Converting from Planted tanks

[bcarl77]

I know this thread is a little dated but I have done some rethinking on this. I am currently leaning towards the 40B option and setting up to run for a few years. I have been gathering a list of all the equipment I need and I am about $2K in costs.

I would like to stay away from a sump if possible, so I would like a HOB skimmer. But I am open to thoughts....

The other issue I am running into is sense the tank is 48in long most of the LEDs such as Aqua Illuminations and Kessil only cover a 24X24 square meaning I would need two which would significantly impact the budget. Any ideas on the lighting due to the length of the tank?

 

[newbie2014]

I know this thread is a little dated but I have done some rethinking on this. I am currently leaning towards the 40B option and setting up to run for a few years. I have been gathering a list of all the equipment I need and I am about $2K in costs.

I would like to stay away from a sump if possible, so I would like a HOB skimmer. But I am open to thoughts....

The other issue I am running into is sense the tank is 48in long most of the LEDs such as Aqua Illuminations and Kessil only cover a 24X24 square meaning I would need two which would significantly impact the budget. Any ideas on the lighting due to the length of the tank?

I have a 40B, and it's only 36in long.

I don't use a sump either, so I use aquamaxx HOB1. Some would say it's one of the best, if not the best, HOB skimmer.

For a 36in long softies/LPS tank, one kessil (360WE) would be enough. Just arrange your coral according to their lighting needs, high demand in the middle and lesser ones on the side. Or just use a 300w MarsAqua (32in long and $200) and never have to worry about not having enough light for any corals.

I concur with Sk8r, soft corals are pretty easy to maintain. IMO, it's even easier than maintaining a high-light planted tank. Just mix your salt water, adjust the temparature and specific gravity to 1.026 (with a reliable refractometer) and you're good to go.

 

[bcarl77]

I have a 40B, and it's only 36in long.

I don't use a sump either, so I use aquamaxx HOB1. Some would say it's one of the best, if not the best, HOB skimmer.

For a 36in long softies/LPS tank, one kessil (360WE) would be enough. Just arrange your coral according to their lighting needs, high demand in the middle and lesser ones on the side. Or just use a 300w MarsAqua (32in long and $200) and never have to worry about not having enough light for any corals.

I concur with Sk8r, soft corals are pretty easy to maintain. IMO, it's even easier than maintaining a high-light planted tank. Just mix your salt water, adjust the temparature and specific gravity to 1.026 (with a reliable refractometer) and you're good to go.

Oh whoops! I must have been looking at a 40L. I think I'd rather stay Softies/LPS since I will be doing the maintenance on both tanks. I agree if I set up the corals more towards the center I should be able to get away with it.

What other dimension tanks around 40gal would be good?

 

[newbie2014]

Oh whoops! I must have been looking at a 40L. I think I'd rather stay Softies/LPS since I will be doing the maintenance on both tanks. I agree if I set up the corals more towards the center I should be able to get away with it.

What other dimension tanks around 40gal would be good?

Yeah, trimming those plants can be a pain and time consuming. I had problem early on (after switching from planted tank) with my corals kept dying. I looked very hard at my water chemistry and tried to troubleshoot that. Well, it was the most obvious one: water salinity. Once I corrected it, my softies and LPS have been growing great. I only change 25-30% once a month. I don't supplement any things. There are many beautiful and colorful soft and LPS corals.

Well, if you can find it, a 50B. It's just a bit longer, wider and taller. A 40B is actual about 44 gallon. There are also custom made tanks which are about 40 gallon or less.

If I were to do it again, I would go with a light that has a built-in timer and a tank mount option. Personally I would go with a kessil a360we (and a controller) for the form factor. And I would buy a used one to save money.

Oh, don't forget carbon and GFO reactors. You can go with just one reactor for both media, or one each. IMO, it's a must have for conveniency and maintenance free.

 

[bcarl77]

Yeah, trimming those plants can be a pain and time consuming. I had problem early on (after switching from planted tank) with my corals kept dying. I looked very hard at my water chemistry and tried to troubleshoot that. Well, it was the most obvious one: water salinity. Once I corrected it, my softies and LPS have been growing great. I only change 25-30% once a month. I don't supplement any things. There are many beautiful and colorful soft and LPS corals.

Well, if you can find it, a 50B. It's just a bit longer, wider and taller. A 40B is actual about 44 gallon. There are also custom made tanks which are about 40 gallon or less.

If I were to do it again, I would go with a light that has a built-in timer and a tank mount option. Personally I would go with a kessil a360we (and a controller) for the form factor. And I would buy a used one to save money.

Oh, don't forget carbon and GFO reactors. You can go with just one reactor for both media, or one each. IMO, it's a must have for conveniency and maintenance free.

I do about 50% weekly changes on my planted and trimming every week. Got the total weekly maint down to about an hour each weekend.

Newb question, why do I need a reactor? Wouldn't I be fine with a skimmer, HOB, and a wavemaker?

 

[bcarl77]

FWIW here is the list I have going for what I would need, I have an RO/DI already. What am I missing???
Light-$350
HOB skimmer-$150
Heater-$50
Thermometer-$20
Refractometer-$40
Submersible Pump or HOB-$50
Cirulation Pump-1/Wavemaker 100
Dosing Pumps-$150
ATO-$150
Salt-$75
Sand $50
Rock-$100
Coral-$200
Fish-$200
Light mount-$50
Tank-40gal-$60
Test kits-$100
Misc Supplies-$100

 

[newbie2014]

Newb question, why do I need a reactor? Wouldn't I be fine with a skimmer, HOB, and a wavemaker?

GFO media is used to bind dissolved PO4 to clean up the water and minimize algae growth. Meaning you can let the tank go with less frequent water change. Skimmer also takes out a small amount of dissolved phosphate. Depending on your bioload and frequency of the water change, you may not need the skimmer and GFO.

A reactor is a device/container which allows you to run GFO/carbon media a lot more efficiently. You can also the media in a mesh bag and put it in a canister filter. But that won't work nearly well as a reactor.

 

[ca1ore]

I'd suggest that a really nice planted tank is at least as hard, maybe harder, than a reef tank. Let's see some shots of your plants!

 

[newbie2014]

I'd suggest that a really nice planted tank is at least as hard, maybe harder, than a reef tank. Let's see some shots of your plants!

+100. Especially, Amano styled planted tank.

 

[bcarl77]

I'd suggest that a really nice planted tank is at least as hard, maybe harder, than a reef tank. Let's see some shots of your plants!

Here is a shot of my current set-up!

 

[bcarl77]

GFO media is used to bind dissolved PO4 to clean up the water and minimize algae growth. Meaning you can let the tank go with less frequent water change. Skimmer also takes out a small amount of dissolved phosphate. Depending on your bioload and frequency of the water change, you may not need the skimmer and GFO.

A reactor is a device/container which allows you to run GFO/carbon media a lot more efficiently. You can also the media in a mesh bag and put it in a canister filter. But that won't work nearly well as a reactor.

Gotcha, so I can run with-out one but need to consider it down the road from what it sounds like...

 

[newbie2014]

Gotcha, so I can run with-out one but need to consider it down the road from what it sounds like...

Exactly. Monitor how good you can manage excess nutrients (in the water) and algae growth with water changes, then, decide if you want to implement GFO or not.

In the beginning, I was using an Aquaclear 110 for mechanical (filtration) and carbon. Then, I switched to an Eheim canister for filtration and GFO. That and 20% water change per week didn't help minimize algae growth. Finally I ditched the filter, and added a GFO reactor. I use the reactor for both GFO and carbon. Now my P04 stay around 0.05ppm (Hanna HI736) for 3-4 weeks before water change.

 

[newbie2014]

Here is a shot of my current set-up!

Nice and clean setup. I really like (and wanted) the glass lily pipe and C02 diffuser.

 

[ca1ore]

Nice. The Amano approach was just starting here as I was getting out of planted tanks. I went for the 'impenetrable thicket' approach :lol:. Got an old pic of the tank floating around here on RC somewhere.

 

[Turbomark]

I got my start with a super simple setup on a 20 long. When first setup I had a aquaclear 70 with an in-tank media basket running purigen and chemipure elite. Lighting was a Chinese black box, and simple Jager heater. With some good live rock I successfully kept softies, some LPS, some sps, a bicolor blenny, and a few clowns for 4 years. Eventually I ditched the aquaclear and put on an eshopps hob skimmer and actually moved down to a smaller hob filter. Circulation was initially a leftover pump from a freshwater tank, that was upgraded to a koralia nano, and then a jebao wavemaker. Simple 5 gallon weekly changes and I had zero major issues. I'd say my initial outlay for the entire setup wasn't more than $400.

I actually am in the process of upgrading to a 40 breeder with a 20l sump. Mostly for the slightly larger size but also to be able to run more equipment in the sump (bigger skimmer, fuge, dosing pumps, etc.)

Pics of 20l and new 40b.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[newbie2014]

Nice. The Amano approach was just starting here as I was getting out of planted tanks.

.

Yeah, his aquascape style is truly mesmerizing.

I went for the 'impenetrable thicket' approach :lol:

That's pretty much what my planted tank looked like.:beer: As such, I was also able to breed South American cichlids (blue rams and Panduro).

Sorry for veering off track

 

[bcarl77]

.

Yeah, his aquascape style is truly mesmerizing.


That's pretty much what my planted tank looked like.:beer: As such, I was also able to breed South American cichlids (blue rams and Panduro).

Sorry for veering off track

Yeah there are some crazy planted tanks out there, that's for sure. I attended Reef-A-Palooza today since it was only a few hours away. Learned a whole bunch. I will say I do really like the IM tanks with the back compartment to use for filtration and such.