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Hi - as a newbie , Transfering from tropical . could I please have some help .

I have a 55g tank and the following equipment , I have done heaps of research and I am planning FWLR setup.

Equipment :
Jebo Protien skimmer - Hang on type
2X 600L/ph powerheads
Canister filter ( left over from tropical setup with spray bar )
30 kg - fine white sand ( new )
Aprox 15KG live rock ( still to be purchased in bits )

Questions : When setting up should I mix some crushed gravel of crushed shells with the sand. As I will get a gobby or two later on ..

And where should the power heads be placed for best water cirulation and is this enough . I have heard that placing them along the back facing the front is ok,and if so where do I place the inlet for the filter and protein skimmer could they go one each end or doesn't it matter.

Hi,

Placing of the power heads depends on LR placement. Since you will need to let the tank stand for a month or so, to settle, I would use that time to play around with placing of the power heads. I do think they are not strong enough. I have a 70Gal tank and have 1 4000 l/h up pump and one 2000 l/h power head running on a timer to create diffrent tides. The reason for the power heads are to prevent dead spots where the water does not move enough. So you might need to add more small power heads, or to add a big one and to use the small ones to get to dead spots.

I do not see the need for adding crushed shells, as I do not have any and my gobbies was doing fine, until the eel came along....

Best of luck.