Opinions...Do I need more?

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MichelleMas

New member
I am cycling a 60 gallon FOWLR aquarium with the following:
-HOB Filter (Up to 90 gallons)
-250 Watt Heater (Set to 74 degrees)
-Air pump with long bubbler stick attached. (In photo bubbler is on less than half power)
-40lb live/dry rock
-60lb dry sand

I will be purchasing a wavemaker I am still researching to find the appropriate one. Either one with two heads or two separate to put at opposite ends of the tank.

I am reading other posts and am getting worried that maybe I won't have enough rock to keep the ammonia levels down. I don't plan on keeping very many fish maybe 4-6 all on the smaller side. What are your opinions.

(I know I need to cut a few inches off my filter stick, I am planning to do that this evening, had to borrow a hand saw from work :))
 

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Water temperature 79; alkalinity 8.3. Put an ammonia badge on the tank, to warn you if there's a problem---it's lethal; and change that filter more often than the instructions. Bubblers can cause troubles with fishes' gills: you might screen off that end of the tank with eggcrate lighting grid: the oxygenation is not a bad notion. And depending on the fish, get a jump screen: some are good at it.
 
-I will turn up the heater tonight.
-I have an alkalinity test kit because it came in my master reef kit but haven't used it yet. I didn't think it was relevant. I'll test it tonight.
-I heard an ammonia badge referenced once but didn't know what it was. I just looked it up on amazon....that is so awesome. Would I still need to test ammonia using the test kit?
-I was thinking I can do away with the bubbler once I get the wavemakers/powerheads?
 
MichelleMas said:
-I will turn up the heater tonight.
-I have an alkalinity test kit because it came in my master reef kit but haven't used it yet. I didn't think it was relevant. I'll test it tonight.
-I heard an ammonia badge referenced once but didn't know what it was. I just looked it up on amazon....that is so awesome. Would I still need to test ammonia using the test kit?
-I was thinking I can do away with the bubbler once I get the wavemakers/powerheads?
Click to expand...


+1 with what Sk8r said. I would lose the bubbler. the wave maker as long as it is breaking breaking the water surface will oxygenate your tank.
 
Also in the picture I notice you have the filter tube extended all the way down into sand. I suggest bringing it up because that filter will not last long with sand getting sucked up into the motor.
 
I know I put in my post that I am bringing home a hand saw from work today to cut down the filter :). Believe it or not, I have already cut a few inches off of it. That thing was super long!
 
MichelleMas said:
I know I put in my post that I am bringing home a hand saw from work today to cut down the filter :). Believe it or not, I have already cut a few inches off of it. That thing was super long!
Click to expand...

good catch to you too.... helps if I read that far :)

With that, if you are wanting to capture surface skim that will build up, Fluval makes a surface skimmer that can attach to your HOB filter to catch all of the crap that builds up on the surface of the water. Otherwise you will find your self doing the paper towel method.
 
I didn't really put much thought into a surface skimmer. That's my next research project after Filter Media and Wavemaker.
 
In answer to your original question - 40 lbs of rock on a 60g aquarium seems a bit low, especially without a sump.
Another 20# will give your livestock more hiding places.
If you stock lightly, you may be OK. Only time will tell.
 
You are off to a good start, but here's a few suggestions:

1. Shorten the filter tube so that it is a couple inches off the bottom. (I know you are going to)

2. Lose the bubbler. It will do pretty much nothing for your tank other than cause salt creep.

3. A couple (or more) power heads (I have 4 in my 120) set down fairly low and angled up and across towards the surface to provide turbulent flow. It is difficult to have too much flow in most tanks. Some of my fish seem to like "surfing" in the power head outflow.

4. I would suggest more rock, and rearrange what you have. Keep it away from the glass by at least a couple inches on all sides. This is important for a couple reasons - first, you can't clean the glass if rock is up against it, and second, it will impede flow around the tank and create dead spots where detritius will build up. Set your rock so that you create as many swim-throughs and caves as you can - fish like places to hide/sleep/explore.

5. Take your time, read the stickies, ask questions!

hth!!!
 
Not a bad start, I think people covered just about anything I'd suggest. Only other suggestion I would have is get a black or blue background on the tank. It will make it look better.

Edit: I'd probably add some more rock too. HOB filters aren't bad, but these tanks rely mainly on rock and sand to house bacteria. More rock will give the fish more hiding places, and make it easier for the tank to process the ammonia.
 
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I have a similar tank. 65g fowlr. I would definitely suggest more rock. However, you could cycle it with what you have now and add more later, if you're adding dry rock. I started with about 30 lbs, and then added more, and I'm probably adding even more this weekend. I will be heavily stocking my tank though, as us fowlr people do sometimes.

But even if you don't add any rock, I would try to build it up higher instead of how low you have it. A lot of fish tend to stay inside or within arms reach of the rocks, so the higher they go, the more of the tank the fish will use.

If you don't have any fish in there, you don't really need an ammonia badge, but if you are setting up a quarantine tank, which is a good idea, you can use the badge in there and do a water change whenever you see any reading on the badge. Get test kits for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. And just test every day so you have a handle on how the cycle is progressing. If you used dry rock, which it looks like you did, you should expect the cycle to take about 6 weeks.

And as other people said, get some more flow in the tank. You want all of the water to be pushed around the tank so that it all hits the rocks, since those are the things that will be taking the ammonia and nitrite out of the water when you have built up bacteria on them.

Other than that, since you have several weeks until you start adding fish, just read as much as you can. Frequent this forum and read other newbie's questions and the answers from experienced people. Think about a stock list, and ask for opinions on compatibility and size. We will gladly help.

Good Luck!
 
Thanks so much everyone! I just ordered 30lb of rock online to add. Once I get it I will work on my rock scape. I have found building my rockscape to be extremely difficult. But knowing that I should keep it away from the glass helps. I guess I will just need to build it up more once I get the rock that I just ordered.

I plan on ordering at least 2 powerheads if I have time to do more research today. There are so many types, I know I want one that is magnetic instead of suction.

I'm thinking I will cover the back with window tint.
 
MichelleMas said:
Thanks so much everyone! I just ordered 30lb of rock online to add. Once I get it I will work on my rock scape. I have found building my rockscape to be extremely difficult. But knowing that I should keep it away from the glass helps. I guess I will just need to build it up more once I get the rock that I just ordered.

I plan on ordering at least 2 powerheads if I have time to do more research today. There are so many types, I know I want one that is magnetic instead of suction.

I'm thinking I will cover the back with window tint.
Click to expand...

It looks like you have some small rocks, so it may be hard to stack them solidly. You can use some epoxy to stick them together. This is a common one: http://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-8277-WaterWeld-Underwater/dp/B000BRQ0TW
 
It just didn't hold. I tried also using super glue gel with the water weld and it just fell apart in my hands. Even letting it sit for a few minutes didn't seem like it was getting hard. It was like play dough.
 
Their is an expression that goes something like..."buy once and buy it right". I may be off, but I hope you get the jist. :-)

I bought two of the HOB filters and I didn't even make it through my cycle before I couldn't stand the noise, salt creep, etc before I dumped them. I know money is flying out of your wallet faster than you can earn it while setting this up. However, you might want to look at getting a skimmer eventually.

Alternatively, it you love your HOB filter, I have two that I can send your way that were only used a couple weeks if you pay shipping. Send me a private message if you'd like.
 
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