Originally Posted by
reefr23
http:///forum/post/2857818
no. but can u do me a huge favor and break all the steps down for me? like what to do with my filters and stuff?
I did, but I'll do it again.
You have the following.. a 23gallon tank and 2 power filters..
You need the following:
1 bag of rowaphos (to absorb inorganic phosphates which will contribute to nuisance algae growth), 1 bag of purgien and 1 bag of chemipure carbon (these both keep the water clean and help remove certain harmful organics)
put these three bags in one power filter as the only media.
Run a surface skimmer attachment to the intake on this power filter.
on the other powerfilter.. put some plastic screen in there to keep chaeto macroalgae in place to export inorganic nitrates and phosphates which are components of nuisance algae) pop the top off the filter and put a 14w or so compact fluorescent bulb in a marina brand or desklamp fixture over the chaeto to grow it. Run this light on a reverse light schedule from the light that lights up the display tank.
get two Hydor koralia nano powerheads to increase flow... put them on both sides of the tank pointing in.
put your rock in the middle of the tank not against any rocks to keep flow high and try to incorporate holes, caves, openings, etc in the rocks for better biological filtration and flow.. surface area is a major component of good biological filtration so the more surface of the rocks exposed, the better they filter.
get a 100w stealth heater and see if you can fit it in the powerfilter with the media bags or the chaeto powerfilter.
get a 2bulb current usa saltwater version T5HO fixture if you're not going to grow corals
the sand should be aragonite based, I like caribsea brand.
a hang on the back skimmer may also help you keep nitrates down in the tank, but if you don't try to put too many fish in there (you really can't in a 23gallon anyway) you may not need it. A good one would be a Tunze Nano DOC, but they are pricey... maybe someone can chime in on a good, but cheap alternative.
