Please critique my plan

[Chris_P]

I recently had my tank "Crash" with Ick. unfortunately all my fish died (2 clownfish, 1 yellow tang, one purple firefish). This was largely due to my inexperience and many mistakes (no quarantine tank setup). I am frustrated that so many beautifull fish had to perish in my persuit for knowledge and experience in this hobby; However, I have never been one to quite and have recieved some great advice and direction from this forum, and would like to post a plan for critique so that the previous travesty is not repeated. 1. I am upgrading to a 60 gallon cube tank, with a red sea protein skimmer, a wet dry trickle filter, 35 lbs of cured live rock and at least another 20 lbs of new lace rock. 2. I would like this tank to house two true perculas, 1 purple firefish, 1 yellow tang, 1 six line wrass, 1 anemone, and a some inverts (nassarius and Astrea snails and 3 sand sea stars.) 3. I recently set up a quarantine tank that I am cycling with biozyme, one month from now I will introduce 2 clownfish into the Q tank and treat it with Rid-Ick if they show signs of the parasite. (should I treat with Rid-Ick even if there are no signs?), after about 3 weeks of health I will introduce them into my main tank. I will follow this same process for each one of my planned fish adding a new specimen into my main tank every 3 weeks to a month. what do you think?

[wozza]

i all sounds good to me apart from your skimmer.
i own that same skimmer and i think its rubbish, it doesnt do much in the way of dark skimmate, allways pours bubbles in to my tank and also has a very low flow through it.
For about £20 more you could get one that actually works!!
mine is only on a 35gal as well on a 60gal it would be evan more useless
hope this helps, james

[philolsen]

I have only heard bad thing about medications and as far as I am concerned they all have side affects. I would get a uv filter instead, it would kill the ICK parasites (and a host of others) without medicating your tank and fish for possibly no reason. I have had one for several months and it ha simproved the look and quality of my water by leaps and bounds. I got mine from ebay for about 100.00.

[Chris_P]

I agree completely. The red sea protien skimmer is $100.00 worth of useless plastic. What protein skimmer would you suggest that is effective yet cost efficient? Also, please explain how a UV filter works. should I have one for my main tank too?

[wozza]

hmmm...well im not to sure about what skimmer to suggest as you are in the USA and im in the UK so what we can get is differnt.
im not sure if you guys can get this make of skimmer but this is waht im gonna buy next.

V2Skim 600 Protein Skimmer. :: Protein Skimmers :: Equipment :: Reefstore

I think you can get this one

Deltec MC500 Multi Skimmer :: Protein Skimmers :: Equipment :: Reefstore

there is a skimmer called a remora (dont know if thats spelt right) that is ment to be good
we cant get it over here but im sure you can in the US


cheers james

[philolsen]

After having a UV, I will never go without one again on any tank it uses ultraviolet light to kill most harmful (including ick) parasites and control algae blooms as well I had a issue with a algae bloom that made my water cloudy, I got the UV and the water took 1 1/2 days to become crystal clear. As for the skimmer, spend a little more and get a Remora C, you can get one used on ebay for 125-150 and it is welll worth the investment, the ones with the Maxi jet powerhead are the way to go.

[Chris_P]

Thanks for the advice!! in your experience have there been any drawbacks to using a UV Filter that I should be aware of?