[Lady G]

Ok, I was wondering...everyone says your LR is your filter. SOooooo, I do not need a filter for a Saltwater tank??? I have a HOB right now, it is what came with the set up when I got the tank...I have no where near the amount of LR I need right now, am trying to get more, but it takes me trips to Springfield each time I buy it and I really only have 30-40 bucks when I go each time to spend...so needless to say (at 7-8$/lbs) I am getting just a couple pieces at a time, especially since each time I go I also need other things (frozen food, test kit, heater...ect). Is it ok to leave the HOB on there until I get enough LR? Also I do not have a sump yet. Something else I am trying to get the supplies for, then the skimmer...which I was told by a guy who sets up tanks for businesses and stuff around the area, really isn't AS important...b/c they not only take the bad out they also take the good stuff out. Anyway before I get to far off the subject here...is the filter ok for now?

[e_baer]

Look at Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums for some liverock. MUCH cheaper than lfs....

[gimmito]

Your protein skimmer is probably your most important piece of mechanical filtration you can own. It takes out dissolved organic compounds (doc's) and helps create more oxygen for your tank. Live rock is nature's biological filtration and 1-2 lbs. per gallon is the norm. 7-8 bucks a lb. is a lot of money, you might want to try http://www.premiumaquatics.com or some other online vendor for better prices. Your skimmer may take out some beneficial trace elements, but that's why we do weekly water changes to replenish them. Checkout [Melevsreef.com - Welcome! for ideas on how to make your own sump and save some money.

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Look at Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums for some liverock. MUCH cheaper than lfs....

Yes, it is cheaper per/lbs...but once you add the shipping at 34.00, it ends up being more.
Thank you for the link though, I do like that site and have ordered from them before for other needs.

Originally Posted by gimmito

Your protein skimmer is probably your most important piece of mechanical filtration you can own. It takes out dissolved organic compounds (doc's) and helps create more oxygen for your tank. Live rock is nature's biological filtration and 1-2 lbs. per gallon is the norm. 7-8 bucks a lb. is a lot of money, you might want to try http://www.premiumaquatics.com or some other online vendor for better prices. Your skimmer may take out some beneficial trace elements, but that's why we do weekly water changes to replenish them. Checkout [Melevsreef.com - Welcome! for ideas on how to make your own sump and save some money.

That is what I thought (about the skimmer), but he said it was actually one of the things I could hold off on, so now I don't know what to think really. He is a very reputable man, but everything I have read says it is very important.

Thank you for the links also!!!

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Lady G

Yes, it is cheaper per/lbs...but once you add the shipping at 34.00, it ends up being more.
Thank you for the link though, I do like that site and have ordered from them before for other needs.

I ordered 80lbs and it came out to 300$ shipped to my door. It is a little over 3$ per lb.

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by e_baer

I ordered 80lbs and it came out to 300$ shipped to my door. It is a little over 3$ per lb.

Really??? Maybe in the long run....it isn't more, THANKS!!! I need about 40lbs all together.

[e_baer]

What kind are you looking for?

If you get uncured LR you will need to cure it yourslef, but you will save a bunch of money.

[Lowej82]

Alot of ppl only run there skimmers 12 hours a day for this reason.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Here is how it works from my point of view.There are three main points to natural filtration.First, a sufficient amount of live rock.1.5 pounds to the gallon seems to provide an appropraite minimum amount to do Its part of denitrification.Second, live sand at around 4 inch's in depth minimum will do its part in the filtration process.Third, the protien skimmer.I used to view the protien skimmer as mechanical filtration but have changed to view it as natural filtration.If you have ever been to the beach on a windy day and seen the foam on the sand,that is foam fractionation.It is the natural version of what happens inside a protien skimmer.And there you have an almost perfect NATURAL filtration system.Almost???Yes almost.To be perfect I think it requires a refugium, that wonderful little natural replacement for phosban.They all work together keep that tank water nice and clean.

[Adam J]

Native,you make it sound so elagant.I'm blushing.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I do much better at rants,but it has been a while lol.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Here is how it works from my point of view.There are three main points to natural filtration.First, a sufficient amount of live rock.1.5 pounds to the gallon seems to provide an appropraite minimum amount to do Its part of denitrification.Second, live sand at around 4 inch's in depth minimum will do its part in the filtration process.Third, the protien skimmer.I used to view the protien skimmer as mechanical filtration but have changed to view it as natural filtration.If you have ever been to the beach on a windy day and seen the foam on the sand,that is foam fractionation.It is the natural version of what happens inside a protien skimmer.And there you have an almost perfect NATURAL filtration system.Almost???Yes almost.To be perfect I think it requires a refugium, that wonderful little natural replacement for phosban.They all work together keep that tank water nice and clean.

I never really thought of that. It is true though.

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by e_baer

What kind are you looking for?

If you get uncured LR you will need to cure it yourslef, but you will save a bunch of money.

I have been looking at cured....how would I cure it myself????

Originally Posted by Lowej82

Alot of ppl only run there skimmers 12 hours a day for this reason.

Ok, thanks for that...I was still planning to get one, just was going to try and get my sump built first...since I thought it was more important.

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Here is how it works from my point of view.There are three main points to natural filtration.First, a sufficient amount of live rock.1.5 pounds to the gallon seems to provide an appropraite minimum amount to do Its part of denitrification.Second, live sand at around 4 inch's in depth minimum will do its part in the filtration process.Third, the protien skimmer.I used to view the protien skimmer as mechanical filtration but have changed to view it as natural filtration.If you have ever been to the beach on a windy day and seen the foam on the sand,that is foam fractionation.It is the natural version of what happens inside a protien skimmer.And there you have an almost perfect NATURAL filtration system.Almost???Yes almost.To be perfect I think it requires a refugium, that wonderful little natural replacement for phosban.They all work together keep that tank water nice and clean.

So, should I take out the substrate that is in there?? I do not think it was live sand, it is white rock and what was in the tank when I got it, I did add aragonite sand w/ the rock when I re set it up? It came with 2 big pieces of rock, 1 smaller piece the substrate, 1 semi-working powerhead, 1 non working powerhead, a heater (which had to be replaced) a HOB filter, a Blue Damsel and a Clown. I had replaced the non working power head and fully cleaned the second one (it works great now), added about 4lbs so far of LR, and got the salinity up to 1.019 so far (it was only at 1.010) when I tested the water in it before I bought it. The Clown has since died, the Damsel...well he is hanging on, he used to not come out AT ALL, but now he comes out all the time and even got to the point that he will stay out while I"m in the room. So pretty much, I have taken over a Saltwater tank that has never been properly taken care of.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Lady G

I have been looking at cured....how would I cure it myself????

Set it in a seperate container for a week or 2 with a powerhead. That is it. Then when the levels are all good, you can add it back to your main tank.

[Lowej82]

If the only thing in there is the damsel I would take it to the LFS and start from scratch again, order all of your live rock cure it all and cycle the tank over...... First building sump/fuge and have everything ready to go.....IMO

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

If the only thing in there is the damsel I would take it to the LFS and start from scratch again, order all of your live rock cure it all and cycle the tank over...... First building sump/fuge and have everything ready to go.....IMO

Definately. I didnt realize there was only a damsel in there. Now that I reead back, you did say that.

I would od the same thing I think. This was you can take your jolly time getting all the supplies you need and you wont have to worry about overfeeding.....yet.

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Set it in a seperate container for a week or 2 with a powerhead. That is it. Then when the levels are all good, you can add it back to your main tank.

Well, that sounds easy enough THANKS

Should I move to a different thread about if I am doing things right and advice on that kind of stuff?? That isn't pertaining to the filter and such??

[Lowej82]

Perhaps be the first to start a build thread in the clubs forum

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

If the only thing in there is the damsel I would take it to the LFS and start from scratch again, order all of your live rock cure it all and cycle the tank over...... First building sump/fuge and have everything ready to go.....IMO

I did think about doing that, the only thing is I've kinda gotten myself attached to seeing the little guy, his activeness and his color has changed dramatically. In the end I will be getting rid of him, I know I have to he wouldn't work in the tank with what I have planned, but I just love watching his improvement so much. I'm really torn as to what I want to do at this point.

[Lowej82]

a QT tank is a must set one up if you havent and put it in there.

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

Perhaps be the first to start a build thread in the clubs forum

You mean in the Springfield, Decatur one?? Like a re-doing what someone messed up kinda thread, or asking questions kinda thread?

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by Lowej82

a QT tank is a must set one up if you havent and put it in there.

Thats true! What size tank would you recommend for that??

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Lady G

Thats true! What size tank would you recommend for that??

a simple 10-20g tank will do. then get a cheap powerhead and filter and you are set!

[Lady G]

Originally Posted by e_baer

a simple 10-20g tank will do. then get a cheap powerhead and filter and you are set!

Well, that would work then...I will just get a tank, add some of the stuff (like the substrate) from the kinda established tank, put the damsel in there and start over with the 55.

Thanks everyone!!

[reefnoob1991]

Believe it or not but a salinity of 1.010 really isn't that bad. It's commonly used in hyposalinity treatments for ich in quarantine and is easier on the fish in a sense that they receive more oxygen.