[MrRoo]

I use to have a 150 gallon reef setup years and years ago and I have been out of the game for almost 10 years. I decided to get back into it and started researching it and talking to people and I hated having a sump setup and was told the new canisters were good and for fish only there was no need for a sump. I got a little carried away today and bought a tank and new equipment. This is what I purchsed:
60gallon tank w/ tank and canopy
JBJ Reaction Canister Filter with UV
Prizm Protein Skimmer
60lbs live rock and Sand
Basic light kit for some soft corals.

I got it all setup and here she is:


Equipment:


Now I know the importance of a good cycle and I am in NO RUSH to put fishies in the tank. I did add some bacteria to speed up the process and to give it a kick start (and no I did not pee in my tank). I know I am looking for the purple algae (forgot the name) as a sign that my tank is finished cycling. Right now I do not have the protein skimmer running nor the UV since I added the bacteria but I will turn it on in a week or so. My questions are this:
1) Is that canister filter good enough for a fish only tank and maybe 1 anenome for a lonely clown fish? I really don't want to go the sump route.
2) For the life of me I cannot remember how long the cycle process should take.
3) Good protein skimmer?
4) when I start to see the green algae bloom I should put in some cleaner crews correct?
5) Carbon.... yes I know some people hate and some people like it. Give it to me dirty.... Right now I have it in the skimmer(not currently on) and the canister. I use to always use carbon and never had anything bad to say about it.
6) First water change should be after my first cycle correct? I should then do a 15% and then after the first do a 10% once a week correct?
7) Should I turn the UV on? I thought it was a nice touch and I know in a fish only tank it will help with diseases and such.

As of right now that is all and I would just like to say thanks and it feels good to be back

Jamie

[MrRoo]

Another few questions:
Should I place a powerhead behind my LR to get flow back there?
Also what powerhead would you suggest for the tank to give it more flow. Right now I have the inlet tube on the left, return tube on the right with the protein skimmer on the left as well.

[DEWAYNE]

well, I think that a nice size power head behind the live rock is not a bad ideal. the cycling can take a minimum of 4 weeks, it would be better to go 6 weeks.I use the carbon in my 110g. I like what it does for the tank. I think you may wanna consider setting up a sump, there are alot of ways to do this, honestly it'll pay off in the end. I do not recommend any type of canister filter, thats just a breeding ground for bad bacteria. I have had saltwater (fish only) for over ten years, since doing away with my canister, and adding a refugium, it has done a 180......... it's a lil more work, but the pay off is great. I honestly believe that canisters are good for freshwater tanks only. just my opinion, sure you'll get alot more. GOOD LUCK TO YOU

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Welcome aboard MrRoo.Thats a lot of questions lol.!.) First of all you have a reef tank with that much live rock.The live rock will be part of your natural filtration system along with your skimmer and sand bed.I have never used a hong on back skimmer before so I will defer to someone who has for a recomendation.As soon as you see green add the clean up crew.To me carbon is a good thing just make sure it tests negative for phosphates.During the cycle the first thing that happens is your amonia levels will begin to climb,when and if they approach the 1.0 level do a 10% water change.I would put the uv filter in the closet and leave it there.They are indiscrimenant killers of everything.Since you are an anti sump/fuge person you wont have many pods anyway,no need to kill them.The best plan is to use a quarantine tank to keep disease out of the main tank in the first place.Tank flow is very important.Since you wont have any flow from a return line that you wont have because you dont have a sump/fuge you should have at least two power heads to eliminate dead spots on the bottom of the tank.If you use just one pump you will have one giant dead spot directly under the one pump you do have.I see two things in your pic.that filter you have on the back of the tank is not a good thing,and your water level is very low.I would also suggest that as soon as you get a skimmer you disconect that canister filter or make it a carbon filter you wont need it at all.And just one more thought,using chemicals in a tank that cant be tested for is a serious no no,that includes that bacteria enhancer you used.That tank will cycle fine without it.Oh well one more thing,anything the lfs tells you to do to,come here and get a second opinion before you do it.

[MrRoo]

Originally Posted by DEWAYNE

well, I think that a nice size power head behind the live rock is not a bad ideal. the cycling can take a minimum of 4 weeks, it would be better to go 6 weeks.I use the carbon in my 110g. I like what it does for the tank. I think you may wanna consider setting up a sump, there are alot of ways to do this, honestly it'll pay off in the end. I do not recommend any type of canister filter, thats just a breeding ground for bad bacteria. I have had saltwater (fish only) for over ten years, since doing away with my canister, and adding a refugium, it has done a 180......... it's a lil more work, but the pay off is great. I honestly believe that canisters are good for freshwater tanks only. just my opinion, sure you'll get alot more. GOOD LUCK TO YOU

My only problem with a sump design is it was a pain and messy! For a larger tank I agree a sump is 100% needed but for my little 60 I was 'hoping' I could escape it. When I did my 150 there were no premade sumps, I had to buy a little tank and build it all myself. If you can be so nice to maybe link me to a complete sump setup I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for the help as well!

[MrRoo]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Welcome aboard MrRoo.Thats a lot of questions lol.!.) First of all you have a reef tank with that much live rock.The live rock will be part of your natural filtration system along with your skimmer and sand bed.I have never used a hong on back skimmer before so I will defer to someone who has for a recomendation.As soon as you see green add the clean up crew.To me carbon is a good thing just make sure it tests negative for phosphates.During the cycle the first thing that happens is your amonia levels will begin to climb,when and if they approach the 1.0 level do a 10% water change.I would put the uv filter in the closet and leave it there.They are indiscrimenant killers of everything.Since you are an anti sump/fuge person you wont have many pods anyway,no need to kill them.The best plan is to use a quarantine tank to keep disease out of the main tank in the first place.Tank flow is very important.Since you wont have any flow from a return line that you wont have because you dont have a sump/fuge you should have at least two power heads to eliminate dead spots on the bottom of the tank.If you use just one pump you will have one giant dead spot directly under the one pump you do have.I see two things in your pic.that filter you have on the back of the tank is not a good thing,and your water level is very low.I would also suggest that as soon as you get a skimmer you disconect that canister filter or make it a carbon filter you wont need it at all.And just one more thought,using chemicals in a tank that cant be tested for is a serious no no,that includes that bacteria enhancer you used.That tank will cycle fine without it.Oh well one more thing,anything the lfs tells you to do to,come here and get a second opinion before you do it.

Really about the UV system? When I use to have a fish only tank it did wonders for it! I know they are a no no for reef setups because they will kill all the nutrients you put in the water for the coral but I remember them being awesome for fish only.

As far as the powerheads I should have one placed higher than the other correct? It is amazing how much you forget

What do you mean disconnect the canister and use it for carbon? Just put carbon in it? Right now all that is in it is carbon and bio cubes.

Yea I remember not adding chemicals for the cycle and I did do the major no no, listening to the LFS.

And please if you could link me to a complete sump system that would be awesome and appreciated, thanks!

And thanks for your help!

[DEWAYNE]

I do not know of any links for you, I build my own stuff, just one of those things. I think with this site you could build one at a fraction of the cost, the is a link on this site, you can post a want to buy.

[Arnold40]

If you want to buy a sump you are going to spend a lot of money on something so simple to make. You can just buy a small tank say ~20 gallons and buy 3 pieces of glass and silicone them in there for a bubble trap. The sump is a great idea for 2 reasons: 1) you don't have all the ugly stuff in your display tank 2) you increase the total water volume on your system. If you really don't want to make one you can do a google search for an aquarium sump. Almost all of the aquarium supply sites have them. A really good hang on skimmer is the Aqua C remora or remora pro. Look at Marinedepot.com to research them.

[MrRoo]

Ok so here is my plan. Keep cycle going with current equipment and a few months down the road buy a QT tank and sump. Cycle the QT tank with the sump and then plug current canister into QT tank and use sump for main tank and get a new skimmer. I already got the look when the SO found out how much I spent so for right now I can't buy anything new. Would that plan work out ok? How long would the sump have to cycle? I would like to use crushed LR in the sump instead of bioballs.

I also added 2 powerheads today. I got the moving ones to move more power and get behind the LR. Here is how I have them setup:
1 in the top front left corner (ruffles the surface):


1 in the top right rear corner (gets movement behind the rocks):


Side view:


Front view:


I also did my first test so I can start my excel spreadsheet:
High pH: 8.2
Ammonia: .5
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10

[aquasalt]

You won't have to cycle your sump and you can use water from the main tank to start the quarantine tank. You may actually be able to save money if you sell your canister filter and buy a 20 long with some baffles. Whatever you decide, setup is looking great! you may want to consider a simple black or blue background to hide some of the cables that are currently visible. That's a matter of taste tho.

[MrRoo]

I just did the background . I had to wait till my GF got home since I needed more than 2 hands . Do I need anymore powerheads? I was thinking about putting one in the middle rear facing forward.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Here is a drwing of the simplest sump I ever found.You can put it in any size tank.

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by MrRoo

My only problem with a sump design is it was a pain and messy! For a larger tank I agree a sump is 100% needed but for my little 60 I was 'hoping' I could escape it. When I did my 150 there were no premade sumps, I had to buy a little tank and build it all myself. If you can be so nice to maybe link me to a complete sump setup I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for the help as well!

the smaller the tank, the smaller the water column... the smaller water column = greater need of sump

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Roo I guess I made typo when I said disconnect the canister and put carbon in it.I ment disconnect it or put carbon in it.Other than that the closet is a great place for it.I feel so strongly about the effectiveness of a sump/refugium that when I set up my girlfriends 65 it will have a 55 gallon sump/fuge under it with at least 30 gallons going to the fuge.

[arm0124]

http:/
/www.lifereef.com/products.html
here a link to a company that make sumps got my skimmer from them

[Marine1]

Here's a YouTube DIY for a sump if you're interested.

Also, about your skimmer. I use to have a Prizm and really didn't like it. There are a lot of others that feel the same. I hope it works out for you, but I sold mine on Amazon and bought a better one. The Prizm just didn't accumulate much skimmate. Good luck.

You are on your way to having a nice looking setup.

[Marine1]

Sorry, here's the YouTube DIY sump:

YouTube - Reef Tank D.I.Y. Sump part 1

[Jeremy0322]

Natives picture of that sump is a wonderful design. I was able to build my sump for 11 dollars, which was the cost of the silicone, but for about 30 you could do it yourself. Look at craigslist and see if anyone around you is getting rid of a used 20 or 30 gallon, but then you are going to need to get an overflow box. The whole setup will probably cost you around 70 or 80 dollars, but I am assuming that is less than you paid for the canister. Here is the sump picture.

[aquasalt]

Jeremy, how well does your pvc pipe drain with that cauldron system?

[IceMan]

i wanna know about the bubble trap, yours is widely spaced, does it do better? mine is tightly spaced, apx. 1" between baffles and it's terrible i have to use a sponge to catch the small "micro" bubbles.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The bubble trap or baffles should be filled with live rock rubble.Thats why they are spaced like that.With just plain water going thru a beffle not many bubbles get popped,but that live rock rubble doesnt miss one bubble.

[IceMan]

cool!!! i hated washing that sponge anyway, and thats a great idea... hey, i didn't know. lol

[aquasalt]

Mine are spaced generously, I think about 2" ...just so I can vit a shop vac in between when I do a major cleaning. Working great!

[IceMan]

i built mine from a design i saw on youtube... wish i'd found RB before i started my whole setup.

[aquasalt]

shows us what you got and tell us what you like and don't like about it.