New tank
- Thread starter LtPiper
- Start date
I just started a new tank also, a 45gal hex. I believe I will make this one a FOWLR. I wanted to have a few clownfish in it. Would it be a FOWLR if it had an anemone in it?
As far as animals to use for cycling. All I know of would be the damsels (which I have decided I do not care much for) Anything else besides damsels?
As far as animals to use for cycling. All I know of would be the damsels (which I have decided I do not care much for) Anything else besides damsels?
coralreefer
No Pistons
I've always cycled my tanks with live rock only. A raw shrimp works too.
IMO it's cruel to subject any fish, even a damsel, to ammonia burn when there are other methods.
IMO it's cruel to subject any fish, even a damsel, to ammonia burn when there are other methods.
Brock Fluharty
New member
I have some red, and green macros. Also, I could spare a cup or three (lol) of live sand from my seahorse tank. It's loaded with pods, bristles, and mini-stars. I have...
Caulerpa prolifera
Red kelp (smooth type)
Red gracilaria
Halimeda
Chaeto
Caulerpa prolifera
Red kelp (smooth type)
Red gracilaria
Halimeda
Chaeto
H.crispa
New member
I know I'll get flamed for this BUT-- I NEVER "cycle" a tank. I use liverock-- which already has all the bacteria in and on it-- and livesand-- which already has all the funk in it as well.
I have set up many tanks in a single day with no problems-- livestock and all. The trick is to incorporate as much stuff from old established tanks into the new one as you can, including filter pads, bio balls, rock, sand, etc. Keep the bio load fairly low for the first week and start adding stuff slowly. Watch the tank and observe the animals-- they will let you know if you are rushing things too much.
I have "jump-started" every tank I have set up for years using this method and had no problems at all. You have to learn how to tap into your "reef zen"-- then all else is trivia.
Look at what Phil is saying... same principle.
I have set up many tanks in a single day with no problems-- livestock and all. The trick is to incorporate as much stuff from old established tanks into the new one as you can, including filter pads, bio balls, rock, sand, etc. Keep the bio load fairly low for the first week and start adding stuff slowly. Watch the tank and observe the animals-- they will let you know if you are rushing things too much.
I have "jump-started" every tank I have set up for years using this method and had no problems at all. You have to learn how to tap into your "reef zen"-- then all else is trivia.
Look at what Phil is saying... same principle.
firefish2020
New member
Live rock is best to use and Shrimp works great IMO.
I have a 75g tank that I am (should have already) going to remove the bio balls from on Saturday. They have been in there a while (couple years), they are like a pile of live rock from a bacteria standpoint.
They are yours if you want them.
As the others said, in the past I have used sand and live rock from my other tanks as well so have not gone through the cycling for many years, just seeded the new. I added the bio balls to the 75g a couple years back thinking it would be FOWLR, that direction lasted about a month.
They are yours if you want them.
As the others said, in the past I have used sand and live rock from my other tanks as well so have not gone through the cycling for many years, just seeded the new. I added the bio balls to the 75g a couple years back thinking it would be FOWLR, that direction lasted about a month.
I know I not be as satisfied with my new tank being a FOWLR, but I will have to keep it that way because I only have the VHO lighting. I may have some softies, xeinia...but thats about it.
Man, I wish I would have grabbed up Phils live rock when I had the chance. Anyone have some nice live rock for sale? I need about 50 pound.
Man, I wish I would have grabbed up Phils live rock when I had the chance. Anyone have some nice live rock for sale? I need about 50 pound.
H.crispa
New member
There are many examples of people successfully keeping sps and clams under VHO. It can be done.
Here is just one:
http://www.garf.org/40watt_vho.html
A quick google of "VHO sps" brings up lots of results.
Another from Albert Thiel:
http://www.athiel.com/lib10/sps6.htm
Here is just one:
http://www.garf.org/40watt_vho.html
A quick google of "VHO sps" brings up lots of results.
Another from Albert Thiel:
http://www.athiel.com/lib10/sps6.htm
WVfishguy
New member
This is one of the many reasons I like refugiums. I always keep a bunch of live rock, aragonite and macroalgae in my 'fuges. When I start a new tank, I just seed it with crap from the 'fuge.
You might be surprised what you can keep under VHO lighting. I saw a huge bubble-tip and a big frogspawn which were grown under two 4-foot VHO lights.
You might be surprised what you can keep under VHO lighting. I saw a huge bubble-tip and a big frogspawn which were grown under two 4-foot VHO lights.
H.crispa
New member
No surprise to me fishguy. I had a BTA, froggie, openbrain, mazebrain and some sps and other stuff. Everything thrived and the BTA split all the time. All in a 20 hex under 2 28 watt 6700k cf and 2 28 watt 7100k blue cf Panasonics. Intensity is misunderstood by many people and I have seen wild reefs in 65 feet of water in the FL Keys where the depth of the water had decreased intensity and shifted the spectrum to a very blue color and still yet, sps, lps and averthing else we love were thriving. I'm sure Ron will love noting that these reefs of which I speak had insane amounts of current.
I prefer MH bc it is cheaper in the long run and the results are great as well-- and the shimmer lines are cool too.
Bottom line-- at some level, light is light regardless of its source and corals will adapt. So, I am a firm believer that you can keep pretty much whatever you want with a wide variety of setups. Sps are no longer the sole privince of the MH crowd. Play around with it and you'll be surprised with what you can do.
I prefer MH bc it is cheaper in the long run and the results are great as well-- and the shimmer lines are cool too.
Bottom line-- at some level, light is light regardless of its source and corals will adapt. So, I am a firm believer that you can keep pretty much whatever you want with a wide variety of setups. Sps are no longer the sole privince of the MH crowd. Play around with it and you'll be surprised with what you can do.
