Need advice with a fish only.....

[Edward Smith]

Just setup a FOWLR tank for a friend. I created a LR wall in the back of the tank. Works like a charm but..............

The lady of the house did the final eval and now has decided she wants to be able to view the tank from both sides and wants considerably less or NO rock in the tank.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, no problem, enough with the drama and to the questions:

How can I set this up without using a sump or any more hang on equipment other than the present cpr bakpak that I have on there (limited space)?

With a cpr bakpak, can I go with no rock? If not, how light on the rock can I go?

Should I used the media in the bakpak or fill it with rubble?

Thanks for any help,

 

[botp2k1]

What are the dims of the tank? You may be able to arrange so LR are in center giving different views from both sides and/or stack some on the corners/sides. Don't know much about the bakpak, but can you hang it on the side instead of the usual on the back location?

Explain to both that the current amount of LR is essential to the health of the inhabitants in the tank as it provides comfort, hiding space, food, diversity, and filtration all in one. Removing or having much less of it may lead to more aggressive behavior, increased stress, decreased health, and more polluted as well as less stable tank. In it's place would require more additional filtration, expense, and unsightly equipment.

 

[Doubledown]

Are they doing daily waterchanges? Is it a small tank with 1 or 2 small fish? If so then they can get by without some sort of biological filtration. The bio-bale in the Bak-Pak will not be enough and the end result even if it could pull the ammonia would be high nitrates.

Sounds like it is time to educate a new hobbyist Ed. As was stated above there are many advantages to the LR. Perhaps give her a book (I have the "Basic Marine Aquarium Guide" or Marine Aquariums for Dummies that I will gladly lend out) for better understanding.

 

[Edward Smith]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8096154#post8096154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by botp2k1

Explain to bothHER that the current amount of LR is essential to the health of the inhabitants in the tank as it provides comfort, hiding space, food, diversity, and filtration all in one. Removing or having much less of it may lead to more aggressive behavior, increased stress, decreased health, and more polluted as well as less stable tank. In it's place would require more additional filtration, expense, and unsightly equipment.

Explain something? You must not be married

The tank is 29g and the CPR backpack on the side, so viewing from the front and back is very due able. But if I can cut the rock down to just the minimium, landscaping such as you suggested, will be more workable.

Doubledown: That's what I figured. At the end of the day, either where going to go with the barebones amount of rock (29g ?) or go with a sump. I'm hoping to avoid the sump for simplicity purposes. And if I go with a sump, doesn't seem like there's much use for a cpr bakpak, I can use any old submerssible skimmer.

Thanks for both of your help

 

[botp2k1]

29g is too small, I recall it's like 12" front to back? I was hoping you would say a bigger tank, either with 18" or 24" deep. Sump? Usually that increases the noise factor and chances of drips, salt creep, and water on the floor. Don't think she'll like that, she'll be begging to have the LR back. LOL Good luck, let us know how it ends up.

 

[hansnfrans]

You can do a plenum with no liverock, or you can reduce the live rock and go with a 3-4" sandbed.

They'd probably be happiest w/ the plenum and no liverock, but I am not 100% sure of the stability of a plenum in a system this small. Plus, your buddy would have to resist the urge to mess with it once it is in place.

Perhaps you can ask Menard if a plenum can be used on a system such as this.

 

[desjardiniidj]

1lb. per gal is the lowest I would go. I've done a similiar set-up for a friend. The bakpak was filled with live rock instead of the "bio bale". This will be ok for a small load. If she is gonna cram the tank(like my friend did) a sump with a fuge might be the way to go. I did that and hung the bak pak on the side of the 10 gal. sump. I could drill the side or bottom so there is less stuff on the tank like a huge hang-on overflow box. Clean look, good filtration and the same amount(if not more) of live rock, just in a different spot.

 

[Edward Smith]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8098678#post8098678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by desjardiniidj
1lb. per gal is the lowest I would go. I've done a similiar set-up for a friend. The bakpak was filled with live rock instead of the "bio bale". This will be ok for a small load. If she is gonna cram the tank(like my friend did) a sump with a fuge might be the way to go. I did that and hung the bak pak on the side of the 10 gal. sump. I could drill the side or bottom so there is less stuff on the tank like a huge hang-on overflow box. Clean look, good filtration and the same amount(if not more) of live rock, just in a different spot.

After looking at all the options and issues involved, that's they way I'm going to go. The sump will solve mutliple problems. Thanks everyone!