Starting over the right way.

[esnapz]

Hi all, about 2 months ago I posted a thread about my tank and all my fish dying. Well they're all gone none could be saved. Since then we tried to keep the tank running so we can eventually start over. In the tank we have approx 60lbs of live rocks, but about 2 maybe 3 weeks ago our fluval 404 stopped working. The rocks are still in the tank with 2 powerheads keeping the water moving. Here are my questions you all.
1. Are these rocks still usuable and or alive? How can I tell.
2. We would like to redo the entire setup eliminating the crushed coral gravel to use sand. (never used sand before) Does it have to be live sand?
3. Since our fluval 404 is dead, what is the recommended setup for a 56gal tall tank?
We really want to get this tank going again. Any and all suggestions/help is great appreciated. Thanks.
esnapz

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by esnapz
http:///forum/post/2761183
Hi all, about 2 months ago I posted a thread about my tank and all my fish dying. Well they're all gone none could be saved. Since then we tried to keep the tank running so we can eventually start over. In the tank we have approx 60lbs of live rocks, but about 2 maybe 3 weeks ago our fluval 404 stopped working. The rocks are still in the tank with 2 powerheads keeping the water moving. Here are my questions you all.
1. Are these rocks still usuable and or alive? How can I tell.
2. We would like to redo the entire setup eliminating the crushed coral gravel to use sand. (never used sand before) Does it have to be live sand?
3. Since our fluval 404 is dead, what is the recommended setup for a 56gal tall tank?
We really want to get this tank going again. Any and all suggestions/help is great appreciated. Thanks.
esnapz
Any rock is still usuable as long as it is porous. If it is dead, then it will be a dull gray color and this is usually after a few days to let it dry out, so as long as it is somewhat wet with saltwater, it will stay live. No, the live sand does not have to be live, but over time, it probably will become live. As for filtration, get yourself a good skimmer. Do you have a sump? If you do then I would recommend a Octopus or a Euro-reef skimmer. If you don't have a sump then a Aqua-C skimmer would be perfect. Remember that patience is key and start out slow.

 

[esnapz]

Thanks for the reply FFreak. At the moment all we have are 2 powerheads in the tank along with the live rocks. We have no filtration or skimmers. We are trying to find out what's best and sort of inexpensive. Like you said start off slow we will. Just looking for advice on what filtration system to invest in. The fluval was nice but hopefully there's something abit more compact and easier to maintain.
We have a budget of 300-400.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by esnapz
http:///forum/post/2761227
Thanks for the reply FFreak. At the moment all we have are 2 powerheads in the tank along with the live rocks. We have no filtration or skimmers. We are trying to find out what's best and sort of inexpensive. Like you said start off slow we will. Just looking for advice on what filtration system to invest in. The fluval was nice but hopefully there's something abit more compact and easier to maintain.
We have a budget of 300-400.
A protein skimmer is definitely your best bet. If you have a good skimmer and enough live rock, there is no need for a canister filter or a power filter. I would definitely invest in Aqua-C. I think they go for around 150-200$.

 

[esnapz]

Thanks again FFreak. We're looking to get the aqua c remora hang on version. 1 last question. Since we have a 56gal will remora rated for 20-75 gal be sufficient or just get the 50-120gal one?
esnapz

 

[flricordia]

Start over the right way? Start witht he rock and some LS. Let it cycle for a month with no lights on. In the mean time dump the fluval and get some kind of refugium setup. Get some chaeto too. Put a light on the refugium and leave it on 24/7. Add some fish food flake to the refugium. After a month turn ont he main tank lights for half cycle for 2 weeks. Maybe add a few clean-up crew. After the 2 weeks go to full light cycle. Add corals and fish slowely after this and you will have done it right. But who can do a full cycle? We in America are used to getting it now.

 

[privatejoker]

Do a DIY sump and get a good skimmer. Get a fuge in the sump somewhere and like Fric put a light on 24/7. Kill the canister filter, they are nothing but problems. Get rid of the crushed coral and get something like fiji pink sand. It looks alot better than CC. I'm in the process of redoing my tank and thats what I used. You can build a sump out of plywood. I'll post some pics of my new sump later on. I built the whole thing for about $70. The good thing about that is you can make it custom to fight under your tank.

 

[esnapz]

so you guys are trying to say that a skimmer alone isn't good enough?
*getting confused now*
esnapz

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by esnapz
http:///forum/post/2761385
Thanks again FFreak. We're looking to get the aqua c remora hang on version. 1 last question. Since we have a 56gal will remora rated for 20-75 gal be sufficient or just get the 50-120gal one?
esnapz
I would suggest a skimmer that is rated for at least 1.5x, if not 2x your overall volume.
As to the need for additional filtration, I think the other posters were trying to suggest some additional biologic filtration through the use of macroalgae. the macroalgae (chaeto is one) would help to remove (export) the nitrates from the system. Usually this is set up in a sump/refugium that will then hold
your heaters, return pump and skimmer.
How big is your DT? Is this eventually going to be a 'reef' or 'fish only' set up?
Do you have room for a sump/refugium in the cabinet taht the tank sits on?

 

[esnapz]

DT???(feeling real newbieish)
Hopefully just a fish only with the lr. Maybe a coral or 2 in the future. No real room under the tank, narrow cabinet that fit the fluval and a shelf for the air pump. If would like the setup to be as compact as possible. I'll try to take a pic of the tank and stand and post it in a few, hopefully that will help. Thanks
esnapz

 

[al mc]

Sorry DT= Display Tank. By the way...welcome to the 'boards'.
***Don't feel so bad***First time I saw DT I thought it referred to someone kicking an addiction and having the 'DTs'

 

[esnapz]

LOL...thanks. Here's a pic of the tank in question.

its roughly 30"L 25"h 18"d 56 gallon tall. Like I said b4, no real space under the tank. Thanks again.
esnapz

 

[mr_x]

 

[cveverly]

 

[esnapz]

 

[esnapz]

 

[cveverly]

 

[mr_x]

 

[salt210]

 

[cveverly]