Ideas?

[dragonfly_moon]

I'm new to any of the salt water tanks but I'm setting up 2 at the moment.. I'm converting my 15 gal into a small reef tank and moving the oscar now living in it to a 55 gal. I'm also picking up a nice 46 gal bow front tank Sunday and would love to do a nice reef in that as well. I'm not sure what all I need for the 15 gal tank as it's small. I was planning live rock of course and have a good bio wheel filter on it. What else will I need?

the 46 gal tank has a overflow box, 10 gallon sump, heater, and a catalina return pump around 600gph. This will also be using live rock. Do I need anything more for it? A skimmer or something? I know I need hydromiters and heaters for both.

Now for the fun part.. what do you think would be nice in both tanks fish/coral wise? I love colour!! Any sugestions?

 

[drummereef]

dragonfly_moon,



[welcome]

 

[drummereef]

Here's a link that will really help.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074

 

[fatrip]

first off RODI because with that small of a tank 15 gallons you need pristen water conditions.

Second lights...for the 15 you could do PC because it is pretty shallow, but on the bow front i would either use MH or person preference T-5 for efficency, no shimmer like the MH tho.

third skimmer for the 46G and i would probibly double the sump to a 20g long if you can fit it...more area to do things and double the water compasity.

test kits, since saliferts alk has been going wakey we have done some testes and the aquarium pharmaceuticals test kits seem to be almost right on but for the mag test i would stick with saliferts...with a 15 gallon reef you wont be able to check the water enough...lol...just an expression you will but again pristen water condition because so small...i wouldnt put a skimmer but do 10% water change weekly....and since you are new tip on water change...mix RODI water in a bucket with a heater and small power head for 24 hours...


these are things i just would have liked to have know when i started water condition and mixing...there are probibly things i forgot but i would work on all of these before thinking about the fishs and corals...

 

[dragonfly_moon]

Thank you drummereef I've been checking out that link and it has some great info! Fatrip thank you!! I've been doing HUGE water changed 3 times a week in the 15 gal and checking conditions all the time.. the oscar (that I never planned on getting.. long story) is getting to big for it and he's a rather dirty fish but he's moving to a new home in the next few days. Anyway a 10% water change weekly would be a treat!!

I know I need to set it all up and let it cycle before doing much of anything but I so want to get to planning!! I'm sure you've all felt the same with a new tank and I have ALWAYS been in love with saltwater tanks with reefs being a fave of mine.

 

[barrierreefcf]

I'd look into Elos Test Kits. As far as coral suggestions knowing what lights you are going to be using would be helpfull Keep a close eye on that Catalina return pump...our customers have had many bad expeiences with them failing and not restarting after short power outtages. IME eheims are the best submersible return pumps in case you end up needing to replace it down the road.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[dragonfly_moon]

That's good to know as where I live we are prone to power outages from wind storms. Not sure on the lights for the smaller tank yet but I will prob go with the mh oh the 46 gal

 

[barrierreefcf]

Yup...being from WA also we experience it all the time. We can't have our maintenence accounts pumps go down everytime the power flickers so we started switching them away from Rio and Catalina and over to eheims.