F
fishhugger
Guest
To start off, I know that this thread could belong in a variety of different locations, but regardless of the different topics of the questions I would like to ask, they are sortof new hobbyist questions, so I thought this would be my best bet. >.<
I doubt anyone remembers me, but I posted here when I was 13 years old. I had always dreamed of starting a saltwater tank, but the lack of funds and know-how really put a damper on that. 6 years later and one failed attempt due to lack of funds and inexperience with nano-tanks, I now have the capital to go along with the know-how.
Anyways, I currently have a 55 gallon cichlid setup, but my tank went to hell after having all my equipment fail (3 filters and a heater stopped working). Between an overnight full time job and a part time day job and trying to catch up on car payments, I had neither the time or money to get it back together. But now that I have gotten my assets together, I have ordered some new equipment.
Today I had some downtime so I full drained my tank, and repositioned it to a more level spot.
With my new equipment coming, I decided it might be time for some change. I decided I'm going to flush my cichlids and....just kidding, please don't freak out >.<. I have a friend who will take the cichlids, and I would like to have a single GSP in my tank.
Despite my tank getting extremely dirty over the last couple months, all my cichlids survived that episode with no noticeable illnesses and still retaining their color. Granted they are probably really prone to catching something, but I really didnt have anyway to get them to a better place, my lfs wouldnt take them, and no one on craigslist wanted them. So my plan was to (and this is where my questions start), after ditching the cichlids, I would like to purchase a GSP and over the next 13 weeks raise the salinity to a full marine level. Since my tank is already fully cycled since the sand should allow for enough bacteria to survive the full drain, would this allow for enough time for the tank to go through the process again without killing all the freshwater bacteria at once, and causing any spikes in the cycle? Sorry if the wording is very poor here, I wasnt really sure how to ask what I wanted.
Basically I want to know if adding any amount of salt would kill the FW bacteria and basically render my tank uncycled. Or would the whole tank 'acclimate' to the conditions. Because I can only buy a GSP in freshwater, I dont really see anyway around it.
Other questions are about my equipment.
I ordered this filter off of ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/100-G-AQUARIUM-CANISTER-FILTER-EXTERNAL-PUMP-FILTRATION_W0QQitemZ190474397382QQcategoryZ46310QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m506QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DNGRI%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D150524647668%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5375084811137236177
along with a simple 9w UV filter. The UV filter PROBABLY isnt really substantial enough for a 55 gallon setup, however, It should help a bit, and I imagine it would be pretty usefull in a 20-30 gallon quarantine tank, should I set one up.
I had read good things about that filter, how it is somewhat underrated because of the doubt people have in the off/no name brands. But I really imagine it either works or doesnt. I dont see how their could be any inbetween ground, aside from possibly the the impeller not operating at its full capacity. Regardless, the few reviews that I read on it said it works and well.
Any opinions on that?
On anoter note, for having only one fish, even with GSP's being relatively dirty fish, would I really need any more then that filter and the 9w uv filter? I have a few spare powerheads that can be equiped with sponges for a bit more mechanical filtration. I know what turnover rates are needed for saltwater, and that wont be a problem
Lighting. I ordered this light http://cgi.ebay.com/48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Cichlid-Marine-108W-New-/300481848414?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f61d245e
Because I would really like to get rid of the two stock 55 gallon hoods that I have. They are dim and dirty, and an eyesore IMO. If i were to get something like that would I need to get some sort of cover? I have cats but im not too worried about them getting into it, they have learned their lesson >
. Hoods arent cheap, and I dont like the way they look, so this seemed like the perfect solution to me.
I know the GSP's cant really be kept with any kindof coral, but is it the same with plants too? And would the single 12k t5 light and long with the t5 actinic be enough for any kind of plant or coral? Im not to concerned if its not, but should I someday decide to go in a different direction, would I have to upgrade again?
Last question, I've heard mixed reviews about tank mates, but I never really looked into on this forum. Is there any kind of fish with that would be capable of surving with a GSP? I'm not looking to overload my tank, but I dont want it to be too bland.
Thats about it. I hope this post is ok here, because I really didnt feel like peicing it out. Thanks in advance.
I doubt anyone remembers me, but I posted here when I was 13 years old. I had always dreamed of starting a saltwater tank, but the lack of funds and know-how really put a damper on that. 6 years later and one failed attempt due to lack of funds and inexperience with nano-tanks, I now have the capital to go along with the know-how.
Anyways, I currently have a 55 gallon cichlid setup, but my tank went to hell after having all my equipment fail (3 filters and a heater stopped working). Between an overnight full time job and a part time day job and trying to catch up on car payments, I had neither the time or money to get it back together. But now that I have gotten my assets together, I have ordered some new equipment.
Today I had some downtime so I full drained my tank, and repositioned it to a more level spot.
With my new equipment coming, I decided it might be time for some change. I decided I'm going to flush my cichlids and....just kidding, please don't freak out >.<. I have a friend who will take the cichlids, and I would like to have a single GSP in my tank.
Despite my tank getting extremely dirty over the last couple months, all my cichlids survived that episode with no noticeable illnesses and still retaining their color. Granted they are probably really prone to catching something, but I really didnt have anyway to get them to a better place, my lfs wouldnt take them, and no one on craigslist wanted them. So my plan was to (and this is where my questions start), after ditching the cichlids, I would like to purchase a GSP and over the next 13 weeks raise the salinity to a full marine level. Since my tank is already fully cycled since the sand should allow for enough bacteria to survive the full drain, would this allow for enough time for the tank to go through the process again without killing all the freshwater bacteria at once, and causing any spikes in the cycle? Sorry if the wording is very poor here, I wasnt really sure how to ask what I wanted.
Basically I want to know if adding any amount of salt would kill the FW bacteria and basically render my tank uncycled. Or would the whole tank 'acclimate' to the conditions. Because I can only buy a GSP in freshwater, I dont really see anyway around it.
Other questions are about my equipment.
I ordered this filter off of ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/100-G-AQUARIUM-CANISTER-FILTER-EXTERNAL-PUMP-FILTRATION_W0QQitemZ190474397382QQcategoryZ46310QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m506QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DNGRI%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D150524647668%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5375084811137236177
along with a simple 9w UV filter. The UV filter PROBABLY isnt really substantial enough for a 55 gallon setup, however, It should help a bit, and I imagine it would be pretty usefull in a 20-30 gallon quarantine tank, should I set one up.
I had read good things about that filter, how it is somewhat underrated because of the doubt people have in the off/no name brands. But I really imagine it either works or doesnt. I dont see how their could be any inbetween ground, aside from possibly the the impeller not operating at its full capacity. Regardless, the few reviews that I read on it said it works and well.
Any opinions on that?
On anoter note, for having only one fish, even with GSP's being relatively dirty fish, would I really need any more then that filter and the 9w uv filter? I have a few spare powerheads that can be equiped with sponges for a bit more mechanical filtration. I know what turnover rates are needed for saltwater, and that wont be a problem
Lighting. I ordered this light http://cgi.ebay.com/48-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Hood-Cichlid-Marine-108W-New-/300481848414?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f61d245e
Because I would really like to get rid of the two stock 55 gallon hoods that I have. They are dim and dirty, and an eyesore IMO. If i were to get something like that would I need to get some sort of cover? I have cats but im not too worried about them getting into it, they have learned their lesson >
. Hoods arent cheap, and I dont like the way they look, so this seemed like the perfect solution to me.I know the GSP's cant really be kept with any kindof coral, but is it the same with plants too? And would the single 12k t5 light and long with the t5 actinic be enough for any kind of plant or coral? Im not to concerned if its not, but should I someday decide to go in a different direction, would I have to upgrade again?
Last question, I've heard mixed reviews about tank mates, but I never really looked into on this forum. Is there any kind of fish with that would be capable of surving with a GSP? I'm not looking to overload my tank, but I dont want it to be too bland.
Thats about it. I hope this post is ok here, because I really didnt feel like peicing it out. Thanks in advance.
