FishProfiles.com Message Forums

i've been wanting to keep marines for a while now so have decided to start doing the much needed research before i take the plunge.

just a few questions on things that have been confusing me

i'm wanting to set up a fish only tank
i've been reading a lot of stuff about live rock and how benificial it is to a tank but i've also read that in a fish only tank it is not essential

do you definatly need to use live rock or is it an option? if i didn't use live rock (i'm on a small budget and live rock is v expensive)what other forms of filtration would i need to consider

also i was just wondering about pieces of equipment that are a must and i need to have and others that are just 'an optional extra'

heater filter lights are obvious but what about reverse osmosis and calcuim reactors

AHHHHHH it's all just so confusing

cheers

Live rock is your major source of filtration. Keep the money that you would spend on filters and cartridges and get live rock and a protein skimmer. Reverse osmosis is a way to purify the water that you use to put in your tank. Many people think it's a must, I think it depends on your water supply. You won't need to worry about calcium reactors or much other equipment for a FOWLR Fish Only With Live Rock.

Kim

You mentioned your interested in a fish only tank. This is the easiest SW tank. Live rock is not used in a FO tank. Decorations are either fake, or dead coral heads. Biological filteration is handeled by a HOB filter with a bio wheel, or a canister filter. The nice thing about a FO tank is the low cost, and you will also have an option to add live rock at any time making the tank a FOWLR. Fish Only With Live Rock. To set up a FO tank, the only difference will be the salt in the water, and the fish you choose. Other then that, it's basicly the same thing as a fresh water tank.

Dan


Dan

so if i go for a FOWLR tank. i need the live rock and protein skimmer, what about mechanical filtration? or does the protien skimmer deal with that?

Mechanical filtration isn't really necessary.

I don't use any on my 75 gallon.

Adding a filter is an option. I use them simply to scrub the water and give me a place to add carbon if I need it.

Dan


Dan

mechanical filtration isnt neccessary with a fowlr. coming from fresh water it may seem hard to adjust to but in a salt water aquarium there are *many* more organisms then a in a freshwater tank of the same given volume. these organisms usually reside in either the liverock or the sand bed if you choose to have one. they essentailly break down any left over food particules or fish waste and essentailly eliminate the need for mechanical removal of these organics.

all that is required for a fowlr is a protein skimmer * highly recommended* and liverock. a sandbed is optional and is a highly debated subject. many people advocate the use of sumps but they are not essential. calcium reactor is deffinantly not neccessary for your desired setup, reverse osmosis is not a 100% neccessary depending upon your lfs ro water costs or your tap water quality *not recommended*

good luck

"Biological filteration is handeled by a HOB filter with a bio wheel..."

I've always heard that a bio wheel does not belong in a sw tank because it causes excessive nitrates to build up.

It really depends on who you talk to. I have been running a bio wheel in one of my SW tanks sence I started, and have had no problems. If you have high nitrates, it's caused by something else, like over feeding. You can't create nitrates from nothing. A bio wheel is really no different then live rock. It's just another place for benificial bacteria to live.


Dan


Dan