Tank in hospital

[Hens4Fish]

Hi All,
So no one has really responded to my fist post so here is where I am at. PLEASE give me feed back as to what you think.
I am putting a 55 in a waiting room and here is what I will use. A rena 3 stage filter, some sort of protein skimmer, and probably compact florescent lighting. I am going to put a sand bottom with 100 lbs LR. Some simple corals, mushrooms, GSP, easy stuff. Then some hardy fish, clowns, gobies, cardinals, etc.. Also, some cheato in the corner. So, what do you think. Any suggestions, ideas, input? I want it to be easy so I am not maintaining it several times a day, and office staff can feed the fish. Well, let me know.
Bill

 

[Bri Guy]

Looks good, just my 2 cents, but I think 100 lbs of rock may be too much, depending on how dense it is. Maybe add a power head for more flow, and Im not to sure that cheato in the show tank would be a low maintaince choice, maybe just skip it.

Otherwise should be ok, but you still have to worry about the salinity, since you have no ATO, maybe have them feed every day and have them pour in X amount of h20 along with it to adjust.

BTW, I do have some base rock you could have, around 10 lbs or so, it would give you a start. Its not pretty but would work great for under the sand structure. You would never see it.

 

[Hens4Fish]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I just thought the cheato would absord some nitrates, but would it get out of control? I am going to use 2 power heads, one high, one low. Some people have said to get a hang on back refuge. But what would that have that my tank doesn't, other than a place to put cheato. Well, thanks for the input and as for the LR, I will take it. Any way to reduce cost is great with me. I can pay you a little, but we can work that out. Thanks again

 

[Hens4Fish]

Also, should I put bio-balls and ceramic media in the filter, or just carbon? How much filtration will I need?

 

[kass03]

The live rock will be your filtration. You dont need anything else for filtration.

If you dont have a H.O.B or sump you dont have anywhere to put carbon.
You can use a H.O.B. power filter for carbon or mod it for carbon and chaeto.

Once it's going I could give you some xenia if you want it.

kass

 

[Hens4Fish]

But I can put the carbon in the canister filter. So you think this method would be successul?

 

[Bri Guy]

If you already have the canister filter then use it, but carbon is the only thing need in it, no floss or bio-balls.

All bio-media is just surface area for bacteria, so live rock is the same as bio-media.

The canister would give good flow in the tank along with housing the carbon.

The cheato won't go "out of control" (its not as bad as calupura) but it will grow and have to be trimmed regularly, water changes are a better nutrient exporter

As for the rock, its yours im not asking anything for it, thats my donation.

 

[Hens4Fish]

Hey Bri Guy. Thanks a lot for the advice and the LR. I was thinking of putting the cheato in the tank as a nitrate absorber and a teaching tool. I am thinking about putting signs up around the tank to promote the understanding of a reef aquarium and it's inhabitants. Thanks again.
Bill