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Salt Water - Marine E-Mail Archive
Enjoyed your comments about your 30 gallon set-up. It's a lot like mine I just started. Water changes are a hassle, but I know it should be done. So, how often do you do yours and how?
I'm assuming you're referring to the salt water tank? After a lot of time with no problems I too got tired of the water changes. Mainly because my tap water has high nitrates, so I had to use distilled water. Anyway I don't make near as many water changes as I tell people they should. But I still have a very low fish load, and I really do think that this stuff called "chemipure" works. I keep a bag of it in the filter all the time and change it out about once every 5-6 months. But to really answer your question, I change about 2-3 gallons every 2-3 months. Shame on me.
Thanks for the reply. I was talking saltwater, just switched over and now amin the conditioning period.So, for now, have just two damsels. I really do not intend to have more than four, maybe five, fish total along with a few inv. If I could ask about your thoughts on more thing. The book I read was all for ugf, and since I already had that along with a power head, I felt I was in good shape. So after setting the tank up along that line with an external power filter and 25 pounds of live rock, and about 30 pounds of crushed coral, I read more people are against the ugf than are for it. I really hate to have to go back and start all over. Am I in trouble, or will I be o.k. with just the few fish I am thinking about. I want to add a clown and a Coral Beauty.
Thanks again, I really like your idea of maintenance.
Hi again,
I don't know if you've read about the live sand and "plenum", "natural nitrate reduction". But if you check into it, it calls for a set up that is practically the same thing as an under gravel filter, but without the powerhead ,or whatever, pulling water through the substrate. All you have to do is buy a few pounds of "live sand" to seed your crushed coral. If I were you, I'd leave the UG filter plates in and pull the riser tube. And use the power head for extra circulation along the back or wherever needed. You'll probably need to put some kind of sponge or something on the power head to keep it from sucking up some live thing or clogging up. Also keep the external filter. I have a saddle clown that has gotten huge in my setup. So it should do fine. Haven't really tried a coral beauty, but I think it would do fine.
Clint
It is possible to run a successful marine aquarium with just an undergravel filter?
------- Yes it's been done for years, the lastest fad is to use the high tech trickle filters etc, but undergravel filters are still a great choice for any marine tank except the "mini reef" tanks with live coral.
I got an air pump double output and it says 2500 cc x 2 / 4 psi it is enough to run this aquarium.
--------Yes, it should be fine.
How many fish can I put in this tank? (30 gallon)
------------ I would put up to 5 medium sized fish in it. Medium size would be about the size of a Clown fish
Can I use some live rocks to?
--------Yes, they even help to filter the aquarium, there are no problems including live rocks.
Hi, I have a new 30 gallon saltwater tank that I have been running for 5 days now, all I have is a bunch of small dead corals that are on the bottom and 2 big dead corals. I am only running a aquaclear 300 filter that is good for tanks up to 65 gallons, In the filter is a sponge and I put in chempure. Is this fine? I get my saltwater from the aquriuam in Honolulu so I do not have to make saltwater. This is my wifes tank all she wants are cheap and hardy fishes like damsels or other hardy fishes. Would this worK?
Sounds like it should work fine. You should be able to keep about 6 fish of the type you mentioned. You might want to sqeeze the sponge out every week or so, they get clogged up pretty fast. Don't rinse it or anything just sqeeze it. Chemipure is great stuff, it lasts for about 5-6 months before you have to change it. A little (or a lot) of live rock would be an interesting addition. Lots of little live things.
Good luck,
I have a question i wanna start a saltwater tank and this is my first time i was wondering if you can help me on how to make the tank look colorful. and give me some rules for keeping saltwater fish. and is it too much of a problem? or are they easier to keep then the freshwater? Please send me some information.
I appreciate your help
Hi HT,
Colorful? Hmm, start with a background to hide all the cords and equipment, and then you can find some really colorful fish, even the easy to keep and cheap "Damsels" are very flashy compared to freshwater fish. Rules? Start slow, get the easy to keep types first, they're usually the cheapest anyway. Only have 1 small (1-2 inches) fish for each 5 gallons. And live rock is always good for a salt tank. Salt is not easier than fresh, but only a bit more complicated, well worth the trouble.
Hope this helps. You can find a lot of info on the internet about begginingsaltwater aquariums. Read!
Clint @ Petfish
I am looking to build my own lighting for my salt water tank. I'm specifically looking for actinic blue lighting and other high intensity lighting supporting the growth/health of corals.
I'm assuming that you (like me) are searching mainly for a cheaper way to get good marine lighting other than the astronomical prices that you find in the pet stores.You can use any flourescant fixture you can find, the trick is to get the right bulbs.Actinic and High K bulbs are not inexpensive but you can sure find them cheaper by mail order, just look thru any of the (print) magazines and you'll see plenty of ads for bulbs.But the easiest way to save a bundle on marine lighting is to find a used set-up, you can usually get the lights for about one fourth the new costs.
Good Luck and let us know how your quest comes out.
Clint
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