What do I need?

[jarice1978]

Right now I have:
55 gallon tank
Emperor 400 pwer filter with BIO Wheels
2 power heads
40 lbs live rock
Live Sand
Maroon Clown
2 Green Chromis
Lawnmower Blenny
Emerald Crab
4 camelback shrimp
5 snails
1 blueleg hermit
4 redleg hermit(scarlet?)
Just added yesterday:
LemonPeel Angel
2 Chalk Basslets
1 Royal Gramma
2 Mexican Turbo snails
10 astrea snails
5 nassirus snails
2 emerald crabs
I am planning to get new lights and add some corals or anemones:
4 x 65 watt Power Compact with blue Actinic ( think that is right??)
What else would you recomend for this system? I am on a budget!
I have had the tank set up for over a year and the filter seems to be doing a good job. Does it need to be replaced by a Protein Skimmer? If so, why? I need someone to convince me before I switch...
Also, stupid question, but a could use a little more education about sumps. What are they and what are the benefits?
Thanks for your help...
Adam

 

[greatfullreefer]

I suggest you monitor your levels closely, you doubled your inhabitants in one day and your bacteria will not be able to process the extra bio-load that quickly. If you notice any ammonia or Nitrites then do immediate water changes to reduce these levels and reduce the stress of your livestock.

 

[jarice1978]

alright.
Anyone else?

 

[gold strip]

If you're going to go with corals or anemones you should absolutely consider getting a skimmer. You will want to keep the water as stable as possible.
As I understand it, a sump is basically a place to turn the water in the display tank over for aireation and add additional equipment ie: skimmer, heaters, top-off, etc.
Many sumps have a prefilter as well to help remove larger particles from the water.
Some have wet/dry functions with bio-balls or chunks of Live Rock for additional bacteria growth.
Some are really refugiums or algae scrubbers with much lower turnover rates and are used to grow macro algae for removal of nitrates and phopsphates.
Its really up to you as to what function you want from a sump. You can set it up to do whatever you want.

 

[gold strip]

Also, a skimmer is basically designed to remove protiens from the water. Organic material decomposes and is converted to amonia, then bacteria converts the amonia to nitrite and finally to nitrate. all of these are toxic to life in different amounts.
A skimmer helps to remove the organics before they have the oportunity to break down and thus, helps maintain a stable water quality level.
The lights should be ok for many soft corals. I wouldnt try and of the hard stuff though without more intensity. A bubble anemone should be ok as well as he will move to the top. I wouldnt try a sebae or Long tentacle as they prefer the sandbed and may not get enough light.
You will find that there are a lot of differing opinions on all of this and you really have to just sift through them and make your best call. You will lose something, its inevitable because these things were not meant to be in captivity. The best you can do is research a lot and dont get anything just because it looks cool. Make sure you have an environment that will sustain it first.
Good luck.

 

[jarice1978]

Thanks...