From: pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Paul A Prior)
Subject: Re: Help a beginner to set up a reef tank...
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 23:57:04 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.215734.12472@cs.ucla.edu> tj@kona.cs.ucla.edu (Tom Johnson) writes:
>Hi-
>
>I've gone thru the all the FAQ sheets and found the information 
>contained therein very useful - now I hope I can discuss some of the
>issues of filtration, etc... without sounding totally hopeless.

Good start! <G>

>
>I'm willing to bet that a lot of what I'm about to ask has been gone
>over here many many times before.  If there is an archive site where I
>can access old *.aquaria discussions, just point me in the right direction
>and I'll go thru it all myself.  If not, please be patient and offer a 
>little advice to a beginner who really wants to learn.

Unfortunately I don't think there really are any archives of this age
old discussion... every month or two we get the same questions such as:

1)  what about RFUGF?
2)  can I grow plants with my UGF?
3)  Hey!  I found these great halogen lights at the hardware store...
4)  Which cannister filter should I buy?
5)  Where can I get good live rock?
6)  Which water pump should I buy?
 ...

I have been reading this group almost every day for about 2 years now and
although my time is very limited and I have waxed and waned on my burn out
from this group, I've always been impressed that most questions will 
illicit a response.  I try to answer questions when I can, by no means
claiming myself as an expert, and I have seen others do so on a regular
basis.  A very nice group of people, we aquariasts...

But I digress.

>
>A little background:  I have a bit of freshwater experience.  Nothing
>outstanding - just your basic 20 gallon tank of tropical fish (Angels,
>tetras, etc....).  I was just given a beautiful 55 gallon plexiglass
>tank and I would like to set up a reef environment - some anemones,
>clownfish, that sort of thing.  I'm starting from scratch, with the
>exception of the tank and have to go out and buy all new filters, lights,etc..

How long have you been keeping fish?  Some people have beeen keeping
20 gallon tanks with tetra for 30 years and others buy a 100+ gallon
tank and kill off a hundred fish in a month.  Size, as I tell all
my male patients, isn't important! <G>.

Second, I think you didn't clarify or don't know exactly what you want
to do with this tank.  A "reef" tank is much more than just anemones
and clownfish.  That is not to say that such a tank is more aesthetically
pleasing, but if you say "reef" I think of hard and soft corals with
other inverts such as tridacna species and shrimps, etc.  Perhaps what
you aretalking about is a fish-emphasis tank with one or two
anemones for some "class?" <G>.


>
>I have lots of questions.   Here we go:
>
>1.  What type of filtration system should I be considering?  What is 
>    appropriate for reef tanks?  UGF?  Reverse UGF? Canister?

There is, of course, considerable discussion on this question, and
there is no absolute answer.  I think the "best" setup for most
people in that there is a larger margin for error, is a trickle
filter based tank with a GOOD protein skimmer.  If you want to do
a "reef" tank (one with a lot of live rock) you might consider
running -just- a large foam fractionator (protein skimmer) and
allow the live rock to be your bio-filter.  TFs provide a large
and resilient base for you biofiltration, and also do a wonderful
job, especially in conjunction with a FF, of oxygenating the water.
Of course, the down side is that they cost more.  Only you can decide
what you can afford, but if you shop around (mail order!!) you won't 
pay all that much.


>2.  According to the FAQ.beginner I want to turn over the water 3-5
>    times per hour.  Do I simply look for something with a 150-250 gph
>    rating?

I assume you are talking a 55 gallon tank here.  The important point
is that most pump ratings are listed at less resistance (feet of "head")
than they are used in real life.  The other problem is that, at least
to my knowledge, there is no real good pump for the 55 gallon range tank.
On one end people use powerheads, which are a mistake, IMHO, and the 
other end is the "real" pumps which often are much higher flow than
you need.  I have a 150 gallon reef tank and use a quiet one pump, which
can be throttled back w/o damage for a 55 gallon tank and would be good
for a combined TF/FF pump.  Cost is about $90 mail order.

>3.  Lighting:  How much?  What type?

This one is even hotter than #1!!  I personally will reveal my bios right
off by stating that I have multiple metal halides on my reef along with
VHO actinics.  I belong to the "high intensity" school of thought.
If I were to buy a system right now,  I would very strongly consider 
the new MH bulbs being advertised in FAMA (Ultralux or something like
that..ultramarine maybe).  I've heard very good things about them 
on compuserve's fishnet (where you -can- find archives if you have
access).  Alternately you could use the electonic VHO ballasts and
run a couple of VHO bulbs across the top.  Or you could go "low tech" and
put regular flourescent bulbs across the top.  If you go that way, put
no .less. than 4 48" 40 watt bulbs or your anemones will most likely
die a slow death.  Again, budget is a big decision here and you didn't 
give an idea of how much you are interested in spending.


>4.  Specific recommendations:  Brand names - what's reliable and what's trash?
>    BestBuys?  

Well, I bought my equipment some time ago, so I'm a little out of it
for current "hot" stuff.  I don't like magnum cannister filters (though
I own one), and the single bulb flourescent fixtures that come with
most tanks are worth garbage for anything other than a fish-only tank.
Most marine additives are a waste of money.  I use reef crystals salt,
which I get at about $15/bag locally (50 gallon bag).  Don't use
triton bulbs for a marine tank.  Can't think of anyting else off the 
top of my head right now, but ask if you have specific products.


>5.  How about some examples?  Would some of you who have reef tanks of
>    this size (or a different size) be willing to describe your
>    setup and equipment?

Mine is a  150 gallon perfecto tank, corner box and drilled.  Trickle
filter holds 8 gallons of tri-paks and is returned via hard 1" PVC
and a quiet one pump (also has a recirculation loop to isolate the
filter from the tank if needed).  Trickle filter is an oceanic venturi
model 6 (I -=strongly=- urge you to get a venturi based skimmer!) and
I run 10-20 mg/hr of ozone from a sanders model 100 ozonizer.  Lighting
is via 3 175watt MH (coralife/venture) bulbs and 2 160W actinic O3s 
in a "custom" (home brew) hood.  The metal halides cost me $375 shippin
and bulbs included.  I have about 200 lbs of live rock from Noyes and
Pisces (don't get from pisces!) and about 100 lbs of tufa rock as base.
Thats most of it.

>
>Pretend you're going shopping to setup a new 55 gallon reef tank.  What
>would you buy?

First I would not buy a 55 gallon.  I would spend the extra few bucks
and get a 70 gallon, which offers a much more pleasing 18" front
to back distance which is important in a reef tank.  Then, assumimg
we are on a realistic budget here, I would get a fish-tank based 
trickle filter (one that fits down into a glass fish tank...to save some
money) and fill it with the cheapest media I could find (I don't 
recommend DLS, however).  Use an eheim pump as your sump pump and return
via soft tubing (save the hassle until you get a bigger tank).
Get a good venturi skimmer, I think Sanders makes one that hangs on the 
tank and is a venturi model or get one that will fit in your sump (side
note here: get the LARGEST sump you can fit/afford - you won't be sorry!).
Also check out FAMA and scan all the ads and order brochures.  Don't be
hasty!  Finally on lights... well, I'll wait until you decide how much
$$$ you want/can afford to spend! <G>.

Hope it helps some, remember that there are plenty of ways to succeed
in this hobby.  Have fun!

Paul


-- 
--------pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu----(614) 621-8240----------------
Paul A. Prior    Ban anchors, not reef tanks   "With friends like this,   
3rd year medical student		          who needs anemones?"
The Ohio State U. College of Medicine   Tobacco Kills- Please don't smoke!