First Marine Tank

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:30 pm

Ok I have a 2.5" GSP in a brackish tank right now i am not planning on going full marine untill he gets more mature but since cash is always a little tight andthe wife hates when I go splurge on a bunch of stuff for my tank i have decided to start buying equipment for marine here and there. I have been looking at different setups and right now i am so confused on what kind of setup i would need for my 1 gsp. Should i setup a FOWLR or just a FO or something else. Plus what is the big difference between them and what equipment would i need for the right setup. I just wanna get this right and rigt now i feel overwhelmed haha. any advice would be appreciated.

bigfatfish · Post by **bigfatfish** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:37 pm

Just converted my BW to salt his weekend for my GSPs. I have FOWLR. I chose to have a sump under the tank (for the extra water volume & to hide the skimmer). I had 2 filters on my BW tank - one large external & one smaller internal - I have removed the large one & will just run the smaller one until I am happy that the live rock is established & going the job.
So, save up for: skimmer, ?sump ?return pump (if you have a sump), live rock, a powerhead or 2 & some pipes & fixings.

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:52 pm

ok so i am already looking into skimmers but whats the difference in FOWLR and FO setups because dont they both use live rock?? and also would i still keep my filter system i have now once i get the skimmer??? and what about powerheads is it something i have to have or what?? and the sump is it also something that is a must for a marine tank?? i feel like i need a book "marine tanks for dumbies" there is just so much stuff that i dont understand about marine tanks yet but im trying to do more and more research

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:54 pm

and also is lighting changed for a marine tank to keep the growth on the live rocks??

sevenyearnight · Post by **sevenyearnight** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:59 pm

FO: fish only
FOWLR: fish only with live rock
FO; think of PETCO's display tanks.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:42 pm

Depending on what you want to keep.....that is the starting point.

You will need increased lighting, and a skimmer....if you plan on inverts and certain corals, etc.

I just finished converting my BW eel tank to SW recently.

I am basically doing a FOWLR set up....keeping my filters from BW because I do not have room for a sump and I have added 35 lbs of LR.

Right now I just have dual T5 NO 10,000K lights and the polyps and mushrooms I have are doing great. I will be upgrading to T5 HO's in 2 wks. LR itself doesn't need high lighting...just the stuff you want to grow on it.

I don't have a huge bio-load and I won't be adding any delicate corals or inverts so I won't be adding a skimmer yet.

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:23 pm

ya i wont be doing any reef since from what ive read gsps and reefs dont mix so then will i still need different lighting?? and if i just keep my brackish water filter and add live rock too it there is no need for a sump correct??

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:32 pm

The entire purpose of bringing a GSP from high-end BW to SW is to be able to incorporate SW filtration for your system. This includes protein skimmer, live rock & goo flow. then you can remove your FW filtration & do less water changes.

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 3:44 pm

ok think i can handle that so one last thing no one answered... are powerheads a must??

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:05 pm

is this a good protein skimmer a guy that i work with has one for sale for cheap..... Seaclone Protein Skimmer 150

trekenk · Post by **trekenk** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:21 pm

I think PP meant to say good flow instead of goo flow so to answer your question yes you do need powerheads.

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:50 pm

haha ok thanks everyone for your input hoping to start getting everything together now

drj1259 · Post by **drj1259** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:07 pm

o and one more thing... when selecting live rock should i get dry rock and go through the curing process rather than buying it cured... and if so is it ok to put the dry rock into the aquarium once i get the protein skimmer or do i have to cure it in another tank because the only onther tank i have is a 10 gallon and i dont see 50 lbs of rock fitting in there

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:44 pm

Seaclowns are crap.

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:09 am

I know this is old, but I need help too. My gsp's won't be full marine for a while but I want to be prepared. Let's say I don't want a sump...what do I do then? At what salinity can I begin to add LR? Also, I won't be doing corals...the only fish in there will be a gsp. What type of filtration would be needed without a sump...this all confuses me!

The Puffer Forum

The Puffer Store

First Marine Tank

First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank

Re: First Marine Tank