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bridget111188
Guest
I would like to know peoples experience with UV sterilizers, Protein skimmers, and if I even need either of them for a 55 gallon. Please name the brands you used. Thanks
mr llimpid
Member
UV's are waste of money, they will only kill what passes through it and since 100% of your tank water doesn't pass through it, it isn't 100% effective.
I have owned 2 protein skimmers Red Sea prizim, on my 30/20 gal tank has work great for a long time. A Romora C never worked right the day I got it, played with the collection box settings till I threw it out.
I have read great things about the Octopus Skimmers.
Your 55 is a reef tank or fish only?
I have owned 2 protein skimmers Red Sea prizim, on my 30/20 gal tank has work great for a long time. A Romora C never worked right the day I got it, played with the collection box settings till I threw it out.
I have read great things about the Octopus Skimmers.
Your 55 is a reef tank or fish only?
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Welcome to the site!
Just setting up, or has this tank been going for a while? Do you plan on corals (reef) as Mr. limpid asked, or fish only with live rock (FOWLR)
2 power heads are needed equipment...Do you have those? How much live rock? What kind of substrate? What type of filter? What kind of lighting? What type of test kit do you have?
A UV sterilizer kills the good critters and the bad. The little copepods the fish love to eat comes out at night, so if you have a UV sterilizer, you would need to shut it off at night. Like Mr. Limpid said...waste of money. A skimmer isn't really needed, if at all, for about 2 to 3 months after fish are added. Octopus, Tunze and Aquaticlife are decent skimmers. If you don't have a refugium or macroalgae, I do recommend a skimmer...but like I said...2 to 3 months down the road.
What you need to focus on if you have just set it up...would be your quarantine tank.
10g to 20g tank (regular fish lights)
No sand
No live rock
An air line (no stone) attached via rubberband to a piece of PVC pipe or resin decoration. (the resin décor can be removed if you have to treat the new fish if it's infected with parasites, or sick). A piece of PVC will give the fish a place to hide and make it feel secure...macroalgae will help stabilize the tanks parameters, and add oxygen and make the fish happier.
A little over flow filter (Whisper or penguin type)
Toss in a piece of shrimp to kick start the cycle (do not cycle with a live fish) . When it's ready (ammonia spikes, then drops to 0, Nitrites read 0 and you see nitrates) Then add 1 fish...watch it for 3 to 4 weeks and when you are sure it doesn't have parasites or is sick...then add it to the 55g display, and you will be ready to add another fish...just 1...to the QT. That will keep the display healthy, and help you regulate the space of time to add new critters, thus avoiding the "too much too soon" crash.
Welcome to the site!
Just setting up, or has this tank been going for a while? Do you plan on corals (reef) as Mr. limpid asked, or fish only with live rock (FOWLR)
2 power heads are needed equipment...Do you have those? How much live rock? What kind of substrate? What type of filter? What kind of lighting? What type of test kit do you have?
A UV sterilizer kills the good critters and the bad. The little copepods the fish love to eat comes out at night, so if you have a UV sterilizer, you would need to shut it off at night. Like Mr. Limpid said...waste of money. A skimmer isn't really needed, if at all, for about 2 to 3 months after fish are added. Octopus, Tunze and Aquaticlife are decent skimmers. If you don't have a refugium or macroalgae, I do recommend a skimmer...but like I said...2 to 3 months down the road.
What you need to focus on if you have just set it up...would be your quarantine tank.
10g to 20g tank (regular fish lights)
No sand
No live rock
An air line (no stone) attached via rubberband to a piece of PVC pipe or resin decoration. (the resin décor can be removed if you have to treat the new fish if it's infected with parasites, or sick). A piece of PVC will give the fish a place to hide and make it feel secure...macroalgae will help stabilize the tanks parameters, and add oxygen and make the fish happier.
A little over flow filter (Whisper or penguin type)
Toss in a piece of shrimp to kick start the cycle (do not cycle with a live fish) . When it's ready (ammonia spikes, then drops to 0, Nitrites read 0 and you see nitrates) Then add 1 fish...watch it for 3 to 4 weeks and when you are sure it doesn't have parasites or is sick...then add it to the 55g display, and you will be ready to add another fish...just 1...to the QT. That will keep the display healthy, and help you regulate the space of time to add new critters, thus avoiding the "too much too soon" crash.
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bridget111188
Guest
Thank for all the information. At the moment I just have the 55 gallon tank 55 gallon heater and a fluval reef led light system. I'm trying to do my research before buying and setting up my tank. I would love to have a reef maybe fraging and fish tank. I'm trying to figure out what the best way to set up my tank.
I have heard of setting up a refugium in the back of the tank when first setting up the tank. I think I'm going to do this in my tank. But where do you get the macroalgae?
?
I have heard of setting up a refugium in the back of the tank when first setting up the tank. I think I'm going to do this in my tank. But where do you get the macroalgae?
?
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
For some reason, on your thread...and ONLY your thread. I can't post a picture, or use your quote in my answer. I assumed you had a fluval CANISTER filter...LOL, I forgot Fluval carries other things.
If you want a reef, and you have not yet purchased your filter...go with a sump system. The fellows on this site can walk you through every step. It's only "sounds" complicated, it's really an easy set up, and so much better for a reef then any other system. You can have a chamber to set up ass a refugium right under the tank and part of your sump (what most folks with a teef do), you can hide your heater, and have an ATO (Auto top off). It gives you extra water volume to help keep the reef parameters more stable. The in sump skimmers are 100% better then any HOB type.
For some reason, on your thread...and ONLY your thread. I can't post a picture, or use your quote in my answer. I assumed you had a fluval CANISTER filter...LOL, I forgot Fluval carries other things.
If you want a reef, and you have not yet purchased your filter...go with a sump system. The fellows on this site can walk you through every step. It's only "sounds" complicated, it's really an easy set up, and so much better for a reef then any other system. You can have a chamber to set up ass a refugium right under the tank and part of your sump (what most folks with a teef do), you can hide your heater, and have an ATO (Auto top off). It gives you extra water volume to help keep the reef parameters more stable. The in sump skimmers are 100% better then any HOB type.
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bridget111188
Guest
Thats odd that you can't quote or load pictures. Thank you for your input though.
mr llimpid
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/395912/uv-sterilizer-or-protein-skimmer-or-not#post_3526230
Hi,
For some reason, on your thread...and ONLY your thread. I can't post a picture, or use your quote in my answer. I assumed you had a fluval CANISTER filter...LOL, I forgot Fluval carries other things.
If you want a reef, and you have not yet purchased your filter...go with a sump system. The fellows on this site can walk you through every step. It's only "sounds" complicated, it's really an easy set up, and so much better for a reef then any other system. You can have a chamber to set up ass a refugium right under the tank and part of your sump (what most folks with a teef do), you can hide your heater, and have an ATO (Auto top off). It gives you extra water volume to help keep the reef parameters more stable. The in sump skimmers are 100% better then any HOB type.
I can
the devil made me do it.
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/395912/uv-sterilizer-or-protein-skimmer-or-not#post_3526230
Hi,
For some reason, on your thread...and ONLY your thread. I can't post a picture, or use your quote in my answer. I assumed you had a fluval CANISTER filter...LOL, I forgot Fluval carries other things.
If you want a reef, and you have not yet purchased your filter...go with a sump system. The fellows on this site can walk you through every step. It's only "sounds" complicated, it's really an easy set up, and so much better for a reef then any other system. You can have a chamber to set up ass a refugium right under the tank and part of your sump (what most folks with a teef do), you can hide your heater, and have an ATO (Auto top off). It gives you extra water volume to help keep the reef parameters more stable. The in sump skimmers are 100% better then any HOB type.
I can