Getting to know other people here

[Dtackett]

remember. your rock is your main source of filtration. mechanical filtration just makes it easier to remove detritus and a skimmer just removes dissolve organics (mostly) the easier you can make your maintenance the less likely you are to have issues.

 

[Cleo642]

remember. your rock is your main source of filtration. mechanical filtration just makes it easier to remove detritus and a skimmer just removes dissolve organics (mostly) the easier you can make your maintenance the less likely you are to have issues.

Yeah that's right.

 

[Humblefish]

So a hang on back filter is good for a reef tank?

You thinking about setting up a sumpless reef? Below is a 57 gal I ran for a couple of years with just an Aquaclear HOB/circulation pumps.

 

[Cleo642]

You thinking about setting up a sumpless reef? Below is a 57 gal I ran for a couple of years with just an Aquaclear HOB/circulation pumps.

That looks really nice. It depends on what type of place I end up getting. If it's small, I will get a smaller tank 55 gallons or less, i don't wanna have to do any sump on that. Keep it simple.
One day, when I get a bigger place to do a 180, I will have a sump on a big tank like that cause I want a big nyos skimmer. Lol

 

[Humblefish]

That looks really nice. It depends on what type of place I end up getting. If it's small, I will get a smaller tank 55 gallons or less, i don't wanna have to do any sump on that. Keep it simple.
One day, when I get a bigger place to do a 180, I will have a sump on a big tank like that cause I want a big nyos skimmer. Lol

A 40 breeder (36 x 18 x 17) might be a good option for you, especially if you wait until Petco runs another one of their $ per gal sales. Aquaclear powerfilter, HOB skimmer and some cheap Koralia 1050 powerheads would get the job done. Or do a couple of MP-10s if you want to splurge on programmable/adjustable pumps. The biggest expensive will be reef grade lights and some dry rock.

 

[Cleo642]

A 40 breeder (36 x 18 x 17) might be a good option for you, especially if you wait until Petco runs another one of their $ per gal sales. Aquaclear powerfilter, HOB skimmer and some cheap Koralia 1050 powerheads would get the job done. Or do a couple of MP-10s if you want to splurge on programmable/adjustable pumps. The biggest expensive will be reef grade lights and some dry rock.

True. I want a Hamilton metal halide fixture, and that will cost the most. I stuck in it for some reason.
Plus I want a jbj frag tank, and then the quarantine everything.
Maybe I still want a 55 gallon cause I want to be to fit a Tomini tang in it. Idk,we'll see how things go.

 

[Dtackett]

single rw8 or 2 rw4 would do great in a 40 breeder and lights can go anywhere from 140 for a 32 inch mars aqua to 500+ for radions. all depends on what you want to spend. the mars aqua will grow almost as much as the radions and the new SB reef lights will grow coral just as good. I never found a coral that wouldn't grow happily under the mars aqua with the exception of zoas... but I couldn't grow zoas in the friggin ocean....

 

[Cleo642]

single rw8 or 2 rw4 would do great in a 40 breeder and lights can go anywhere from 140 for a 32 inch mars aqua to 500+ for radions. all depends on what you want to spend. the mars aqua will grow almost as much as the radions and the new SB reef lights will grow coral just as good. I never found a coral that wouldn't grow happily under the mars aqua with the exception of zoas... but I couldn't grow zoas in the friggin ocean....

Quit saying that! Lol. Your gonna be successful with zoas eventually.

 

[Dtackett]

Quit saying that! Lol. Your gonna be successful with zoas eventually.

its annoying... such a simple coral....

 

[Cleo642]

Me wanting a smaller because the size house will live in isn't really due to cost, but the house won't be able to accommodate a larger tank or the weight of it.

 

[Cleo642]

its annoying... such a simple coral....

Your gonna keep letting it bother you. I understand.

 

[Humblefish]

Maybe I still want a 55 gallon cause I want to be to fit a Tomini tang in it. Idk,we'll see how things go.

I don't like the 55 gal because it's only 12" wide; hard to stack rocks with that.

 

[Humblefish]

@Dtackett You sure you don't have a fish nipping at your zoas? They are like fish candy, even some tangs nip at those.

 

[Cleo642]

I don't like the 55 gal because it's only 12" wide; hard to stack rocks with that.

Yeah, that's true, maybe 65 or 75. Something a little wider.
Dtackett keeps he can't raise zoas to save his life. Is there any fish or coral you couldn't keep?

 

[Cleo642]

I know I want zoas and scolys, I love them.

 

[Dtackett]

actually you don't have to worry so much about the weight. especially if you build the stand with a solid base. that will spread the weight out a lot I did a test in my old garage before we tore it down. mind you this thing was falling apart, was not properly spaced or anything. also mind you we were a little drunk... ok.. we were hammered.

we started stacking sheets of plywood up op the rafters in the hopes of being able to pull the roof down with simple weight alone. we ran out of plywood after we had stacked 4x8 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood at a height of about 6 feet. we also ran out of room to stack. rafters were 10ft long 2x6 with minimal support. we figured out the weight to be around 3200 pounds. no issues. now, imagine a house built to standard with proper spacing and support.... theres not many houses that will have issues due to a tank. if the floor is having issues holding a tank on a proper stand, the house was already having issues before the tank was put in.

 

[Dtackett]

@Dtackett You sure you don't have a fish nipping at your zoas? They are like fish candy, even some tangs nip at those.

I thought that because I had a blue spot puffer so I set up my spare 10 gallon with all the equipment and stuck my coral in there and kept the blue spot in the 75. still couldn't keep the zoas with no fish lol hoping this new light and my new setup will change that though.

 

[Cleo642]

actually you don't have to worry so much about the weight. especially if you build the stand with a solid base. that will spread the weight out a lot I did a test in my old garage before we tore it down. mind you this thing was falling apart, was not properly spaced or anything. also mind you we were a little drunk... ok.. we were hammered.

we started stacking sheets of plywood up op the rafters in the hopes of being able to pull the roof down with simple weight alone. we ran out of plywood after we had stacked 4x8 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood at a height of about 6 feet. we also ran out of room to stack. rafters were 10ft long 2x6 with minimal support. we figured out the weight to be around 3200 pounds. no issues. now, imagine a house built to standard with proper spacing and support.... theres not many houses that will have issues due to a tank. if the floor is having issues holding a tank on a proper stand, the house was already having issues before the tank was put in.

If it's a trailer or a house on cinder blocks (as they call it), you sure that floor could properly support a large tank? I just rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Humblefish]

Is there any fish or coral you couldn't keep?

I've never been able to keep Elegance Corals or any Goniopora sp. There's no fish I've not been able to keep. Fish are my thing. ;)

 

[Dtackett]

actually yes. have you ever looked under a trailer? due to the mobility of it they are built better than most houses. spacing between the joists are closer, it has more support points, plus a steel frame holding it all together.