New marine tank

[JoseDepacos]

I have been slowly collecting the items needed to setup a marine tank for a valentini puffer. I plan on it being very simplistic and only intend to house the puffer and a crew of blue legs for additional clean up. This will be my first marine tank and any input would be helpful. Thus far I have obtained a 29 gallon tank and stand, bio wheel 170, 100w sub. heater and was going to go with a crushed coral substrate. I really dont want any live rock or corals so some lace rock and fake deco should do the trick. From the many things I have read I shouldnt be concerned with a skimmer or additional water movement since, once again, this isnt a reef tank of any sort.
Please feel free to point out anything I am misinformed on and anything I have missed. Still working on lighting. Nothing fancy. Thanks ya'll!

[SammyDee]

Id still go with atleast one piece of live rock. It will be doing more filtering than your mechancal filter will ever do. It's practically the basis of filtration in marine tanks. 1LB per gallon. One large peice can weigh up to 20 or 30 ponds and still be somewhat light and have excellent caves for your puffer. Fuji rock is prefered among aquarist but has smaller holes n caves. At my LFS I got a piece of Haitian live rock and found it to be heavier and less porous but has large tunnels in it. Perfect for a puffer to swim about. I would also have to say that I recommend a protien skimmer. Even if it's a cheap hob one. It'll still skim some organics which your mechanical filter will not catch even with fine filter media. Someone else can recommend a brand for you but I cant bc Ive only had an insump skimmer which is recommended even more but seeing it's a 30gal It prolly be fine with a hob skimmer. If I were you I'd buy a dead fine sand. It's soft on puffers and can make it easier to spot fallen food. And it's fun to watch Puffers move in it. I'd add one or two peices of live rock. Roughly 20lbs. This 20lbs of live rock will seed the dead sand with it's bugs and all that help with maintanence in a marine/fowlr tank. There is no such thing as live sand. It's a ploy to sell you the water weight in the bag. Think about it no oxygen or food for the sand to live on how's it surviving and how long has it been there. I'd also get a small hob skimmer. I think many of TPF recommend octopus hob skimmer. It is an essential part in marine Aquariums so you will need one. And I think if you use an oversized filter it would give enough flow. I'd recommend an Aquaclear70. For that tank. And it's nice bc it has adjustable flow rate and it's extremely easy to maintain. And is the best. In fact I have one I could sell ya if interested.

[DarkStorm]

skimmers are magic i would get one considering the messiness of puffers it will amaze you what they pull out of water, for a 29g tank the skimmer should be fairly inexpensive and definitely will improve your water quality / puffer health,

[Mek0ng]

The bio-wheel should be perfect if you want to skip live rock. As other people have said a skimmer is essential, octopus is probably the best HOB for the $.

Defiantly have a good powerhead or two, you want the surface of the water to have a good amount of ripple. In a saltwater tank surface scum will quickly form and inhibit gas exchange.

Try a Hydor Koralia Nano 425gph and make sure the HOB skimmer has a surface skimmer.

Hope that helps.

[JoseDepacos]

All good info ya'll. I'm drinking it in. With what has been said here and some info I gathered locally today I am definately going with a skimmer. My cousin and I visited a local marine specialty store that he deals with today. The folks there were very friendly and helpful. They also have really good prices. You dont often find places like this local that have friendly people and internet prices without mail order. He pretty much talked me into some live rock as well. Now all I need is money.

http://www.captainlarrysaquariums.com/p ... 783511.htm

[Mek0ng]

I notice on that site for skimmers all they sell are coralife, for that same price, go with a octopus....

[JoseDepacos]

I wont be buying exclusively from these folks. Just a local shop we visited today. Thought I'd share. He does have some good prices.

[SammyDee]

Nice you will be happy with live rock. Especially after a while. And a skimmer too. Glad to help if someone is willing to do what it takes to keep these beautiful and fun puffers. Sooo worth it. Best fish Ive ever had and so entertaining, not like big one gulp fish.

[JoseDepacos]

Only really have one problem with all this. Skimmers are STUPID expensive. And for no obvious reasons that I can see. Just some molded plastic with a pump. Do the bulk of them really need to cost $100-$300? Been looking online like crazy and there are cheaper alternatives but according to most folks who have bought and reviewed them, they are junk and never work quite right. Quite discouraging. This tank may sit empty for a long time.

[DarkStorm]

skimmer the last piece of equipment you'll ever need tho so whatever the cost prolly 200$ for tank your size its worth every penny, just wait till you see what it takes out of the water.. it will disgust you but your fish will love you for it.

[Mek0ng]

http://www.reefspecialty.com/Protein-Sk ... _info.html

$124

or even better:

http://www.reefspecialty.com/Protein-Sk ... _info.html

$160

Marine tanks are not cheap. Never go by what the tank size they say its for, always a meaningless number. Cheaper alternatives really are not going to work well and you are going to spend more money buying something cheap just to find out it doesnt work and upgrading.

[SammyDee]

I bought a seaclone 3.5" for 75$ on CL and it came with the sump n bioballs and tube. I say look on CL for one. Although seaclone skimmers suc I modified it and now It works beautifully.

[JoseDepacos]

Been scouring CL daily for a few items. A skimmer is definately one of them.

[Pufferpunk]

I never paid more than $50 for a used Backpac. Look in the Used Equipment forum at: http://www.reefcentral.com.

[Mek0ng]

I bought a seaclone 3.5" for 75$ on CL and it came with the sump n bioballs and tube. I say look on CL for one. Although seaclone skimmers suc I modified it and now It works beautifully.

Ummm no matter what you do to a sea-suck they still suck. You would be better off sticking a good airstone in a 2liter and making a DIY collection cup...

You can find a remora or bakpak for 75-100 on CL... Hell Ill sell you a Coralife Superskimmer 220 for $100+ship if you are willing to wait a month or two... or $140+ship for a remora pro with surface skimmer right now (no pump). Thats the reason I am saying a Octo HOB is the best bet for the $ it will out skim anything in that price range (new). If you can find a deal on a bakpak like PPunk then jump on it.

Sorry but its the truth, I had a customer with a seaclone replace it with a Octo HOB 1000 and there is a night and day difference.

Check here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forum ... .php?f=166

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