My wonderful wife bought a new couch….so I figured I’d change out on of my freshwater 24” tank into a saltwater tank. I’ve been fairly hesitant of jumping into the saltwater world due to the higher monthly cost and worried about messing up and ruining the whole tank.
I successfully have a 180 gallon heavily planted tank, 180 gallon wild discus tank, a 60 cube African Cichlids tank and a 60 cube hybrid discus tank. The kids love the cichlid tank, I love the planted and the wild discus tank…the hybrid tank was the least favorite…so I am in the process of parting it out.
So…here I am.
I am planning on the following:
(2) canister filters: one has the heater in line, the other the uv filter
(1) 500w heater
(1) 18w UV filter
(1) Tunze 9014 DC Skimmer
(1) Vortec MP10
30lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Sand
Pro Reef Salt
MicroBacter Start XLM
Still trying to decide on:
Will the MP10 provide enough flow? I was going to get 2, but was on the fence of getting another MP10 or jumping up to a MP40.
BRS 55lbs Real Reef solution or start off with while rock
1-2 Kessil 360x (I have them on all my tanks now, but are the Tuna Sun not Blue) or something else completely
Is there anything else I would need to get started on cycling the tank? Any recommendations?….
I really know the canisters is not ideal. The reason for keeping the canisters…is there isn’t much room underneath to put a sump. I have the equipment already and wouldn’t need to re-plumb. It will also add a little additional flow and some bio filter. My thought was to fill the canisters with rock leftover from the build.
I successfully have a 180 gallon heavily planted tank, 180 gallon wild discus tank, a 60 cube African Cichlids tank and a 60 cube hybrid discus tank. The kids love the cichlid tank, I love the planted and the wild discus tank…the hybrid tank was the least favorite…so I am in the process of parting it out.
So…here I am.
I am planning on the following:
(2) canister filters: one has the heater in line, the other the uv filter
(1) 500w heater
(1) 18w UV filter
(1) Tunze 9014 DC Skimmer
(1) Vortec MP10
30lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Sand
Pro Reef Salt
MicroBacter Start XLM
Still trying to decide on:
Will the MP10 provide enough flow? I was going to get 2, but was on the fence of getting another MP10 or jumping up to a MP40.
BRS 55lbs Real Reef solution or start off with while rock
1-2 Kessil 360x (I have them on all my tanks now, but are the Tuna Sun not Blue) or something else completely
Is there anything else I would need to get started on cycling the tank? Any recommendations?….
I really know the canisters is not ideal. The reason for keeping the canisters…is there isn’t much room underneath to put a sump. I have the equipment already and wouldn’t need to re-plumb. It will also add a little additional flow and some bio filter. My thought was to fill the canisters with rock leftover from the build.