What I Have - 90 Gallon Aquarium, Stand, and An Old Ebo Jager 250 Watt Heater.
My intentions seems simple enough. I want to start a saltwater aquarium with live rock, coral, sand, and fish that will flow without caution in that type of environment. This tank was used to house my old red ear slider about 6 years ago and the fish that cohabitated with him ( he turned lazy and quit chasing food) for a few years after until my Fluval 404 Canister filter broke.
So now I have an empty 90 gallon aquarium and stand sitting in my living room I am preparing for a saltwater reef aquarium. I know step 1 is to make sure that there are no leaks and my equipment works in the water fine. So that leaves me with buying new equipment. I WILL NOT BE USING A SUMP IN THIS SET UP.
I started looking at canister filters first, but then read a few statements about it may suck beneficial plankton up. So then I decided to hit the pet store to talk with an associate. The guy seemed really helpful, but as with all salesmen they want to push what they carry. I don't mind purchasing what he carries, however I want some opinions from you guys who are more familiar with the products than I am and aren't making a sale to keep your business running (not saying he was, but sometimes ya never know :D )
I was recommended the Emperor 400 Power Filter Marineland Emperor 400 Filter Power Bio-Wheel Emperor Bio Wheel Filter
I was also told to pair it with the coralife super skimmer 65 Coralife 65 Skimmer Coralife Super Skimmer 65
So would this pair make a good team to filter 90-120 pounds of live rock in a 90 gallon (maybe even more live rock if necessary or recomended)
The next thing I was opting to buy was a new lighting system. I think he recomended Coralife Aqualight Single Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 2X65 Watt
Coralife Aqualight Single Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 2X65 Watt, 48 inch wit the two lights, but he said if I had the money I may want to run the
Coralife Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 4X65 Watt
Coralife Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 4X65 Watt, 48 inch
My last item is for water circulation. I believe the devices you use are powerheads? In my turtle and fish ( Pleco, some gold fish, bala shark, parrotfish, clown loach) tank I used the return pipe of my fluval 404 canister filter to waterfall down and aeriate the water with bubbles while a couple of internal filters (2 X fluval 4 plus) pushed the water around in the bottom. He suggested instead of those filters pushing water that I use something like the Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph. You can see it here Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph powerhead Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph pump Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph power head for opinions like the other products I linked.
Sorry for linking everything on that website, but I just had it all pulled up there and it saved me some time, not trying to advertise for them. Have you guys had experience with these products good or bad? Should I use two emperor 400's instead of the protein skimmer? Should I get a bigger protein skimmer and run the emperor 400? Should I use a fluval canister filter like the xp or 405? I hear live rocks help filter things. I am pretty lost and just need a hand in the right direction. If I can't use a sump should I use less rock to maximize some more water? Is there something I am missing? Well thanks for reading my book of questions for step 1, maybe next time we will be ready to add salt and let that sit for a few weeks :D :D :D
Thanks Everyone!
My intentions seems simple enough. I want to start a saltwater aquarium with live rock, coral, sand, and fish that will flow without caution in that type of environment. This tank was used to house my old red ear slider about 6 years ago and the fish that cohabitated with him ( he turned lazy and quit chasing food) for a few years after until my Fluval 404 Canister filter broke.
So now I have an empty 90 gallon aquarium and stand sitting in my living room I am preparing for a saltwater reef aquarium. I know step 1 is to make sure that there are no leaks and my equipment works in the water fine. So that leaves me with buying new equipment. I WILL NOT BE USING A SUMP IN THIS SET UP.
I started looking at canister filters first, but then read a few statements about it may suck beneficial plankton up. So then I decided to hit the pet store to talk with an associate. The guy seemed really helpful, but as with all salesmen they want to push what they carry. I don't mind purchasing what he carries, however I want some opinions from you guys who are more familiar with the products than I am and aren't making a sale to keep your business running (not saying he was, but sometimes ya never know :D )
I was recommended the Emperor 400 Power Filter Marineland Emperor 400 Filter Power Bio-Wheel Emperor Bio Wheel Filter
I was also told to pair it with the coralife super skimmer 65 Coralife 65 Skimmer Coralife Super Skimmer 65
So would this pair make a good team to filter 90-120 pounds of live rock in a 90 gallon (maybe even more live rock if necessary or recomended)
The next thing I was opting to buy was a new lighting system. I think he recomended Coralife Aqualight Single Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 2X65 Watt
Coralife Aqualight Single Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 2X65 Watt, 48 inch wit the two lights, but he said if I had the money I may want to run the
Coralife Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 4X65 Watt
Coralife Aqualight Double Linear Strip Compact Fluorescent Fixture, 4X65 Watt, 48 inch
My last item is for water circulation. I believe the devices you use are powerheads? In my turtle and fish ( Pleco, some gold fish, bala shark, parrotfish, clown loach) tank I used the return pipe of my fluval 404 canister filter to waterfall down and aeriate the water with bubbles while a couple of internal filters (2 X fluval 4 plus) pushed the water around in the bottom. He suggested instead of those filters pushing water that I use something like the Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph. You can see it here Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph powerhead Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph pump Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 gph power head for opinions like the other products I linked.
Sorry for linking everything on that website, but I just had it all pulled up there and it saved me some time, not trying to advertise for them. Have you guys had experience with these products good or bad? Should I use two emperor 400's instead of the protein skimmer? Should I get a bigger protein skimmer and run the emperor 400? Should I use a fluval canister filter like the xp or 405? I hear live rocks help filter things. I am pretty lost and just need a hand in the right direction. If I can't use a sump should I use less rock to maximize some more water? Is there something I am missing? Well thanks for reading my book of questions for step 1, maybe next time we will be ready to add salt and let that sit for a few weeks :D :D :D
Thanks Everyone!