reason you don't use a mirror background. The mirror could stress fish in the same way.
It was simply my opinion and it was based on fact. So just mind your own pitiful life and post relevent thoughts.

I'm not trying to argue. Just cleaning up your misinformation that you pass off as sound advice. The original poster was asking about bare bottom tank. I'm just answering his question. :notsure:
 
whitey

whitey

Member
Originally Posted by crimzy
I'm not trying to argue. Just cleaning up your misinformation that you pass off as sound advice. The original poster was asking about bare bottom tank. I'm just answering his question. :notsure:

How many times today have you checked for my latest post so you can respond to it?
Man I feel bad for you.
Re-read the posts. Find some misinformation and post it. I stated my opninoin which is based on fact, and because you're more of a child than your own, you had to make a comment.
Keep it up kid. You rule.
 
debbie

debbie

Active Member
Originally Posted by ckk125
hey all..
is it possible to have a SW aquarium without any substrate but a few LR?mine is a 30 gallon..can it run just on a HOB filter and some live rocks?Can i use a pair of percula clown or any damsels to cycle the tank?i read about this before but the LFS owner told me not to get any for the time being.should i get one?thanks in advance.

Hi, I have a 25 gal. I do have live sand in mine but only 1/2" bed. I don't like deep beds. But there are lots of pic if you do a search that have no substrate. As for the filteration, I use 2 HOB Aqua Clear filters on my tank. I do not have a skimmer nor do I need one. I mainly have a FOWLR tank, I don't have alot of rock but enough for now. If you ever want to go in a reef tank though you would need to do some posting regarding that before you add corals.
This hobby is expensive but it can be alot of fun. Go slow read lots and enjoy.....
 
ckk125

ckk125

Member
guys..dont get me wrong, i dont need to get it, i wont use that money..its called spending wisely..not going cheap..im not going into reef tank
 
T

the_fish

Guest
Originally Posted by crimzy
This is silly, nonsense advice. To suggest that this parasite is born from flourescent lighting and fish reflections is about as accurate as the boogey man.
Many people have had success with bare bottom tanks. Do a search and you'll see some. If you don't want substrate, then you should have more liverock to help with filtration. Unfortunately, this will not save you any money... it would actually be more expensive.
the boogey man is not real? LMAO
 
ckk125

ckk125

Member
I do have 2 LR but nothing much on it..the LR is fully cured.Is it normal? I just tossed 3 pieces of prawn into the tank..when should I remove it?
 
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