bpn25
Member
So I just bought a 90 gal tall tank off of craigslist and am wondering what to do next. I kind of know what to do because I have been researching saltwater for a long time, so I just want to make sure if my plans are correct.
The tank is a 90 gal tall with 1/2" glass. It isn't drilled but has an overflow box inside the tank that drains into an approximatly 30gal sump. The sump has a lot of bio balls maybe 3-5 gal worth, bio sponges, ceramic media, and this bag that I think is some type of refugium mud. However there is no refugium currently set up. The return pump is a magdrive 3. The sump has three segments; the tall segment of bioballs, an empty middle segment that just has random media in it (I found a light down in the stand so I think this was a refugium at one point in time), and the last section contains the pump.
It must be understood that this tank is a FOWLR tank that has been set up for 5+ years. There is no protien skimmer, not a very deep sandbed, and horrible flow through the return lines. Most of the parts are custom made becasue I don't think premade stuff was available back then. On top of that they had a huge bioload: hippo tang, yellow tang, 6-7" wrasse, 3" yellow tail damsel, the biggest domino damsel I have ever seen 5" maybe, hermit crab the size of a softball, mandarin goby, and some others. I did not get the fish. Only the tank, stand, equiptment, 35lbs of live rock, 30lbs live sand, and one yellow tail damsel (not bad for $100). I had to barter for the lr/ls becasue the guy who bought the fish was trying to take it so I didn't get very much but it is a start. Regardless, I was shocked that this tank was able to support such a bioload without a protien skimmer. Yet, all the fish seemed very happy and healthy.
So here is my plan:
1. put all sand and rock in tank and the 30gal of water from the original tank I still have and a heater (by the way, I never knew lr was so sharp)
2. buy an oversided protein skimmer (I want to keep a lot of fish) and ro/di system and test kit
NEED SUGGESTIONS ON BRANDS
3. Fill up tank all the way and hook up the filtration (probably done on mon. or tues. bc im going out of town). NEED HELP DESIGNING FILTRATION
4. add lots more base rock and regular aquarium sand that will be mixed in with ls
5. Wait for the bacteria to bet on the rock and sand.
6. Wait some more/test/test again
7. Once tank is fully cycled slowly add cc and fish and enjoy the hobby.
Im planning on FOWLR right now, but hopefully reef later on. Here is my current livestock plans:
volitan lionfish
yellow tang
flame hawkfish
Large Tomato clown
What kind of cc do i need to get?
Does the lionfish eat snails?
Is there anything I am missing?
I need suggestions on protien skimmer, ro/di (e bay maybe?), test kits, and filtration method PLEASE.
Keep in mind I am a noob so I'd appreciate your help, thanks.
The tank is a 90 gal tall with 1/2" glass. It isn't drilled but has an overflow box inside the tank that drains into an approximatly 30gal sump. The sump has a lot of bio balls maybe 3-5 gal worth, bio sponges, ceramic media, and this bag that I think is some type of refugium mud. However there is no refugium currently set up. The return pump is a magdrive 3. The sump has three segments; the tall segment of bioballs, an empty middle segment that just has random media in it (I found a light down in the stand so I think this was a refugium at one point in time), and the last section contains the pump.
It must be understood that this tank is a FOWLR tank that has been set up for 5+ years. There is no protien skimmer, not a very deep sandbed, and horrible flow through the return lines. Most of the parts are custom made becasue I don't think premade stuff was available back then. On top of that they had a huge bioload: hippo tang, yellow tang, 6-7" wrasse, 3" yellow tail damsel, the biggest domino damsel I have ever seen 5" maybe, hermit crab the size of a softball, mandarin goby, and some others. I did not get the fish. Only the tank, stand, equiptment, 35lbs of live rock, 30lbs live sand, and one yellow tail damsel (not bad for $100). I had to barter for the lr/ls becasue the guy who bought the fish was trying to take it so I didn't get very much but it is a start. Regardless, I was shocked that this tank was able to support such a bioload without a protien skimmer. Yet, all the fish seemed very happy and healthy.
So here is my plan:
1. put all sand and rock in tank and the 30gal of water from the original tank I still have and a heater (by the way, I never knew lr was so sharp)
2. buy an oversided protein skimmer (I want to keep a lot of fish) and ro/di system and test kit
NEED SUGGESTIONS ON BRANDS
3. Fill up tank all the way and hook up the filtration (probably done on mon. or tues. bc im going out of town). NEED HELP DESIGNING FILTRATION
4. add lots more base rock and regular aquarium sand that will be mixed in with ls
5. Wait for the bacteria to bet on the rock and sand.
6. Wait some more/test/test again
7. Once tank is fully cycled slowly add cc and fish and enjoy the hobby.
Im planning on FOWLR right now, but hopefully reef later on. Here is my current livestock plans:
volitan lionfish
yellow tang
flame hawkfish
Large Tomato clown
What kind of cc do i need to get?
Does the lionfish eat snails?
Is there anything I am missing?
I need suggestions on protien skimmer, ro/di (e bay maybe?), test kits, and filtration method PLEASE.
Keep in mind I am a noob so I'd appreciate your help, thanks.
