[megahaus]

Hey all! It's been a while since I've posted, good to be back posting dorky questions.

so the question is.. does everything look ok for keeping some fish(1 fusigobius, 1 clown, 1 pygmy, long nosed hawk or sixline wrasse, tons of snails and hermies) and maybe 1 or 2 acros some montis and a goniopora some softies and mushrooms?

alright so I've got 3 powerheads all maxi-jets 2 600s and a 1200. The 600 is in the middle and right corner of the tank at the top and the 1200 is at the left corner. The corners are pointed at the center point of the front glass, and the middle is hitting the same area (pointing straight ahead) They are on timers 20 seconds for the left corner then 20 seconds for the right corner ect. The middle powerhead is on for 40 seconds on and off during the 20/20s. I was wondering if this is enough flow for my 29?

I have 2 65w PCs, 1 50/50 1 10k, and an 18w actinic NO for sunset and sunrise.

NO SKIMMER! I'm going skimmerless with the DSB in the main tank and 10gal fuge all small particle LS and play sand with the exception of a cup or two of crushed coral.

using Chemi-Pure to the water going into my fuge. my exchange between tanks might be 100 GPH. got about 30-40LBS of LR. uh.. can't think of anything else

so it's a big post.. I know, UGH! but I am sure some of you will help. thanks for anything being said.. PICS coming SOON!

andrew

[glampka]

Even with the DSB I would run a skimmer. There are certain things the skimmer will take out that the bed won't. I run a DSB + BakPak2 on my 30.
I hope you checked out the composition of the play sand. Play sand is usually silicate based which is a definite no-no in a marine tank.

[megahaus]

silicate only causes algae right? that's the only downside I knew about it

[glampka]

Silicates will feed diatoms

[megahaus]

it can be filtered out right?

[glampka]

They do sell silicate removers but since the sand is primarily silicate based you'll never remove it.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Gary,check out the attached article about silicates.Farley did some good testing and he may be right in his conclusions.
Advanced Aquarist Feature Article

[megahaus]

so what should I do?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Andrew,whatever you do dont use additives in the tank it may make it worse.A small amount of slilicates that get in with things like r/o water or in the rock and sand can be consumed by diatoms,large amounts maybe not. read the article and let it guide you.The one thing I would do is get a skimmer,soon.Either that or be prepared to do some very frequent and large water changes.Ages ago before protien skimmers I had a 20 gallon tank and changed a gallon of water every day and cleaned algea on sunday.If you arnt using r/odi water and dont have a skimmer you are up for the double wammy.

[megahaus]

I don't use RO, but I do use DI water

[megahaus]

why are diatoms so bad anyways?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

well to most people they are just ugly.I guess left alone they could kill coraline algea and choke the sand bed.

[megahaus]

ok so i am going to get the nano skimmer due to size limits and cost... now anything else that needs improvement for my list of wants?

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by megahaus

silicate only causes algae right? that's the only downside I knew about it

With more experience and a clear vision of the processes you tank goes thru Id say you could pull it off but not yet. Get youself a skimmer, do the water changes, learn and enjoy the hobby.

[megahaus]

I appreciate your bluntness. I was told by my LFS, who I concern to be a reliable source ( I know him personally ), that play sand would be fine. Earlier today I was told that in doing what I did, it was a big mistake. I then spent quite a bit of time to take all that sand out and rinse of my rock. I then added 40 pounds of LS, 10 in fuge, 30 in tank. For some reason I trust you fellows more than any LFS, even ones I know. Hope it will work out better.

If there are other skimmers that are better and can be in a small space then please do tell me I want to get this right.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

In my opinion those power heads on the timer are a waste of good flow.If a power head has 200 gph flow and its off half the time what do you have?100 gph flow.Any attempt to create wave flow such as that on a real reef is futile at best.the steady flow of power heads is only second best.eratic flow is the best,such as the flow created with the hydor karalia pumps ends that rotate and send the flow in all different directions.
Your lights seem fine.
That nano skimmer you are going to get,who made it?
some reading for you.
CircMarArt

[megahaus]

Great Reading, I've done more reading up on the fission skimmer. I don't think it will be good enough for the bio-load I'm wanting.. any suggestions that won't kill my wallet?

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by megahaus

Great Reading, I've done more reading up on the fission skimmer. I don't think it will be good enough for the bio-load I'm wanting.. any suggestions that won't kill my wallet?

FISSION SKIMMER NOOOOOOOOOcared :

Sapphire skimmer much better. I have a small fission skimmer (I think I do, I might have thrown it out) and they are JUNK!!! They do not work!!!

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by jimw369

FISSION SKIMMER NOOOOOOOOOcared :

Sapphire skimmer much better. I have a small fission skimmer (I think I do, I might have thrown it out) and they are JUNK!!! They do not work!!!

I second that.

[rlcline76]

Yeah, I agree. Some day there will be a wonderful nano skimmer...I am not going to make it, but someone else can. I would rather save my money and aggravation and do the water changes until I could afford a good skimmer.

[megahaus]

I have done some rearranging around the fish tank area, and I can now fit a skimmer in the space between the wall and the fuge and I might build a stand for my lights to sit on so I can have some space between the fuge and lights. Anybody hear anything of the hang on prizm?

[plecosword]

On a tank that size, i would not go skimmerless!, the prizm are not very popular. my favorite are the
Turboflutors:Saltwater Marine Aquarium Water Quality & Filtration: Turboflotor Protein Skimmers
and the berlins: Saltwater Marine Aquarium Water Quality & Filtration: Turboflotor Protein Skimmers
the aquaC skimmers are also Good i think AquaC - Protein Skimmers!
i hope this helps!

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Mario,tell us why you would go skimmerless and how you would accomplish it.And why would you do it on a tank this size?

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by megahaus

Great Reading, I've done more reading up on the fission skimmer. I don't think it will be good enough for the bio-load I'm wanting.. any suggestions that won't kill my wallet?

AquaC is always my suggestion. They are great and user friendly...

[plecosword]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Mario,tell us why you would go skimmerless and how you would accomplish it.And why would you do it on a tank this size?

I meant i would NOT do it on a tank that size. i would try it on a large tank of maybe 120g tank.