new to hobby, have questions

C

chad-cst

New member
Hello, I'm new the hobby and just have a few questions. I will be setting up a 135 gal FOWLR, I will also have a 30 gal refugium with miracle mud and protein skimmer, should I use bio balls or LR? also sand bed or not ? and do you have to cement down all your live rock and with what? any incites will be helpful!!!! thanks.
 
Last edited:
Re: new to hobby, have questions

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12295850#post12295850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chad-cst
Hello, I'm new the hobby and just have a few questions. I will be setting up a 135 gal reef tank with fish, I will also have a 30 gal refugium with miracle mud and protein skimmer, should I use bio balls or LR? also sand bed or not ? and do you have to cement down all your live rock and with what? any incites will be helpful!!!! thanks.
Click to expand...

[welcome]

I agree do not use bioballs, and no you do not have to cement live rock down. Build you reef with the large rocks on the bottom supporting the smaller ones on the higher layers
 
I did not see that.Thanks. Many FO tanks have CUC eating stock making SB condition hard to control but not impossible. Really depends on your fish list but a bare bottom would be less maintance.
As for LR you want to place it in a way its balanced.Dont be affraid to chip or break rock to your needs.Then use epoxy to secure .
 
chad, contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with bio-balls to use as your main biological filtration as long as you are only going to keep fish.

They do a fine job at converting ammonia and allow you to use less rock in the main display allowing more room for fish.

I've been doing this successfully for years.

It's a question of how you envision your tank.

1. Lots of rock, caves and things and little fish

2. Some rocks and caves and bigger fish. :D
 
They do require more addtional maintance to keep clean and arent needed if you have the minimum amount of LR.The hitch hickers in the LR will benefit your water quality much better also as well as you dont overstock or overfeed with good flow and skimmer.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12296401#post12296401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
They do require more addtional maintance to keep clean and arent needed if you have the minimum amount of LR and dont overstock or overfeed with good flow and skimmer.
Click to expand...

I haven't cleaned my bioballs since I started the tank 7 years ago. Actually, I don't think its a good idea.

The trick is to have a good pre-filter to keep gunk from getting to the main sump in the first place. :D
 
This may mean your able to control the amount of nitrates it collects. Besides like carbon it fills and becomes useless.And just because it works for you doesnt mean it will work for another. If used right it can be usefull but the added unwanted extra maintance its not worth it.
So your saying you never replaced or cleaned them and you have zero nitrates?


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12296414#post12296414 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
I haven't cleaned my bioballs since I started the tank 7 years ago. Actually, I don't think its a good idea.

The trick is to have a good pre-filter to keep gunk from getting to the main sump in the first place. :D
Click to expand...
 
1. I don't have zero nitrates. Never have. Nitrates do not hurt fish.

2. My Trigger and Sweetlips would make lunch out of a clean up crew.

Lets get back to the original poster.

If you plan on having an aggresive fish tank then a clean up crew will not do.

If you plan on having all reef safe fish then they all have a good plan.

Elevated nitrates do not hurt fish, period. Mine have been between 50 and 80 for years and have even got up over 100 a few times.

I haven't lost a fish in a long time.
 
A FO really means fish that are not reef safe. Many of these fish eat your CUC not all but the ones you see like snails and crabs.Plus there messy eaters.A CUC is only a plus if they survive.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12296420#post12296420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
If you have fish only, why do you need a clean up crew ?
Click to expand...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12296447#post12296447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Elevated nitrates do not hurt fish, period. Mine have been between 50 and 80 for years and have even got up over 100 a few times.

I haven't lost a fish in a long time.
Click to expand...

i guess your just one lucky guy!:rollface:
 
Just because they live doesnt mean there happy and its fair to them.Most of these fish are caught right from the ocean to be shipped to some guy who thinks less then perfect water quality is fine.Dont get me wrong as its your choice and my opinon and mean no disrespect.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12296447#post12296447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
1. I don't have zero nitrates. Never have. Nitrates do not hurt fish.

2. My Trigger and Sweetlips would make lunch out of a clean up crew.

Lets get back to the original poster.

If you plan on having an aggresive fish tank then a clean up crew will not do.

If you plan on having all reef safe fish then they all have a good plan.

Elevated nitrates do not hurt fish, period. Mine have been between 50 and 80 for years and have even got up over 100 a few times.

I haven't lost a fish in a long time.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
New- skimmer question
Replies
3
Views
1K
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
R
Getting back into the hobby.
Replies
3
Views
3K
Cjs305510
C
R
Sandbed depth question
Replies
9
Views
349
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
M
Back to this wonderfull hobbie after 10 years
Replies
4
Views
297
griss
griss
M
Return to Reefing
2 3
Replies
40
Views
8K
kelly_12
K
Back
Top