new 2 me tank questions

rioshilo

rioshilo

New member
Hi, I've been lurking for a couple weeks now and have a couple of questions. I got the tank from a family member moving out of state. It consists of a 130 gallon tank, a fluval fx5 filter system, a GLO 48" t5 light setup (which I just bought) about 2" of crushed coral, and 60-70lbs of LR. The fish include a Niger trigger, 2 damsels, an orange shoulder tang, a large maroon clown fish, and a hawk. One question I have is about current. I have one current mover (whatever they are called) that is about 4" in diameter blowing across the top, kind of diagonally. There aren't any areas that don't see current but some are slower current then others. Is there a minimum current required? Do I need another blower?

I also have these white organisms growing on my LR and also starting on the back glass. They are about a 1/4" in diameter and grow in a circle with one end that is smaller like a tail. They are to small for me to get a picture. Any ideas what they are?

I also have something that I think is aptasia or glass anomenes. We saw them when we started the move. The largest one is about 1" They do retract into the rocks when touched. They are clear in color with the largest ones getting a neon green color at the base. I have 5 that I can see. They haven't spread in the 2 weeks that I have had the tank. Do I need to eradicate them? Here is a picture...

canem.jpg


Also, is there a cleanup crew that I can add with the trigger in the tank? The trigger does not seem aggressive at all. I would rate the aggressiveness of the tank as #1 the clown, followed by #2 the tang. The trigger hasn't been aggressive at all towards other fish.

Last question is about filtration. I typically have alot of particulates floating around. It looks much cleaner then the fresh water tanks I am used to but not as clean as some of the tanks I see in pictures here (for example the bonsai tank pictured recently) Do I need to add another filtration system to my tank?
 
they are called power heads. For a 130 gallon aquarium, I'd tell you to go out, do searches on maxi-jet 1200, or a koriala 4... your' going to want about 2 more of each.

Many people here don't use crushed coral substrate-it has a tendancy to trap poop in it, where there are a lot better things than that. Look up bare bottom tanks, deep sand beds, shallow sand beds. LOTS of things to learn there!

For filtration, I'd find a decent skimmer- octopus skimmers are well known, but I don't know if you have a sump or not (the tank under the tank) if you don't, that may not work. I don't know what your options are for that big of a tank without a sump for skimmers.

and that would be a start. Oh, welcome to RC.
 
[welcome]

you should aim for a flow rate within the tank at 20-40 times the volume of the tank per hour

Korilias are reasonable priced--the number 4's give you a flow rate of 1200 gph--and give you a turbulant flow which is more desirable
Two of these would do the trick
 
I agree with the above.
You might try some snails (turbos and astrea) with the niger. It may nip them, so start with just a few and see how your Odonus niger acts.

The organisms that you describe are really impossible for me to identify with any certainty without seeing them. If they are calcerous hard to the touch they could be vertimilid snails or small tube worms.
 
Thanks for the help. I will go pick up a couple more power heads. So are skimmers only for use with a sump system. Is that how you get really clean water?
 
Get big snails! :) And I'd recommend the trochus over the astrea. If the astrea falls over, it can't right itself....nice snack for an opportunistic trigger!

When fish have lived together for a while, they develop a hierarchy. It's amazing how the most peaceful fish in your tank might react when you add a new inhabitant. :)

Tracy
 
there are hang on the back of the tank type skimmers, I'm just unsure as to what will help in that large of a tank.
 
Here is a picture of a piece of my rock with some of those little white circles on it... My bad, they aren't anywhere close to 1/4" in diameter.

rock.jpg


I heard white spots and ich used in the same post and got a little worried. Just want to be sure they are normal... Also on that same rock, What are those hard worm like things with feathers sticking out of them called.


So a hang on the back of the tank type of skimmer wont do much good for me to clear out some of the particulates?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11636685#post11636685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rioshilo
Thanks for the help. I will go pick up a couple more power heads. So are skimmers only for use with a sump system. Is that how you get really clean water?
Click to expand...

there are hang on skimmers for tanks without sumps

for really clean water add a pair of phosban reactors---in one run carbon and in the other run phosban --these do an excellent job of keeping the water clear.

here's a link to my setup:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/reefescapetangster/IMG_4525.jpg
 
The little spiral things are worms. Nothing to worry about. Actually, you could take it as a sign the tank is doing well.
 
Thanks for the help. Regarding the phosban reactors, I will probably add one first and another later. Which one should I run first? Carbon or phosban? I saw that they can be mounted below the tank, is there a problem running them below the tank? What else is needed? Pump? lines? what does this setup look like inside the tank?
 
If you have a sump I'd run them there. I run both carbon and phosban off one pump, a Rio 600. It's about 200 GPH flow. I run it with a tee connection between the reactors, the carbon is reverse flow to keep it from tumbling and grinding itself up. Carbon needs higher flow than the phosban. The Two Little Fishies phosban reactor comes with a ball valve, use it on the output side of the reactor to reduce the flow. You only want the very top few grains of phosban to lightly bubble. The carbon side can be left free flowing.

If you aren't having any algae issues, I'd say start off with running carbon. I wouldn't wait too long to start phosban, though. You will start having algae, most likely from the build up of phosphates. Everybody gets it, so don't despair. Also, use a high quality carbon. Black Diamond is good. Some cheaper carbons contain a lot of phosphate, and that will cause a lot of algae. So, stay away from the pet store brands. I've tried them, they clean the water real nice, but the algae they cause sure leaves a mess.

Since I only have about 65 gallons total water I run about 6 tablespoons phosban and about 1/3 cup of carbon.

Here's a picture of my sump set up for reference. Phosban in the back, carbon in front:

tn_phosban_1.jpg
 
Ok thanks for the extra info. No sump so I'm either hanging em on the side or putting them underneath. How big is the diameter of the two little fishies reactor. Any disadvantage to putting them below the tank?
 
Just eye-balling I'd guess they are about 2.5 inches diameter and about 11 inches tall. The only disadvantage I can see off hand is that if you happen to have a leak it will siphon out your tank. You shouldn't have a head pressure problem as the water is falling just as high as you have to lift it, so it should balance out. But understand, the hose fitting are just press-on. Too much pressure and they will come apart. I would think the 4 or 5 feet of head might be enough to spring a leak. I would recommend against it.

They do have a lip on them so you could hang them on the tank if you wanted to.
 
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