Main Menu
| |
Get on the Map!
| |
Forum Menu
| | 
02-17-2008, 12:28 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Florida Age: 34
Posts: 83
Karma: 12
 |  First tank - must have skimmer?
I'm starting my first salt water tank, its only a 37 bowed. It's also tempered, so I can't drill it.
Question is:
I want it to be a FOWLR tank, do I really need to have a sump and protein skimmer?
Whats the minimum for filtration with this tank, will live sand and live rock be enough. I don't even really need a whole lot of fish, maybe just 3 or 4 at this point, so I think nitrates should stay a little lower (less food and less waste - yes?).
I am not trying to 'cheap-skate' this, but I just know if I can get started inexpensively, then my wife will be more on board. She loves the FW we have now and I just know she would be totally hooked on the SW. I am just in awe that you can basically have a self contained eco-system right in your front room!
-Thanks
Also, I've only been on 3reef for about a week and this is the most awesome site I have ever seen, the amount of information and honest opinoins are invaluable. It is so important for us newbies to be able to draw on the experiences and knowledge of people who have been at this for a while. | 
|  | | Reef Links |  | |
02-17-2008, 12:38 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Quebec City
Posts: 899
   |
[quote=illushinz;413523]
Question is:
I want it to be a FOWLR tank, do I really need to have a sump and protein skimmer?quote]
IMO no you dont NEED to have these things , but they sure can help!
I do not have a sump but I do run a skimmer and their are people who run very sucsessful skimmerless tanks.
But since you want a FOWLR it should not be a problem .
But dont slack off on your rutine maintanance ei water changes _________ 
55gl skimmerless, 80lbs live rock, DIY wavemaker running 3x MJ1200 with hydor deflector.
2 DIY fluidized reactors Carbon & ROWAphos
LIghts- 2x 50/50 atinics T10's , 2x life gro T10's ,
1x20,000K T12, 1x6,000K T10.
Fish-3
Coral-13. | |
| | |
02-17-2008, 12:41 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Peppermint Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 428
|
I have a 120gal FOWLR tank and a 55gal FOWLR, they both are fine with no skimmer, but the 55gal I plan on getting a skimmer for because the smaller tank is just more difficult to keep clean, its really all up to.
_________
120g, 3 niger triggers, 2 tomato's, 2 puffers, 2 anglers,
eel, lrg black lion
5g, 4 baby black ociis, haitian, rock and bubble tip anemone, frogspawn, hammers, candycanes, blue ricordia, zenia, leather, plate coral, peppermint shrimp, yellow jawfish, porcelain anemone crab, lrg ass. bristle worms | |
| | |
02-17-2008, 12:41 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Florida Age: 34
Posts: 83
Karma: 12
|
So what kind of skimmer do you have? i mean, is it just a hang on skimmer? I have an extra emperor 400 bio-wheel, but have been told that I don't really need that one. Also, what about aeration? I have and undergravel filter in my FW tank, but with live sand, nothing goes under the sand, right? | |
| | |
02-17-2008, 01:03 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,582
|
Keep in mind that fish give off the most bio load over any other livestock. I think that if you have enough LR and LS and a good chemical filter, you should be fine, but it wouldnt hurt to have a skimmer. You should see all the stuff that a skimmer gets out of the water. _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
| | |
02-17-2008, 09:21 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 30
Karma: 1
|
Skimmerless is fine, you don't even have to have a sump.
The more heavily you stock the more you may need the added filtration.
My 29 has neither sump/fuge or skimmer. 2 fish, some snails, and a couple mushrooms. I couldn't be happier with it the way it is. Good circulation is very benificial. | |
| | |
02-18-2008, 01:42 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Florida Age: 34
Posts: 83
Karma: 12
|
Ok, been to one lfs, not impressed with the fish and tanks there, thinking I'll find another to be my main store. I asked them about lighting for my 37g bowed. They said that if I wasn't going to do any coral - FOWLR only - that I could get away with the flourescent that came with the hood for now, but that I would have to get some real lights if I ever wanted coral.
Comments? | |
| | |
02-18-2008, 01:51 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Quebec City
Posts: 899
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by illushinz  Ok, been to one lfs, not impressed with the fish and tanks there, thinking I'll find another to be my main store. I asked them about lighting for my 37g bowed. They said that if I wasn't going to do any coral - FOWLR only - that I could get away with the flourescent that came with the hood for now, but that I would have to get some real lights if I ever wanted coral.
Comments? | This sounds about right, Some people will use different colour bulbs with F/O tanks to bring out the coulors in their fish I cant remember the exact bulb name but its like a sun bulb or somthink and it will bring out the yellows in your fish but for sure you dont need to run out and buy M/H for a F/O tank | |
| | |
02-18-2008, 02:36 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Montipora Capricornis
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Manchester UK Age: 24
Posts: 1,008
|
I've never used a skimmer or a sump, my tank just is not big enough to warrant a sump, and i think skimmers are to big and ugly to use on a main display. But my tank has always been fine _________ You will never know whats in my tank as i can only type 15 words  | |
| | |
02-18-2008, 03:08 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gainesville, Georgia Age: 21
Posts: 48
Karma: 15
|
I dont know what you guys mean by FOWLR. Is it just a style? Or a certain system setup?
I might even know what it is, just not familiar with the term.
PS. I would rather ask you guys than going on a google search. I just have a feeling that the Reefers here can explain better =] _________  How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck Norris?
| |
| | | Reef Links |  | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:34 PM. |
