Redoing my FOWLR

[cal565]

Ok I have a 75 gallon FOWLR tank at the moment and I would like to get some corals so I need some help determining what I need to keep and what I need to get rid of. Righ now my set up consist of:

30# Live Rock
A Bio Wheel Filter
A Seaclone Protein Skimmer
Undergravel filter with two powerheads
Crushed Coral Substrate
Housing for 3 standard florescent Light
Two Clark Clownfish
Porcuppine Puffer
Picasso Triggerfish
Yellow damsel
Long tentacle anenome (bad for my set up I know)
chocolate chip starfish

I have had problems with red algae dispite my changing 5 gallons of water a week. Im about to move so I figured when I have it all tore down I would just change out everything. This Is what Im thinking of doing. Selling the Puffer and triger back to the pet store. Getting rid of the undergravelfilter and getting 30# more Live rock. Should I change my substrate out to sand or is the crushed coral fine? I will also need to get more lights. Anymore suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I really want to do this right, Im tired of all the algae. Oh, my tank has been set up for about 15 months. Thanks

[Reefland]

Hi cal565,

Ok I have a 75 gallon FOWLR tank at the moment and I would like to get some corals so I need some help determining what I need to keep and what I need to get rid of.

Welcome to the world of captive coral keeping. Although more challenging than the FOWLR setup you currently have, I think you'll also find it more rewarding. This is my personal opinion of course.

Righ now my set up consist of:

30# Live Rock
A Bio Wheel Filter
A Seaclone Protein Skimmer
Undergravel filter with two powerheads
Crushed Coral Substrate
Housing for 3 standard florescent Light
Two Clark Clownfish
Porcuppine Puffer
Picasso Triggerfish
Yellow damsel
Long tentacle anenome (bad for my set up I know)
chocolate chip starfish

Yes you definitely have some work to do here to prepare this tank for corals, not only with the current inhabitants with with some of the equipment you have as well.

I have had problems with red algae dispite my changing 5 gallons of water a week.

Some of the equipment you are using and methodologies, I am not surpirsed actually. We'll get more into that though...

Im about to move so I figured when I have it all tore down I would just change out everything. This Is what Im thinking of doing. Selling the Puffer and triger back to the pet store.

Both messy eaters and not really reef safe so this is a good move. The are many more beautiful fish that you can shoose from for your new reef environment.

Getting rid of the undergravelfilter and getting 30# more Live rock. Should I change my substrate out to sand or is the crushed coral fine?

Another very good choice. Undergravel filter technologies are pretty much outdated in the marine environment; I personally consider them obsolete. I would remove the undergravel filter and all of the current crushed coral substrate. From here I think a decision should be made for a sand bed or a bare bottom tank. I will defer you to this link for my own comparison of the two methodologies:
Sand Beds and Bare-Bottom Tanks in Reef Hobbyist Online

I will also need to get more lights. Anymore suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I really want to do this right, Im tired of all the algae. Oh, my tank has been set up for about 15 months. Thanks

The lighting will depend on what kind of corals you plan to keep. They are commonly grouped into 3 cateogires:
Soft Corals
LPS Corals
SPS Corals
With each group requiring more intense light. At a minimum I would have to recommend a 4 bulb VHO setup but if your interested in Anemones, clams and/or stony corals then metal halide lighting will be required. I also recommend that you upgrade to a much more effecient skimmer and also look to incorporate a sump in this system. This will make the appearance of the tank more pleasing by removing lots of equipment from the tank and will give you more water volume which makes stability a little easier to accomplish.

I am glad to hear that you are wanting some advice and doing some research so you do this right the first time. I hope my reply gives you some topics to research and will spark some more questions which we'll be happy to help you out with.

[CSeaSee]

I think your chocolate chip starfish would wreak havoc on any corals you put in your tank. They are definately not reef safe!

[cal565]

Thanks for all the help so far. I didnt even think about the chocolate chip starfish but I will sell it too. I do love my puffer but I would rather do the coral thing for now. Sounds like im going to have to put a lot of money into this, but that is alright I want to do it right. If anyone know somewhere I could give my puffer a good home let me know. I will give him away if its to a good home. thanks again for all the help