The Puffer Forum

Alright....

Walrus Head wrote:

trekenk wrote:You don't need a external filter with saltwater set up. 1 1/2 to 2 lbs pre gallon live rock, a good skimmer and good flow is all you need. Canister filters on saltwater = nitrate factory.

No external filters on a Saltwater Tank only become NITRATE FACTORIES when they are filled with bio media like Bio Balls, Ceramic noodles. If you read my post you would see that I suggested filling the filter with Carbon, Rowaphos and Filter floss all necessary chemical filtration for a tank that has no Sump. Without such the tank will have Algae problems as it will suffer excessive nitrate and phosphate levels.

@ PVR if those skimmers are a bit pricey then I would suggest a TMC V2400 Skimmer or similar

I was told the filter floss is what will cause the Nitrates Factory in the setup you suggested, so do as you said but without the Filter Floss

Walrus Head wrote:

trekenk wrote:

Walrus Head wrote:I found these skimmers on ebay which fall into your price bracket, Red Sea Prizm Skimmers: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_from=R40&_ ... Categories

Sorry but these are one of the crappiest skimmer on the market.

Everything I have said so far you seem to have something bad to say about it?
You also seem to be quite clued up on equipment you have never used, yeh the Prizm Skimmer is crap but for the money he has to spend maybe its good enough! Dont take other peoples word on something and then speak as if you have first hand experience on them when you dont.

All the advice I gave in my first 2 posts you question but yet you have repeated somethings I said .....? Its good to give advice and question people but dont go on as if your some Encyclopedia coz mate your NOT!!!

Sorry you feel that way Walrus Head I'm not trying to say bad things I am giving my opinion.
1. Why would I buy a prizm skimmer when all I have heard from many people who I trust their judgment is that they are crap ( sorry I didn't include all the information initially but I didn't think it was relative.) I don't agree that if you don't have the money than go cheap, in the long run that is going to cost you more.
2. You suggested filling the filter with Carbon, Rowaphos and Filter floss all necessary chemical filtration for a tank that has no Sump. Without such the tank will have Algae problems as it will suffer excessive nitrate and phosphate levels. I said You really don't need a mechanical filtration on marine tank, ok so you could have one and fill it with live rock rubble ( please someone do correct me if I am wrong).
3. You suggested to the OP that he could have two toby puffers and a couple of clowns in a 40 gallon tank. That is simply wrong and way overstocked.

Those were the only point that I disagreed with you about so no need to get offended by it. You made some great informative points yourself; I didn’t question everything you said. I don't consider myself a encyclopedia but I have been around here long enough to learn from people who I consider the best and from other people mistakes as well as my own.

+1 @ trekenk.

Pufferpunk wrote:+1 @ trekenk.

+1 Trollmuch ?

Walrus Head wrote:

Pufferpunk wrote:+1 @ trekenk.

+1 Trollmuch ?

????? I don't think PP is a troll, sorry if I am misunderstanding you.

trekenk wrote:
Sorry you feel that way Walrus Head I'm not trying to say bad things I am giving my opinion.
1. Why would I buy a prizm skimmer when all I have heard from many people who I trust their judgment is that they are crap ( sorry I didn't include all the information initially but I didn't think it was relative.) I don't agree that if you don't have the money than go cheap, in the long run that is going to cost you more.
2. You suggested filling the filter with Carbon, Rowaphos and Filter floss all necessary chemical filtration for a tank that has no Sump. Without such the tank will have Algae problems as it will suffer excessive nitrate and phosphate levels. I said You really don't need a mechanical filtration on marine tank, ok so you could have one and fill it with live rock rubble ( please someone do correct me if I am wrong).
3. You suggested to the OP that he could have two toby puffers and a couple of clowns in a 40 gallon tank. That is simply wrong and way overstocked.

Those were the only point that I disagreed with you about so no need to get offended by it. You made some great informative points yourself; I didn’t question everything you said. I don't consider myself a encyclopedia but I have been around here long enough to learn from people who I consider the best and from other people mistakes as well as my own.

In answer to your quote on external filters they are in fact a must on sumpless tanks because otherwise you will get a build up of fine particulate matter in the water of which cannot be removed with a skimmer or liverock. You will also get an excess of nutrient build up in the water aswell namely Nitrates and Phosphates resulting in algal blooms and other crap.

An external Filter filled with carbon, rowaphos and filter floss can help eliminate some of those problems thru removal of phosphates via the rowaphos and the carbon / filter floss help to polish the water and remove any particle crap floating around thus keeping your water crystal clear. An External Filter like a Sump acts as a SINKHOLE in the tank system thus detritus in the water will collect there rather than building up in the tank.

The only way to run a marine tank with just a skimmer and liverock while keeping your nitrates and phosphates under control is via Carbon / Vodka Dosing your tank, these systems being known Ultra Low Nutrient Systems. But the they hard to get right and it can take a month plus to get the right level of vodka dosing before excess nutrient levels start to drop

Walrus Head wrote:In answer to your quote on external filters they are in fact a must on sumpless tanks because otherwise you will get a build up of fine particulate matter in the water of which cannot be removed with a skimmer or liverock. You will also get an excess of nutrient build up in the water aswell namely Nitrates and Phosphates resulting in algal blooms and other crap.

My understanding for the benefits of a sump on a marine setup are.
-increasing water volume for more stable water conditions.
-place to hid equipment such as skimmer, heater, refugium ( live rock).
-It can provide additional aeration to your system.
Am i wrong in thinking that without a sump you still don't need mechanical filtration in your marine tank?

Today I am getting a 55 gallon bowfront..Looks pretty nice. No heater so Im gonan try to bump price down by 10-20 bucks. So now after I get my tank, should I start curing LR? What I've read about it, tell me if I am wrong but here the process. Get a tote or something that you can fully submerge the LR in. Here is where I am lost. Its HOT here, so I am wondering if I can put it outside or buy a heater and put it in my icy cold basement... Oh yeah and mix salt to get 1.021 SG. Before you put it in you cut off all the "soft spots" what are those? After you do that you do WC 2wice a week. You keep doing that until your water reads 0 PPM of ammonia. Tell me where I went wrong. I dont know what the temp of the water should be. Also would 20 lbs of LR be enough to cycle a tank? Also, do you need a protein skimmer when you cure rock? And you need a power head in it too right?

Also, what ACTUALLY can go with a toby. Clowns? If so how many clowns? What else? Can I get an anenome if i get clowns? Will corals be killed if i buy them?

trekenk wrote:

Walrus Head wrote:In answer to your quote on external filters they are in fact a must on sumpless tanks because otherwise you will get a build up of fine particulate matter in the water of which cannot be removed with a skimmer or liverock. You will also get an excess of nutrient build up in the water aswell namely Nitrates and Phosphates resulting in algal blooms and other crap.

My understanding for the benefits of a sump on a marine setup are.
-increasing water volume for more stable water conditions.
-place to hid equipment such as skimmer, heater, refugium ( live rock).
-It can provide additional aeration to your system.
Am i wrong in thinking that without a sump you still don't need mechanical filtration in your marine tank?

In the UK, people who have sumps use a Filter Sock over the inlet pipe as Mechanical Filtration works just like filter floss and they run Reactors which they fill with rowaphos / sulphur beads / bio balls for removal of Phosphates and Nitrates aswell as macroalgae. Using a sump is much better for water quality as the reactors and stuff will put out more nutrients due to increased surface area contact with the water, but some success can be had from running these things in a large external filter if you dont have a sump.

@ HD PVR: 55GAllons is enough for 2 tobies as one only needs 25 gallons, clowns dont use that much space up either so a Pair of Clowns and a Pair of tobies will do well in a 55 Gallon

Everyone is saying that tobies will attack each other.

Do you need special lights for marine tanks? It wont be a reef tank.

not getting the tank. someone offered her 300 bucks for it.

Keep looking...

No, for a FO tank, regular FW lighting is fine.