Filter Media

[Freenow54]

Yes, I also use Poly-Fil from fabric stores as inexpensive floss. Personally, I like using live rock. There is a chance you can get an unwanted hitchhiker, but I believe the benefits live rock brings far outweighs the possibility of getting something you don't want. Pretty much everything can be trapped or felt with another way, including bristle worms, which I believe are beneficial (though a lot of people don't like them).

I have posted that I have seen them 5 times grooming the coral of algae, but they number in the dozens now some 4 inches long they are spooky looking

 

[Fish Fan]

I have posted that I have seen them 5 times grooming the coral of algae, but they number in the dozens now some 4 inches long they are spooky looking

The big ones can definitely freak people out lol!

 

[FiremistSLK]

Fish Fan.... I need more advice! I just finished the set up of my Waterbox 20G Cube. As per this forum, many suggested a Sicce 1.5 return pump. So I purchased one and I just plugged it in. It appears to be too powerful for this tank. Should I switch to a DC pump that I can dial in the flow rate? Or look for an AC pump with less GPH. The Sicce 1.5 flow rate is 357 GPH. Too much?? Can someone please recomend the correct return pump GPH for this tank that is quiet and will do the job. Thanks.....

 

[Fish Fan]

Fish Fan.... I need more advice! I just finished the set up of my Waterbox 20G Cube. As per this forum, many suggested a Sicce 1.5 return pump. So I purchased one and I just plugged it in. It appears to be too powerful for this tank. Should I switch to a DC pump that I can dial in the flow rate? Or look for an AC pump with less GPH. The Sicce 1.5 flow rate is 357 GPH. Too much?? Can someone please recomend the correct return pump GPH for this tank that is quiet and will do the job. Thanks.....

I’ve never had that tank or used that pump, so I don’t know for sure. I can say that DC pumps are nice, it’s great to be able to turn the flow up or down.

You can also just add a valve between your Sicce pump and the tank, and back down the flow using the valve.

And last, are you sure it’s too much, if that’s what others use? You necessarily need quite a lot of flow in saltwater tanks.

 

[FiremistSLK]

Thanks again Fish Fan! The return pump is doing fine. I had the return nozzle pointed to far up and it was really disturbing the surface of the water. It made the return pump look to powerful to me. It isn't. I adjusted the nozzle down slightly and all looks good. I filled the tank with 19g of salt water I purchased from my LFS, added CaribSea life rock and CaribSea live sand. I also took your advice and added Poly-fil to my filter sock and MAN... did it clear the water! I just noticed a bit of green alge dots forming on the glass. I ordered a scraper to remove it. Water temperature has been running at 78 degrees F without a heater. Same temp as my house. Still no livestock yet, but my LFS contact says I can add two clown fish right now if I want, but since the tank has only been in operation for four days, I want to wait until next week to add the fish, after I perform a water test so I'm sure the tank is stable. LFS guy says I must wait another two weeks or so after I add the fish before I add my first coral. Any suggestions for that? I'd like a colorful one :-) ...

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks again Fish Fan! The return pump is doing fine. I had the return nozzle pointed to far up and it was really disturbing the surface of the water. It made the return pump look to powerful to me. It isn't. I adjusted the nozzle down slightly and all looks good. I filled the tank with 19g of salt water I purchased from my LFS, added CaribSea life rock and CaribSea live sand. I also took your advice and added Poly-fil to my filter sock and MAN... did it clear the water! I just noticed a bit of green alge dots forming on the glass. I ordered a scraper to remove it. Water temperature has been running at 78 degrees F without a heater. Same temp as my house. Still no livestock yet, but my LFS contact says I can add two clown fish right now if I want, but since the tank has only been in operation for four days, I want to wait until next week to add the fish, after I perform a water test so I'm sure the tank is stable. LFS guy says I must wait another two weeks or so after I add the fish before I add my first coral. Any suggestions for that? I'd like a colorful one :-) ...

What method did you use to nitrogen cycle this tank? I personally do not advise adding fish until your tank is fully cycled, which can take a few weeks, depending on how you do it. I would add, it's often times wise to get a second opinion, fish stores will tell you a lot of things in an effort to sell fish

 

[FiremistSLK]

Fish Fan,,,, YOU are my second source... I am cycling my new tank using MicroBacter 7. I was instructed to add a 1/2 capful into my tank every day for two weeks, with no fish during this period. In my filter media chamber #1, I have a sock stuffed with poly-fil. In chamber #2 is a small bag of Carbon Pellets and a small bag of Ceramic Rings. That is all I currently have for filter media. Is that enough? My question now is "How does Ammonia get into the tank if there are NO FISH pooping there"? It seems that the Nitrogen Cycle would be better to perform with some fish in the tank. No??

 

[Fish Fan]

Fish Fan,,,, YOU are my second source... I am cycling my new tank using MicroBacter 7. I was instructed to add a 1/2 capful into my tank every day for two weeks, with no fish during this period. In my filter media chamber #1, I have a sock stuffed with poly-fil. In chamber #2 is a small bag of Carbon Pellets and a small bag of Ceramic Rings. That is all I currently have for filter media. Is that enough? My question now is "How does Ammonia get into the tank if there are NO FISH pooping there"? It seems that the Nitrogen Cycle would be better to perform with some fish in the tank. No??

You are 100% right!! You need more than just the MB7, which is the bacteria, you need a source of ammonia to "feed" the bacteria. Your fish shop may have been advising you to add fish at this time so the fish would produce ammonia for the bacteria to grow. That is how tanks were cycled some years ago; a "fish-in" cycle. Now, *most* reefers advocated for a "fish-less" cycle as the process is seen by many as potentially cruel to the fish.

You can raise your ammonia by using hardy fish and livestock (which I don't personally recommend), by feeding the tank as if there were fish present (called "ghost feeding"), by adding a piece of shrimp from your local seafood market, or by using bottled ammonium chloride (which is what I prefer for a fish-less cycle).

I'm happy to help you, but you may want to start your own thread about getting your tank cycled and ready for fish. That way, you'll get more than just me helping you, which is something I always suggest