Opinions Please!!!

fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
Ok, this is my first post, i'm obviously new to this. I want to have a FOWLR tank, with a pair of clowns, and a great clean-up crew. I have been doing a lot of research over the past month and have made a few purchases so far. Thought about doing a biocube 29g, but got talked out of it. So, I have got a 29 gallon Aqueon tank, a current USA dual 65 watt power compact light on it's way, and a koralia nano powerhead coming. Just piecing things together slowly.
My hubby is making a stand for me using some steel square tubing that we already have left over from a different project. Ok, all that out of the way, my question is about filters. Because i'm going to have a stand that is not closed off, I don't think I want a canister system or something that has to be hidden underneath. Also, I have little kids who would probably LOVE to get into anything I put down on ground level. I have seen on this site people talking about AquaClear power filters. Seems like they are well-liked for a HOB option. I was thinking about buying the Aquaclear 70 (300 gph) and using it only for chemical/mechanical filtration. If I have plenty of live rock and sand and water movement, is this going to work? Do I need to have a protein skimmer too? Or is there a better option for my set up?
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/2879710
Ok, this is my first post, i'm obviously new to this. I want to have a FOWLR tank, with a pair of clowns, and a great clean-up crew. I have been doing a lot of research over the past month and have made a few purchases so far. Thought about doing a biocube 29g, but got talked out of it. So, I have got a 29 gallon Aqueon tank, a current USA dual 65 watt power compact light on it's way, and a koralia nano powerhead coming. Just piecing things together slowly.
My hubby is making a stand for me using some steel square tubing that we already have left over from a different project. Ok, all that out of the way, my question is about filters. Because i'm going to have a stand that is not closed off, I don't think I want a canister system or something that has to be hidden underneath. Also, I have little kids who would probably LOVE to get into anything I put down on ground level. I have seen on this site people talking about AquaClear power filters. Seems like they are well-liked for a HOB option. I was thinking about buying the Aquaclear 70 (300 gph) and using it only for chemical/mechanical filtration. If I have plenty of live rock and sand and water movement, is this going to work? Do I need to have a protein skimmer too? Or is there a better option for my set up?
Just some free advice (take it or leave it); steel stands and saltwater tanks are not a good combination - if I had my camera here I would show you what I mean, but I don't. With the inevitable saltcreep that you get from your tank, the salt reacts with the steel/paint and greatly increases oxidation and rust. In or year or less that stand is going to look really nasty, especially a concern if you have small children around. Just my $.02 worth.
 
1990jpyj

1990jpyj

Member
on my 55g i have 1 emperer 400 and an aqua clear 110(modded for a fuge) and it seems to do very well. i also have a protein skimmer but for your size tank that wont be needed.
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/2879740
Ok, Scopus, thanks for the heads up.

Not a problem. Sorry I can't give you any advice on the HOB filter, because I won't use them - to big of an creator of salt creep in my experience. I have used both HOB and canisters in the past, and forced to choose between them (personally I would go with a DSB and a protein skimmer and forget the filter all together), on a salt tank I, I would go with the canister. They are all enclosed, and I have one sitting out in my classroom that isn't hidden - not a big deal (of course with small children tubing run to the filter might be an issue). The hassel with the canister is maintainence, but you're going to have similar issues with a HOB.
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
Thanks for the advice. Glad to hear I may not need the skimmer, at least not right away. So, would i want to take out the sponge & bioballs that come with the aquaclear 70 and just put media bags in there? Would it be better to get two AC70's and leave one with the sponge/balls setup? Or would my LR and sand be enough bio filter with the extra koralia nano powerhead?
Thanks again. THis seems so confusing sometimes to get started. Seems like there's a thousand different ways of doing things....
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
OK, so Scopus, another option for my small setup would be to not get the filter at all and just buy a really good skimmer? What would u recommend? Also, when i hear DSB, does that mean the actual depth of sand used, or is it layering it a certain way or what? How do I go about creating the proper DSB in your opinion? Thanks!
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/2879779
OK, so Scopus, another option for my small setup would be to not get the filter at all and just buy a really good skimmer? What would u recommend? Also, when i hear DSB, does that mean the actual depth of sand used, or is it layering it a certain way or what? How do I go about creating the proper DSB in your opinion? Thanks!
Chuckle - I can tell you what skimmers not to buy as HOBs; Skilter or SeaClone; I've had decent luck with the coralife or the Redsea Prism - but wouldn't say great - others are probably better to ask on good skimmers. DSB means both actual depth (over 3") and layering IMO (others will argue that layering doesn't matter). I use actual Calcium Carbonate chunks or fair-sized shell pieces (available at *****) as the bottom layer, than a layer of courser aragonite sand, followed by a layer of fine aragonite sand on top (be sure and place your rock on the bare bottom (or on a layer of eggcrate), and then pour sand around it.
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
i think a good hang on skimmer is more important than any other types of mechanical filters. if it were me i'd go with a hang on skimmer and and some sort of hang on bio-wheel filter. emporer 300 or 400. i have a 95 bowfront and the stand doesn't allow me to put a fuge underneath so i have a hang on skimmer, a emporer 400 and a magnum 350 canister. if i could only keep one it would be the skimmer. my tank's water parameters hover near perfect always. i only recently added the canister and only because someone gave it to me. i filled it with bioballs and wrapped the chamber in a pad.
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by VinnyRaptor
http:///forum/post/2879841
i think a good hang on skimmer is more important than any other types of mechanical filters. if it were me i'd go with a hang on skimmer and and some sort of hang on bio-wheel filter. emporer 300 or 400. i have a 95 bowfront and the stand doesn't allow me to put a fuge underneath so i have a hang on skimmer, a emporer 400 and a magnum 350 canister. if i could only keep one it would be the skimmer. my tank's water parameters hover near perfect always. i only recently added the canister and only because someone gave it to me. i filled it with bioballs and wrapped the chamber in a pad.
I've run canisters with LR pieces, actually prefer that over the bioballs (don't have to clean out as often).
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/2879776
Thanks for the advice. Glad to hear I may not need the skimmer, at least not right away. So, would i want to take out the sponge & bioballs that come with the aquaclear 70 and just put media bags in there? Would it be better to get two AC70's and leave one with the sponge/balls setup? Or would my LR and sand be enough bio filter with the extra koralia nano powerhead?
Thanks again. THis seems so confusing sometimes to get started. Seems like there's a thousand different ways of doing things....

there are, its whatever works. the best way to ensure a healthy tank is not filters/skimmers etc. it's balance. if your talking a 29 gal with only 2 clowns lots of LR and a nice CUC your good to go right there. all you need to do really is move the water around. are you doing a deep sand bed or a shallow one? i always go 2 to 3 inches of straight fine sand. i seed it with a few lb.s of live sand and thats it. a nice hang on skimmer will keep your water pristine IMO....
 
fishyfun2

fishyfun2

Member
Thanks, everyone for all of your input. I do appreciate hearing what works for people. THis is a great site for that! I guess searching for a "cookie cutter" setup is just not realistic huh?

Regarding the sand bed issue, I guess I hadn't made any decisions on that yet. I'm definitely doing sand, not crushed coral. I like the look of a deep bed and wanted to have some critters to sift it. I've heard if you get it too deep that's not good either? Is this the reason for the layering of different sizes of sand? I originally thought I would do a 3" bed of 1-2mm Aragonite mixed half & half with a fine dry sand. Maybe I need to rethink this though?
 
scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by FishyFun2
http:///forum/post/2879947
Thanks, everyone for all of your input. I do appreciate hearing what works for people. THis is a great site for that! I guess searching for a "cookie cutter" setup is just not realistic huh?

Regarding the sand bed issue, I guess I hadn't made any decisions on that yet. I'm definitely doing sand, not crushed coral. I like the look of a deep bed and wanted to have some critters to sift it. I've heard if you get it too deep that's not good either? Is this the reason for the layering of different sizes of sand? I originally thought I would do a 3" bed of 1-2mm Aragonite mixed half & half with a fine dry sand. Maybe I need to rethink this though?
Nope, there really is no "cookie cutter" method or even a single "best practice" method.
As for the sand, as long as you stay between 3 to 5 inches you should have no issues; various reasons are proposed for the different size sand grains (fine sand on top to reduce/prevent the permiation of oxygen rich water so the bottom layers are oxygen poor/course layer or plenum on the bottom to provide a site for anaerobic bacteria to live/grow). I like the cc or shell on the bottom, because the anaerobic conditions are acidic, and the calcium carbonate (which is what shells are composed of) will break down slowly over time release carbon into your system. Others will argue that recent evidence shows that sand grain size isn't a big issue and depth is a much bigger factor in making the DSB function properly.
 
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