donsjuand
06-06-2010, 02:45 PM
Hi guys,
I've been researching salt systems/creatures/equipment for about 2 mths, just learning as much as I can so I make the best purchases for growing into the right build for what I want etc and I'd like to go with an algae scrubber system (no artificial filtration) with maybe 3 green Chromis to start and end goal of having a well seeded copepod population for a long time before a mandarin can feast, a couple of clowns, one anemone and perhaps a cleaner shrimp and goby that work together symbiotically - ultimately I'll have acropora etc if I can deal with the husbandry getting my methods and params down etc. But all in time. It would be a generally peaceful tank.
Where the experts (you guys, I presume) would be useful, is in advising what kind of system relationship I should choose within a 55gal capacity understanding I want to follow Santa Monica's general guidelines for a scrubber w/35 GPH/IN throughput and minimum 1 inch squared per gallon while having a Sump that could double as a copepod reserve for when the Mandarin is introduced and devours one year's worth of pods (if possible). A marine biologost online had mentioned copepods will survive an impeller for the most part.
So, back to the build: I have my eye on a 55 Gal Reef Ready/top included/built in overflow/surface skimmer which is 6" x 6" and was thinking of buying a Mega Flow Overflow to fit the 2 x 1" pre-drilled holes that would meet with the scrubber. I would have 2 Koralias for flow/gas mix. The intake from the display tank would go out to the scrubber and into the sump, then return to the tank; scrubbed and podded. There will be live sand, live rock in the DT. The benefit of this tank would be no visible plumbing at all in the DT and no commercial high priced filters that take food out and leaving the crap.
The tank:
http://www.truvuaquariums.com/marr0060r.html
The Lighting (upto 216 watt VHO):
http://www.truvuaquariums.com/tet54la54w48.html
Maybe get half actinic and half daylight bulbs to ramp up later for corals.
Overflow/Scrubber intake (upto 600GPH):
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... atid=12078 (http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10090+12078&pcatid=12078)
(Anyone know why it says all glass?)
Koralias most have likely heard of and as for pump(s) I'd like about 600-700GPH submersible to deal with pipes bends and head height etc and throttled to balance with valves. Not sure about clear tubes vs sched. 40 pipes. What do you think? I think the overflow outputs to a tube, but I'll have to double check.
Total cost for the setup is right now around $900 but will likely go up as I find new things needed.
Could something close to that, work?...as I've never set one up. How do I do this using the equipment concepts I mentioned? Am I on the right path? BTW Santa Monica, I can tell it's important to you to deal with creature keeping in a conscious natural way- admirable. Good luck with the scrubber biz.
I've been researching salt systems/creatures/equipment for about 2 mths, just learning as much as I can so I make the best purchases for growing into the right build for what I want etc and I'd like to go with an algae scrubber system (no artificial filtration) with maybe 3 green Chromis to start and end goal of having a well seeded copepod population for a long time before a mandarin can feast, a couple of clowns, one anemone and perhaps a cleaner shrimp and goby that work together symbiotically - ultimately I'll have acropora etc if I can deal with the husbandry getting my methods and params down etc. But all in time. It would be a generally peaceful tank.
Where the experts (you guys, I presume) would be useful, is in advising what kind of system relationship I should choose within a 55gal capacity understanding I want to follow Santa Monica's general guidelines for a scrubber w/35 GPH/IN throughput and minimum 1 inch squared per gallon while having a Sump that could double as a copepod reserve for when the Mandarin is introduced and devours one year's worth of pods (if possible). A marine biologost online had mentioned copepods will survive an impeller for the most part.
So, back to the build: I have my eye on a 55 Gal Reef Ready/top included/built in overflow/surface skimmer which is 6" x 6" and was thinking of buying a Mega Flow Overflow to fit the 2 x 1" pre-drilled holes that would meet with the scrubber. I would have 2 Koralias for flow/gas mix. The intake from the display tank would go out to the scrubber and into the sump, then return to the tank; scrubbed and podded. There will be live sand, live rock in the DT. The benefit of this tank would be no visible plumbing at all in the DT and no commercial high priced filters that take food out and leaving the crap.
The tank:
http://www.truvuaquariums.com/marr0060r.html
The Lighting (upto 216 watt VHO):
http://www.truvuaquariums.com/tet54la54w48.html
Maybe get half actinic and half daylight bulbs to ramp up later for corals.
Overflow/Scrubber intake (upto 600GPH):
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... atid=12078 (http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10090+12078&pcatid=12078)
(Anyone know why it says all glass?)
Koralias most have likely heard of and as for pump(s) I'd like about 600-700GPH submersible to deal with pipes bends and head height etc and throttled to balance with valves. Not sure about clear tubes vs sched. 40 pipes. What do you think? I think the overflow outputs to a tube, but I'll have to double check.
Total cost for the setup is right now around $900 but will likely go up as I find new things needed.
Could something close to that, work?...as I've never set one up. How do I do this using the equipment concepts I mentioned? Am I on the right path? BTW Santa Monica, I can tell it's important to you to deal with creature keeping in a conscious natural way- admirable. Good luck with the scrubber biz.