A few questions

[hugecoltsfan]

I have had my 65 gallon reef tank up and running for about a week and a half. I know eventually I will need a protein skimmer but right now I am more intrested in getting live/dry rock. My parameters are great. I have brown algea starting to grow and my 2 live rocks that are in there are showing more life on them just here in the past two days. I have seen what looks like very small clear feather dusters and a few morms that have made tubes out of sand particles. Are they ok to have in there or should i try to get rid of them? So I figure more rock is key right now. I started out with a maxijet 400 and 600 but wasn't moving enough water for me so I bought 2 koralia 4's for 35 a piece. I have my fluval on the tank right now but eventually I am going to take it off because I have heard horrible things about having it on there. So my question are as follows. Should I keep the fluval canister filter? When should I get a clean up crew? Should I atempt to build my own protein skimmer? Money is always an issue. How long should I be running my lights with this new tank? I have been running them for 12 hours but backed off last night to 10 hours. They are T5 ho 2 12000k and 2 acintics. My temp is good.
I am getting ready here in a day or so to order my live/dry rock from TBS.
I am concerned about the "bad hitchhikers" but am looking forward to the good ones.

I am all ears/eyes so please fill me with info. I feel the only way to learn is to ask questions and listen.

 

[Mustang Boy]

nothing you have found so far sounds bad so leave them in there

you dont have to have a filter like on a FW tank as most of the filtration is done by the live rock.

start getting a CUC after you order your rock from tbs and after the parameters have stabilized but dont get a huge CUC right off the bat start smaller and build it up when its needed.

i say if you have the ability to build your own DIY skimmer i say give it a try and if you have your doubts id buy one. also do you have a sump or will this be an HOB skimmer

i would only run the lights 8hrs a day right now if that as you dont have any corals or plant in the tank

 

[noahm]

You can keep the fluval on there as long as you make sure an regularly clean it so it doesn't become a nitrate factory from the trapped crud. It will help polish the water, but is not necessary and can become a problem if not maintained. You can also use it just as a media reactor (carbon etc) by just having the media only in there for the water to pass through. I would strongly suggest getting a skimmer as once you get your rock, there is going to be some die-off that needs to be skimmed out and it just makes life easier later on.

 

[Yogre]

Again I have to say, "what noahm said", lol! All I can do is echo the advice to get a skimmer. It provides dissolved organic carbon removal, as well as oxygenation. Build it buy it, but get one.

Ps your canister will work for media ie carbon or gfo but a reactor like the two little fishies unit or the one from bulk reef supply will be far easier to maintain. ( former cichlid guy used to run cans but hated maintaining them)

 

[noahm]

Again I have to say, "what noahm said", lol! All I can do is echo the advice to get a skimmer. It provides dissolved organic carbon removal, as well as oxygenation. Build it buy it, but get one.

Ps your canister will work for media ie carbon or gfo but a reactor like the two little fishies unit or the one from bulk reef supply will be far easier to maintain. ( former cichlid guy used to run cans but hated maintaining them)

+1 What Yogre Said :jester:

 

[hugecoltsfan]

Yeah I have decided to stick with the fluval for another week or two until I get the rock from Richard (TBS). Then after the rock cycles and I clean the fluval out at least as many times as I do a water change, I will relieve it from its duties and purchase a skimmer or build one.