Helping father with fish tank

[aviationreef]

So my dad just got a 72x18x20 inch fish tank. Currently freshwater but he would like to convert it to a FOWLR.


He wants my help but i don't know anything but the maximum. ie sump with fuge, radion lights ex.

I need some help deciding what he could do to get started.

The tank is not drilled and currently is using a canister filter. picture below.
first question: He would like to replace the canister filter with a quieter model that will also work for saltwater. What options would you recommend?



Next would the substrate in the aquarium be ok? or should he pull that out and put in live sand? Obviously we will trade the rocks for dry rock.




For now these are the main concerns, Don't worry we will give the current fish back to a store when we transition.

 

[CodyRVA]

The only thing that makes the sand "live" is the bacteria already present in the sand. You can absolutely start a new system with dry/dead sand. Once your system cycles and builds a bacteria population, the sand will in turn become "live sand." You can always add a bag or two of live sand to help the bacteria populate faster. I will say that if you're using anything from the current setup for the salt setup, make sure you thoroughly clean everything. In regards to the canister, I'm a fan of the hydor models. The important thing about canisters is to set them up properly. Don't let anyone tell you they "don't work" for saltwater or they're "nitrate factories." They absolutely do work so long as you know how to run them. Reference Here. The Hydor is very simple and reliable, I would go with the 600 model for that tank.

 

[BummersReef]

It is LOVELY long for fish so I'm glad you are thinking of doing FOWLR. It will be awesome!
We put in all dry sand but our LFS gave us a little bag of sand from their tanks (seriously, a very little bag, maybe a cup). Much less expensive than if you did all live sand, as you have a lot of floor space to cover.
I don't know what kind of substrate is in there now, looks like sand but because it had freshwater fish I would not mess with it at all (I'd be too worried about making sure I got it all clean and our LFS is passionate about telling people never to use used sand).
Are you going to put in live rock or dry rock? if you are going to put in live rock, that will give you plenty of bacteria to get your cycle going and you could go with all dry sand.

 

[aviationreef]

I plan on using dry rock as it is cheaper, I believe that bacteria will populate with the cycle. I might use a little live sand or a seeder of live rock.

What risks are there with using the same sand?

The canisters seem good, are they quite? That's his biggest issue with the current one he has. Thanks for the reference on setting them up.

 

[CodyRVA]

I plan on using dry rock as it is cheaper, I believe that bacteria will populate with the cycle. I might use a little live sand or a seeder of live rock.

What risks are there with using the same sand?

The canisters seem good, are they quite? That's his biggest issue with the current one he has. Thanks for the reference on setting them up.

Shouldn't be any risks with using the same sand, just make sure you clean it well. And yes, I had a Hydor 350, I never knew it was even running, very quiet.

 

[aviationreef]

Awesome I see its around 200 idk if that is a lot for a canister filter or not.

As for water, i use RODI will he need RODI or can he use treated tap water?

 

[CodyRVA]

Always use RODI. Shop around, you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere, there are other canisters out there too.

 

[BummersReef]

Awesome I see its around 200 idk if that is a lot for a canister filter or not.

As for water, i use RODI will he need RODI or can he use treated tap water?

ok so I am very new to this so keep that in mind but that is a BIG tank and it seems that having to treat tap water for all the water changes would be a lot of work and expense for chemicals etc. Our LFS does offer premixed saltwater that can be used for water changes etc and it is very easy (for those that don't want to mess with RODI). You just pay a deposit for the jugs and back when we had a 75 gallon salt we'd just go get a load of jugs maybe every 10 days or so. Very easy. But with our new tank (125) we are going to install an RO system as it will save money in the long run. We filled it initially with the purchased saltwater in jugs and it really wasn't that horrible expensive. But if he is going to end up keeping some nice (expensive) fish plus the live rock, I would imagine water quality would be pretty important. Is he close to a good LFS?

 

[aviationreef]

He cleaned his filter and it worked a lot quieter. So he is good with his current filter(i imagine it will work just fine for a FOWLR tank)

I am going to look into a hang on the back skimmer, I figure he will be fine without a refugium. As for water i think ill have him use premixed salt from a LFS across the street from his work. Maybe 20G a month water change.

We are going to completely remove everything from the tank(sand and all) and we are gonna get live sand and dry rock(probably from billyreefconnections, cheapest i have found) and i heard a lot of people say they put live rock rubble in the canister filter so i might do that

Fish wise we are hoping for the final fish to be a medium sized blue angel fish. we have found some pretty cool ones for the tank.

But to start with thinking maybe 3 cardinals. and then some sort of yellow fish after that( either yellow tang or something else)
i know we will not be able to keep a ton of fish with that list of big ones but any other ideas for what would work? maybe a dwarf angel or 2. like i said still in early planning haven't started the cycle yet even.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Not going with radions on a FOWLR right? Thats expensive to shine light on some fish lol.

I have heard canister filters are nitrate factories. A simple sump with hang on overflows can be relativley cheap and easy. Hunt on craigslist for good deals

 

[CodyRVA]

I have heard canister filters are nitrate factories

False. :D

 

[BoneXriffic]

False. :D

False is only half true =).... a good sump with a quality sock can keep you from cleaning your sump. A cabister filter if left uncleaned can build nitrate rapidly. Yes both require some maintanence. However with a sock it is as simple as throwing it in the washing machine while your new one is in place. Not to mention a sump allows you room from other sources to help reduce nutrients. E.g. a fuge, live rock. Depending on the fish they keep the bioload can be very heavy and a proper sump would be more efficient

So yes they arent always a nitrate factory but can be without proper maintanence. The more fish, especially messy fish, can create the need for much more maintanence than required with a sump...

Again this is an opinion based on previous experience

 

[CodyRVA]

False is only half true =).... a good sump with a quality sock can keep you from cleaning your sump. A cabister filter if left uncleaned can build nitrate rapidly. Yes both require some maintanence. However with a sock it is as simple as throwing it in the washing machine while your new one is in place. Not to mention a sump allows you room from other sources to help reduce nutrients. E.g. a fuge, live rock. Depending on the fish they keep the bioload can be very heavy and a proper sump would be more efficient

So yes they arent always a nitrate factory but can be without proper maintanence. The more fish, especially messy fish, can create the need for much more maintanence than required with a sump...

Again this is an opinion based on previous experience

Understood. However dirty filter socks can be just as much of a "nitrate factory" as a dirty canister filter. I had a canister, now a full sump/fuge and I absolutely spend more time changing and cleaning filter socks than I ever did cleaning my canister (not to say this would always be the case). I do agree a sump provides many more features than a canister, but thats not the debate. The debate is do they work and they absolutely do. The issue i've found is most people do not know how to properly run a canister filter. I cleaned mine twice a month and still had an ULN system.

I would probably still go with a sump/fuge over a canister, but the point is that both methods can be successful.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Understood. However dirty filter socks can be just as much of a "nitrate factory" as a dirty canister filter. I had a canister, now a full sump/fuge and I absolutely spend more time changing and cleaning filter socks than I ever did cleaning my canister (not to say this would always be the case). I do agree a sump provides many more features than a canister, but thats not the debate. The debate is do they work and they absolutely do. The issue i've found is most people do not know how to properly run a canister filter. I cleaned mine twice a month and still had an ULN system.

I would probably still go with a sump/fuge over a canister, but the point is that both methods can be successful.

It seems we argued a point we agree on. MERIKA! lol

 

[aviationreef]

Not going with radions on a FOWLR right? Thats expensive to shine light on some fish lol.

I have heard canister filters are nitrate factories. A simple sump with hang on overflows can be relatively cheap and easy. Hunt on craigslist for good deals

No i was referring to the stuff i use on my reef tank. he has lights built in... but maybe he will catch the reef bug.

As for the nitrate factory issue that is if you don't preform proper maintenance.

 

[BoneXriffic]

No i was referring to the stuff i use on my reef tank. he has lights built in... but maybe he will catch the reef bug.

As for the nitrate factory issue that is if you don't preform proper maintenance.

Agreed, i have just always felt it was easier to runse a sock then disassemble and clean a canister. But i can admit i do not much experience with them

 

[CodyRVA]

Not only regular maintenance (i only cleaned my canister twice a month), but how efficient you setup your canister. If you follow the instructions with the canister, 99% chance its going to give you a headache.

 

[aviationreef]

so i am trying to plan out the fish for the tank. He really wants a Large blue fish. So i am trying to find a good fish for him kinda a center piece fish. I have been looking on Blue Zoo aquatics and there are a lot of blue angle fish that would work. Then i went to live aquaria and they had a double the minimum tank size. So what would be a good center piece fish for him? Then i can plan around that for the other fish

 

[Nigelk]

Make sure you replace the media in the filter before use, I run a canister and sump, I like the canister as I have a predator tank so bio load is an issue, clean it every 2 weeks and never had any issues with it.