Filtration

[nemo66]

Hello all,

I am new here and just became interested in having a reef tank. At this moment I have a 55gl tank, a wet and dry filtration system, a protein skimer with one water pump, about 80 lbs of figi live rock, a banded eel, 3 damsells, one yellow tang and one accultured percula clown, a basic ligthing system for a "fresh water accuarium".

I have several questions that hopefully you'll can help me with:

1. Do I have the right filtration system? I have been told that wet and dry filtration system are excellent and I have also been told the opposite because they have a tendency to create nitrates and that they conflict with the natural biological filtration system that the live rock produces. I am confused.

2. What kind of lighting do I need to get started with the reef environment?

3. I would like to have the following fish. Cazn they coexist?
-Percula clown
-Yellow Tang
-Purple Tang
-Bicolar angel
-Copperbanded
-Cardinal

4. What is easier to maintain soft coral or hard coral?

Thank you!

I hope in the future I could become a contributor.

Luis.

 

[fish_is_my_name]

MH for lighting would be the best option.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

[welcome]

1. the filtration is good but if you have bioballs in the wet dry filter i would remove them over a few days that will cause nitrates in your tank. the LR and skimmer will be all the filtration you will need.

2. lighting depends on what you want to keep i would say check out T5HO lighting as MH will cause heast issues.

3. fish will be fine but i would ditch the purple tang as the yellow will harrass him maybe get a pair of clowns and cardinal fish. also i would wait on the copperband as they are very hard to get to eat so i would wait till you get more experience.

4. soft coral is your easier corals to start with.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that a wet-dry seems to cause higher nitrate levels in some tanks. There's more details in the chemistry forum articles, if you want to do some research.

I would go with MH. I have two MH setups and like them a lot. T5 don't look as nice to me, but that's just esthetics. T5 lighting works well. I don't really think MH causes any more heat problems than any other type of lighting.

I would ditch both the tangs for such a small tank. Copper-banded butterfly fish also get too large for that tank, IMO, and are difficult to keep on average, as well.

These two books are a good investment, IMO:

[ericsbook]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890087386/reeflink/002-5193324-1777605

 

[nemo66]

Removal of wet & dry?

Removal of wet & dry?

So if I remove the wet and dry filtration system, and I just keep the Live Rock and the protein skimmer, that will be enough to maintain a a 55 gl fish and reef accuarium?

Thank for your feedback.

Luis

 

[bertoni]

The live rock can do the job, but you should phase out the wet-dry slowly. Take out maybe 10% of the media each week, and watch the results. Sudden drastic changes can cause ammonia spikes.

 

[erm.chan]

hello! i'm also new here.

Would i be able to start my aquarium without using wet/dry at all? I intend to have live rock in the main tank and an in-sump protein skimmer...do i still need a refugium with more live rock and plants?

 

[bertoni]

Starting a separate thread probably would help reduce the confusion. Wet-dry filters and refugia are optional.