FOWLR tank - basic questions

[scorpio83]

After a lot of reading, I have started assembling my tank components one by one

This is my second post in this forum and as I have already said marine tank keeping hobby is in the very beginning stages in my place. Collecting or displaying corals is a crime in my country. But recently they have issued new import licenses and the list includes live rock. The law is not totally clear on this hobby!!!!

The LFS here are importing only some very well known fishes, anemones and rock ( live or dead ????). I have had the opportunity of snorkelling in some of the nice reefs in India ( Lakshadweep islands). The rock which the LFS's are selling as live rock is nowhere near to what i have seen in the natural reefs or for that matter in this forum, it is just a rock with some yellowish brown algal growth on it.

So I have to depend on my own judgement for everything. For That I need some help

My basic equipment will include 55 gallon DT, 40 gallon sump/refuge/lr, some power heads, a return pump and LED lighting. I dont plan on stocking up a lot of fish atleast for the first year.

so with the above FOWLR setup

1) how many hours should i keep the circulation going does it have to work 24/7. this is for planning my pump spares, power heads, timers etc.,

2) How many hours should I plan the lighting? Is actinic lighting required for my system - again for planning the timers. Also I think I will have a hard time blocking natural light.

3) I may never need a heater for my place but I may need a chiller If the fans fail to do the job, If so what will be the ideal place to put a chiller.

4) Final question What is the sand shown in the picture (Is it Argonite based). I have large quantities of this sand( dried) with me and will try to get get a few cups of live sand and small pieces of rock for seeding from the same source (have to talk to experts to make sure I am not violating any law). The last time I posted this picture and asked "what is it?" nobody replied I think, people thought I am asking about the crab!!!!!

Thanks and regards

 

[MMacro]

You NEED a heater. You will have a lot of problems with algae if you do not figure out the natural sunlight problem. Fish do not particularly need actinic lights. You should keep the circulation going 24/7.

 

[Amphiprotic]

1) how many hours should i keep the circulation going does it have to work 24/7. this is for planning my pump spares, power heads, timers etc.,

2) How many hours should I plan the lighting? Is actinic lighting required for my system - again for planning the timers. Also I think I will have a hard time blocking natural light.

3) I may never need a heater for my place but I may need a chiller If the fans fail to do the job, If so what will be the ideal place to put a chiller.

4) Final question What is the sand shown in the picture (Is it Argonite based). I have large quantities of this sand( dried) with me and will try to get get a few cups of live sand and small pieces of rock for seeding from the same source (have to talk to experts to make sure I am not violating any law). The last time I posted this picture and asked "what is it?" nobody replied I think, people thought I am asking about the crab!!!!!

Thanks and regards

1) 24/7
2) actinic is not required but it's pretty imo. and it depends, keeping the light on for too long will cause algae problems. having natural sun light will cause algae problems too. on the bright side you can keep algae eaters always well fed lol
3) not sure on the chiller as I've never had one but why don't you need a heater? your ambient room temperate is close to 80?
4) don't know, not even sure if it's possible to tell just from a pic?

 

[scorpio83]

Thanks Reeferplax and Amphiprotic for the views

24/7 in the sense I can alternate between the power heads and the overflow circulation or even the over flow circulation has to run 24/7?

I have a heater but what I was telling is it may not have much work. In my fresh water tank the temp used to remain below 80 during winter months but during during summer it is very difficult to keep it around 80.

The sand is from a beach of a coral island, I think it is not silica based!!!

One more question should the refuge part be calm or should I maintain some movement there also.


Thanks

 

[Sk8r]

Movement is fine.
ALL circulation runs 24/7. Many tanks can live only about 8 hours with the circulation off.

Regarding rock: if you have ONE good rock and some 'cured' rock that has been allowed to sit in a tub for several months with seawater and circulation, you will find all your rock taking on life from the one good rock. Get a big flat tub, add limestone that has a lot of holes in it, and seawater, and keep the seawater at 1.025 salinity and circulating strongly. Light is not needed on that. You will end up with all live rock, given time enough. This is an operation many US stores use to produce new 'live rock' for sale. If you start this way, your tank will cycle quickly, and be able to handle fish and corals very nicely.

 

[scorpio83]

Movement is fine.
ALL circulation runs 24/7. Many tanks can live only about 8 hours with the circulation off.

If circulation has to run 24/7, Is it Ok to have one pump running 24/7 or should I have multiple pumps in the sump, So that I can alternatively operate them.

 

[Amphiprotic]

If circulation has to run 24/7, Is it Ok to have one pump running 24/7 or should I have multiple pumps in the sump, So that I can alternatively operate them.

circulation needs to be 24/7 in the display tank.

from my experience the sump does not need a lot of flow. i don't have any powerheads in my sump actually, the water rushing down creates enough movement for me.

 

[scorpio83]

circulation needs to be 24/7 in the display tank.

from my experience the sump does not need a lot of flow. i don't have any powerheads in my sump actually, the water rushing down creates enough movement for me.

Sorry I mean to say should I have multiple return pumps in the sump so that I can alternate between them. All the sumps I have seen is having only one return pump, but can it run continuously without having any problem.

 

[Redman88]

Sorry I mean to say should I have multiple return pumps in the sump so that I can alternate between them. All the sumps I have seen is having only one return pump, but can it run continuously without having any problem.

if it can't its not worth having.