Is this good enough to start my tank?

Solowkoe · 08-17-2006, 02:00 PM

I bought a 70 gallon tank 48" long. I have the light that came with it (48" aqualight 40watts) What i was thinking is: I will run a fluva204 canister that i have with some live rocks in it (any suggestions of filtration media to put in it?). Then i got a skimmer (odyssea p75)thats supposed to be good for tanks upto 75gals, i will mount it on the back of the tank. I was thinking that i will just buy a powerhead (any suggestions?) and about 90lbs of live sand and some live rocks, i dont know how much live rocks yet, probably whatever i can afford for now. can anyone tell me if this will be enough to run a 70gal FOWLR? also, in what way should i point powerhead and the output for the fluva for current? then while i cycle the water i was thinking i would put some nerite snails and a shrimp to get my bio load going. I need opinions as to is this good enough or what else i should add and in what order. Do you think this is a good start for a good marine tank?

thanks in advance for any help, best regards
-Charles

PS- cant wait to put up some pics, if all goes well

Blade_Runner · 08-17-2006, 03:29 PM

Hi:

Did you already by the 204? IMO it is a little light for a 70. I just broke down a 72 FOWLER and had a 404 on it that worked well when used with a Rainbow Lifeguard 600 fluidized bed and SeaClone 150. In any case I'd run charcoal and foam in the fluval. If you don't want to spring for a stand alone aerobic biologic filter, add the little rocks fluval supplies with their units to a tray or 2.

The fluval (especially the 204) doesn't produce much current. I had the fluval on the left side of the tank with the return generally pointed into the middle. The skimmer and FB was in the middle. I had a powerhead on the right also angled into the middle.

You do mean that you will add krill to the tank to get the bio load going don't you? Don't use live shrimp. They won't tolerate the cycle. Buy a bottle of Cycle to jump start the system. Wait a week or so after adding the sand and rock before adding critters. (Check your Amnonia, NO3 and NO2. Amnonia should be 0 before you consider adding any livestock) If you plan on a clown or damsel they should be the first in. Go slow.

Finally, even for a FOWLER the light is a little underpowered. No rush on that item, but you will probably want to upgrade just so you can see your fish better.

Good luck and have fun.

nemo79 · 08-17-2006, 04:32 PM

I don't know much about the fluval's but i have a hang on aquaclear geared for 40 - 70g with the sponge and carbon media in it. It causes alot of flow in my 55g. I also have a aqua c remora skimmer plus 4 powerheads. As you are doing a fish only tank you probably won't need AS much flow as reef tanks do. I plan on having a mini reef so I need the 872gph in my tank. It's fun watching my clown try to swim in the current.

Solowkoe · 08-17-2006, 04:35 PM

Thanks for the advice blade runner. The fluval 204 came with the tank when i bought it used. I figured i could just add the skimmer, LR and live sand for filtration for now. maybe later ill add another fluval or a better one.

As for the powerhead, i think im gonna put a rio 1100 in there, will this be good enough for now?

As for the light, i will just use the one i got for about a month or 2 and then im gonna buy a new light setup, so i'm not worried about that. will that be ok for a couple of months? I am more worried about the water movement and filtration right now.

I will be getting some live sand and rocks this weekend, is there anything i need to do before putting them in? I dont have anything hooked up and no water yet, but the guy whos giving me this stuff is gonna give me about 20gals of his tanks water too. so will that be ok? does the skimmer and filter need to be hooked up for the sand and rocks or can it wait till i put something else in the tank, like more water and livestalk? Do i need a airator?

Solowkoe · 08-17-2006, 05:08 PM

Thanks nemo, ive been looking at alot of posts you have put up, you've been alot of help. even your little bio has helped me

so do you think i shoud get a hang on filter to go with my canister? will that be enough for filtration and movement?

error on previous post from me - livestalk=livestock, it was bugging me

Diver_1298 · 08-18-2006, 07:49 AM

You can go back and edit your posts after they are posted (sounds funny)
I do so frequently when I catch my spelling errors

As far as the lighting goes you can use it for as long as you need to, thru the cycle and up to adding your first fish. But I would plan on upgrading after that just like bladerunner said.

Jim

nemo79 · 08-18-2006, 09:47 AM

hello, i'm glad my posts could be of help to you, i am new at this as well. If you already have a filter, use that for now and see how it handles your tanks load. Instead of getting another filter I would use the skimmer. Skimmers remove organic wastes from fish, which a filter cannot, the filter with remove debris, and other things in the tank. don't use ammo chips in any filteration system for SW, it's not good for SW but is great for freshwater. Don't be alarmed if your skimmer doesn't remove alot in the beginning, this is due to your bioload not being large also you will get microbubbles in the tank from the skimmer until it breaks in and you can't really eliminate them alltogether. When i set up my tank I used the following process: clean tank if it's used. I cleaned my substrate really well(you will need to rinse it alot in FW till it runs pretty clear. Then I added the water slowly to not disterb the substrate, added salt, heater, and the filter. I ran this for a few days because you couldn't see inside the tank, it was really cloudy but cleared in 2 days. I added liverock, which i would suggest if it's not from an established tank, that you rinse it really well in a bucket and shake any debris from it. Then i added my skimmer and powerheads. Place the powerheads so you get current on the surface and flow throughout the tank. Hydor flo's are great additions to any PH they will fit. I have a 55g tank and i have 4 powerheads in there for flow. you won't get much flow from your skimmer. My total gph is 872. It moves in there. If you don't plan on corals you won't need as much flow. I would greatly suggest not using a hood on the tank, for SW it's better open for gas exchange. I used egg crate on the top so it's open but nothing can jump out or go in. Get tests kits and test at least every few days and monitor your perameters on paper/puter. This will help you monitor the initial cycle. If you have any more questions you can always send private messages for quicker responses. Hope i helped.

nemo79 · 08-18-2006, 09:49 AM

oh i should clarify, i didn't clean the substrate in the tank, after cleaning it i added it to the tank. sorry.

Solowkoe · 08-18-2006, 03:32 PM

Thanks again

How did you go about cleaning your tank? The substrate and live rock i am getting are coming out of someone elses tank, so i dont want to clean them for fear of killing off whatever is on them. should i still rinse the LR? thanks for the tip on the hood. I might get a light that is suspended by some clamps, and make some kind of mesh top so the fish wont jump out, any suggestions on what to make the mesh top out of?

Reef Lover · 08-18-2006, 04:46 PM

I have a 404 on my 55g. I have 2 sections with carbon, 1 section with nitrate granular, and the last section with ammonia granular. I replace the sponges with pura pads. I would keep the 204 fill it with carbon, keep or replace the pads and use it for flow. A 204 is for 40g or less.