Starting over again

[bkc978]

Here is my equipment/setup:
45G (36x12x24H) tank
Fluval 304 Canister Filter (Foam/Pre-filter/Carbon/BioMax)
Seaclone skimmer
Flourescent light (24"(18?) Coralife 50/50)
Turbo-Twist 9V UV filter (currently not attached)
3" CC bed (I have removed all but one decoration for the perc - this makes cleaning the tank easier, when i get to it)
Here is my history:
I had the tank for about 9 months, and was slowly adding fish. When I finally added the Flame Angel I had been DYING to get, I got ich and all my fish except one false perc (an astrea and some hermits) died.
That poor guy has been alone for about 12 months, and now I am finally getting off my butt and getting my tank going again.
Obviously I have not kept up with water quality and I have had slime, brown, and hair algaea
Here is my long-term goal for the tank:
I want to get some LS/LR and eventually add (in order) snails & crabs, another perc or 2, star, 2-3 small colorful fish, shrimp, and a flame angel (maybe sea cuke, maybe a few hardy corals eventually).
Here is my plan:
1. Obviously I start with massive water changes, I have done 30% so far, will do at least another 50% in the next week or 2
2. I have ordered new hoses and will be putting the UV filter on the output from my Fluval 304 (using a ball valve so i can divert SOME of the output through the UV when in use - plus I don't plan on using the UV 100% of the time)
3. Take out the CC bottom and replace with 20# LS and 10-20# aragonite (or some such)
4. Get a crew that will keep the tank clean (snails, crabs)
5. Get a new lighting system
6. Buy about 35# of LR
7. Start adding the rest of my stock
Here are my questions:
1. Looking at what i want to eventually stock my tank with (LR and mostly fish), how much wattage do I need, and can i get away with saving my $$ and staying with flourescent lights (2 or 3 bulbs would give me about 60-90w)?
I saw an Odyssey PC light (2x96) +3 lunar LED for $75 NIB on that auction site- is this going to be too much light if i don't plan on having coral and anenomes? is that bad?
It sounds really cheap- but am I buying a piece of junk?
2. I am making the switch to sand so i can buy animals to keep it stirred up for me, and it seems like now to do water changes- I never need to vacuum again,I can just siphon off - is this true (I hope so!)
3. What are everyones thoughts on UV filters? I have heard good and bad. My plan was to run it for the next few weeks to help me get the algea under control, and then only use it when i added new fish and/or got a disease in my tank (I cannot get a QT - no room in my place)

 

[bkc978]

Is this too many questions for a thread? Should I break this out into 3 different categories?

 

[monalisa]

BKC,
I really wish I could help you...too new at this myself. I was just hoping that if we bump this thread up a bit more, you would get the answers that you need. I wonder if you would post this in the disease forum, that maybe you would get more response. You certainly have posted everything to a tee, so I wouldn't think there will be a problem getting answers. Best of luck to you...see you 'round the forums.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[ophiura]

Sounds pretty good...just go slow and steady Personally, I don't use or really believe in using UV filters. That is a personal preference but I think the money can be better spent.
Are you SURE you do not want corals in the future? Because the flourescents probably would not be suitable for all that much but the PC's open some opportunities for you. You may want to ask specifically about that light fixture...is it a Jebo? If so, not the best....

 

[bkc978]

Thanks Mona - I think the questions on substrate and lighting could be helpful for us beginners - but there is sooo much information out there - I feel like i could read this sight for a week straight!
Ophiura - thanks for taking the time and giving me some input on UV. UNfortunately - I already bought it, so I figure I should use it, I just won't use it all the time.
While I have your attention - what about the substrate? When I get the CC out and 1-2" sand/aragonaite in - will an appropriate cleaner crew, a goby, and eventually a serpent or brittle star be enough to keep the substrate in order?

 

[ophiura]

I actually do not recommend the goby as part of the clean up crew. They can be distruptive to a sand bed...so if you want one get one because of that, but not as a clean up crew. Otherwise you should be OK with a clean up crew and serpent/brittle (not a green one) star.
I probably have about a 2" or so sand bed - at most actually - in my 45g. Mostly due to finances at the time. I reckon I could add more, just never have.

 

[bkc978]

OK, great, thanks for the goby info!
I did some research -the odyssea is the jebo - I guess they are the same company - so i will keep looking.
Any suggestions out there for a mid-range light? I just need one for my LR and maybe some hardy corals down the line - if i decide to go with a reef tank I would get at least a 75G and need to buy new lighting anyway.

 

[bkc978]

bump