ka34579
04/11/2006, 05:41 PM
I own a 75-gallon tank at home waiting for me to revamp and once the spring semester in Boston ends. In the tank right now from what my father tells me is a reclusive rusty angel and a very small clarkii clown, a lot of fake coral, a good deal of algae, a lot of copepods, and some high nitrates. I have been sending him home boxes to store until I get home to do the maintainence, so far including: 70 lbs of new sand, the essentials like tons of salt, test kits etc.
The tank is currently running on about a 7 year old wet/dry and a probably burnt out uv sterilizer. As I plotted what I was going to do I am wondering whether I should replace the nitrate factory wet/dry with or think of some other means to improve the overall day to day water quality besides cleaning which has been going on at 30% water change every week or two. In my budget range is a good skilter filter but having never used one I was wondering how canister filters are, like the large Ocean bucket ones. What's me best bet.
Also, once the mechanics are worked out, I have 45 lbs of cured fiji live rock on hold which will be going in. I know 75 is more common but 45 is all I can afford. Should this affect my filter decision.
Being a biology student I have picked up a thing or two along the way and in rebuilding the tank I think Im going to have to have some sort of cleanup crew. What sorts of inverts should I concentrate on especially to keep the sand clean.
Finally, I know I dont have reef capable lighting, but provided I have reef safe fish which we've always had, how difficult will it be to try my hand at feather dusters or the like worm species. What species are a good start and what inverts should I avoid with them, Im assuming serpent stars, etc.
I would have put some of these questions in other forums but the search doesn't seem to work anymore. Thanks for any help.
The tank is currently running on about a 7 year old wet/dry and a probably burnt out uv sterilizer. As I plotted what I was going to do I am wondering whether I should replace the nitrate factory wet/dry with or think of some other means to improve the overall day to day water quality besides cleaning which has been going on at 30% water change every week or two. In my budget range is a good skilter filter but having never used one I was wondering how canister filters are, like the large Ocean bucket ones. What's me best bet.
Also, once the mechanics are worked out, I have 45 lbs of cured fiji live rock on hold which will be going in. I know 75 is more common but 45 is all I can afford. Should this affect my filter decision.
Being a biology student I have picked up a thing or two along the way and in rebuilding the tank I think Im going to have to have some sort of cleanup crew. What sorts of inverts should I concentrate on especially to keep the sand clean.
Finally, I know I dont have reef capable lighting, but provided I have reef safe fish which we've always had, how difficult will it be to try my hand at feather dusters or the like worm species. What species are a good start and what inverts should I avoid with them, Im assuming serpent stars, etc.
I would have put some of these questions in other forums but the search doesn't seem to work anymore. Thanks for any help.