Resurrecting 36 Gallon Bowfront for Reef

[Dricker18]

Hi Everyone,

I can use all the help I can get.

I will post pics tomorrow once the sand and salt settle. Right now I have a 55 light 3w each led light fixture, still working on the best way to have it above the tank (tank mount, wall bracket mount, ceiling mount, etc.). Since I am resurrecting an old tank I am left with all my old equipment. I have two 50 gallon aqueon HOB filters, as well as an in tank heater which at the moment seems to be being a bit fussy so I may be replacing that.

Right now I have about 15 LBs of LR, 19 lbs of non-LR, and 20lbs of Live Sand cycling with saltwater at 1.025-1.026. I have a Hydrometer and its reading right in between the two.

Idea for Stock List
-Clownfish (maybe pair)
-Royal Gramma
-Kaudern's Cardinalfish
-Longnose Butterflyfish
-Some sort of bottom goby of sort open to any suggestions for beginner cleaner fish

Cleanup
-Fire Shrimp
-Snails
-Maybe hermit

What I want to know is:
1) Are protein skimmers absolutely imperative?
2) What is a good HOB refugium, because tank location is in TV room on top of a chest with no way for a sump to work.
3) Could a hang on back filter with some LR rubble and some sand work as a cryptic zone, to function as a small no-light refugium.
4) Is my stock list too much?

I plan on cycling for about a month, and today is the first day that I added the water and rock.

I appreciate all suggestions, but I do not appreciate condescending "pros" telling me I am doing it all wrong, obviously I am a beginner and I want to learn and enjoy the hobby.

Thanks,

[Azedenkae]

Hi mate,

So I'll go straight to your questions:
1.) No, protein skimmers are not imperative. I have the same size tank as you atm, approximately. I have 2 clownfish, 5 dispar anthias, 1 purplelined fairy wrasse, and two gobiodons for fish. I also have a colony of zoanthids and a few elegance coral. No skimmer present, and everything works well. I plan to add more corals too. So yeah, so long as your other filtrative bits and pieces are up to par, then there is no need for a skimmer.
2.) You don't really need a sump either. I can't really suggest a good HOB refugium since I don't really know of any. But thought I'd mention that you don't need any.
3.) Yes.
4.) Nope, not at all. Well, it all depends on your filtration system, but given how you are going to add more live rock, I think it should be fine. I use MarinePure as well, so my filtration capacity is pretty high. But with your stock list, what you have should be fine.

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Hi mate,

So I'll go straight to your questions:
1.) No, protein skimmers are not imperative. I have the same size tank as you atm, approximately. I have 2 clownfish, 5 dispar anthias, 1 purplelined fairy wrasse, and two gobiodons for fish. I also have a colony of zoanthids and a few elegance coral. No skimmer present, and everything works well. I plan to add more corals too. So yeah, so long as your other filtrative bits and pieces are up to par, then there is no need for a skimmer.
2.) You don't really need a sump either. I can't really suggest a good HOB refugium since I don't really know of any. But thought I'd mention that you don't need any.
3.) Yes.
4.) Nope, not at all. Well, it all depends on your filtration system, but given how you are going to add more live rock, I think it should be fine. I use MarinePure as well, so my filtration capacity is pretty high. But with your stock list, what you have should be fine.

+1 I know a guy with a 125gal, he runs a canister filter and a hang on with bio wheels.his tank looks awesome.

[Dricker18]

Thank you I appreciate the quick responses. I am going to post pics when I get home from work this afternoon, I did not have time this morning, but the tank looked crystal clear I am very excited.

I was thinking of buying another canister filter, but rather than using it with all the media that comes with it. I would take all that out and put some sand and live rock in it to function as a Cryptic Zone. I looked around on the internet and a lot of people believe that they work in a similar way as a refugium, just without the light, but they still harbor and grow all sorts of little critters and sponges that don't necessarily need any light.

I have not really arranged my rocks permanently yet since I put the sand in then the rocks then the salt. This made the water so foggy I could not even see the rocks to rearrange them so they were just sitting at the bottom of my tank this morning in random spots. I have 3 big live rocks, and 2 non-live rocks. My initial idea was to have two separated reefs so to speak. using three rocks to form an arch on the left side of the tank and then using the other two to make a column on the right side leaving a sandy bottom around the outside and through the middle of the tank. Let me know your thoughts.

[BigBlueTang]

Thank you I appreciate the quick responses. I am going to post pics when I get home from work this afternoon, I did not have time this morning, but the tank looked crystal clear I am very excited.

I was thinking of buying another canister filter, but rather than using it with all the media that comes with it. I would take all that out and put some sand and live rock in it to function as a Cryptic Zone. I looked around on the internet and a lot of people believe that they work in a similar way as a refugium, just without the light, but they still harbor and grow all sorts of little critters and sponges that don't necessarily need any light.

I have not really arranged my rocks permanently yet since I put the sand in then the rocks then the salt. This made the water so foggy I could not even see the rocks to rearrange them so they were just sitting at the bottom of my tank this morning in random spots. I have 3 big live rocks, and 2 non-live rocks. My initial idea was to have two separated reefs so to speak. using three rocks to form an arch on the left side of the tank and then using the other two to make a column on the right side leaving a sandy bottom around the outside and through the middle of the tank. Let me know your thoughts.

A longnose butterfly?
Don't do it.
LA says a 125 gallons, I say 75. Both way bigger than your tank....
Your tank is very small for any open water fish like butterfly fish. Stick with some small wrasses.

[chiltdogg75]

i have a 46 bow and im running a aquaclear 70 (formerly 300). no sump. everything was doing fine (lps,sps,fish). i kinda wanted a lil more filtration. so i got the reef octopus bh100 for $160. and MAN...What a difference! my water is Crystal clear!. though not extremely necessary, i would DEF get a skimmer. GOOD LUCK 18

[Dricker18]

Ok, so maybe no butterfly fish.


I am having a hard time with my lighting fixture and finding a way to have it mounted it comes with the wire hanging kit, but my mom is not too keen on having it hang from the ceiling or bracket coming from wall. This leaves me to only one way... a tank mount.

I was looking at the AI rail system and maybe getting the 36 inch long one. Although I do not have an AI fixture, I was thinking about just resting it on top of the two parallel bars, let me know your thoughts.

My light fixture is (don't laugh) a cheap chinese fixture, which surprisingly comes with 3w per led lights that I scooped off ebay. With my luck it will break in a few months, but whatever it cost me less than $100. It is the MR 120 LED Aquarium Light Marine Coral Reef 55x 3W SPS Dimmable Full Spectrum with Dimensions - 16.00” x 8.50” x 2.75” .

[Martini5788]

I will only comment on the stock list and the light. No long nose butterfly. Requires a 6 ft tank and gets way too big. You
Should be okay with a pair of clowns( percula or ocellaris, not any larger or more aggressive clowns), Cardinal and gramma. The Mars Aqua LEDS are nice, I have them. I would also suggest a protein skimmer. They really do make a difference. Try to get a used one if you can't buy new.

[Dricker18]

I will look into getting a protein skimmer, but since I just purchased so much stuff I am going to have to wait. From what I have heard they are not that necessary at first so I can wait a month or two and get a nice one. Would a flame angel be a possibility instead of the butterfly fish?

As for the light, since I am 22 and fresh out of college I am still living with my parents (unfortunately), however this means my mom has to look at this everyday so aesthetics mean a lot. The current setup is obviously a temporary one until I find a permanent solution, but she doesnt want to look at some big ugly fixture above the tank unless it is on something that looks sleek. The AI rail system looks nice, and I had an idea of just resting my light litterally right on top of that rail. My light is fairly heavy, but I have no doubt it can support it. My only question is I am not sure the distance between the two rails on that tank mount system and cant seem to find it out anywhere on the internet. If anyone knows how far they are apart, because the light fixture I have is 8.5 inches wide and it seems like it could just sit right on top of that aiming the lights through the two rails down at the tank.


Again I will post pics of my tank as soon as I get home from work. I have been at work all day.

[Martini5788]

No a flame angel is not suitable. It will be very aggressive in a tank that size and will not have enough rock or room to graze.

[Azedenkae]

I was thinking of buying another canister filter, but rather than using it with all the media that comes with it. I would take all that out and put some sand and live rock in it to function as a Cryptic Zone. I looked around on the internet and a lot of people believe that they work in a similar way as a refugium, just without the light, but they still harbor and grow all sorts of little critters and sponges that don't necessarily need any light.

I have not really arranged my rocks permanently yet since I put the sand in then the rocks then the salt. This made the water so foggy I could not even see the rocks to rearrange them so they were just sitting at the bottom of my tank this morning in random spots. I have 3 big live rocks, and 2 non-live rocks. My initial idea was to have two separated reefs so to speak. using three rocks to form an arch on the left side of the tank and then using the other two to make a column on the right side leaving a sandy bottom around the outside and through the middle of the tank. Let me know your thoughts.

Just to clarify, a refugium is exactly what you'd be setting up when you set up that cryptic zone. It's a common misconception that refugiums must involve algae and light, but really a refugium is just an an enclosure, container, or structure that specific organisms can find refuge in is all. :)

But yes, that could very well work. I am not a big fan at all of canister filters though, I find that it is so much of a hassle (much as I find skimmers to be a hassle). But if you want to go for it, and know how much of a hassle it'd be, then I say go for it. Sounds like a good idea.

As for your tankscape, I do like the idea of two separate 'reefs'. Would be fun to watch fish swim back and forth between the two. :)

Oh and yeah, no butterfly. Sorry for not catching that. Though you can keep a small one for a while though, until it grows larger. But butterflies would also eat corals, so yeah...

[Dricker18]

http://gyazo.com/2b79e5df7b8e5121a25faea420e5c52a

Here is how I aquascaped it so far.

[Dricker18]

<a href="http://gyazo.com/467a2395a604b823f023f7c53190489b"><img src="http://i.gyazo.com/467a2395a604b823f023f7c53190489b.png" /></a>

Here is embedded picture.

[chiltdogg75]

the current usa pro ramp LED is a badass light for the price. u can get one on ebay for $160!

[Dricker18]

I rearranged the rocks a bit... tell me what you think.

http://i.gyazo.com/2d2fb0254e9901de21a2999ada3a5f63.png

[Azedenkae]

Yeah I like the second scape more. :)