Starting 150gal FOWLR Advice please

[SmokeOneLV]

Happy New years to everyone! Feels good to be back, I had 150 Reef Tank going but had my son 1 year ago and had to let it go. Now Im back less money with the my lil man around but he loves fish and i loved my Ocean! So now i need some advice on getting my 150 gal tank back up and running!
Right now all i have is the tank and i have about 70lbs of live rock that's not alive anymore. so need a fresh start and trying to do a lil at a time so i want to get a filter and atleast get my tank full of water and from there please help me out! Im reading all my books over again but this forum puts it in a way i can understand!

thanks, and once again
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!2010

[Bloodydecks]

how much do you want to spend....and what do you plan on keeping? Does the tank have a overflow?

The rock will work fine for decorations, and over time will become biologically active with nitrosomonas bacteria which will help filter your aquarium.

More details please.

[SmokeOneLV]

Thanks Bloodydecks, Not trying to have a very expensive set up, but i do want to have a nice set up that i can build and add onto over time. I dont have a overflow, its a 150gal long glass tank.

I would like to have porcupine puffer, dogg face puffer, Lion Fish are the main three that i know that i want! But i look forward to getting alot of advice from the forum and want to get the widest mix that i can get, like to take chances with fish that dont really get along but with enough space it seem to work.

I appreciate any advice i can get. Thank you again

HAPPY NEW YEAR
2010 I WILL BE THERE IN 40MIN!!!!!!!

[leebca]

Actually, most of what you need to do is found in this post, once you've decided on the landscaping and type of setup you want:

Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium

[SmokeOneLV]

Thanks Leebca I have been reading alot of your post on the forume, wish i would have started reading before i let my reef go down the drain.
When you say set up and landscape are you talking bout pumps and all?
I have some old live rock about 80lbs that i dont think is live anymore its just been setting in water wit a lil pump running i think its still running, and not salt water just some water that i added to the tank to keep the rocks wet I have about 6" maybe more deep of crushed coral. Was going to use the old rock as base rock and going to add new live rock dont know how much could use some advice on that and were to buy? My lighting i Have Nova Extrem T-5 and a Aqualight HQI Metal Halid, I used this lighting for my reef tank but dont think i need all this lighting, what do you think?
My Filters are not working anymore thats were I need help, Dont know if i want to go with a Canister or a Hang On box filter, LFS "I know dont take advice from them" thats why im here says to get a Aqua Clear 400 with the bio wheels and that all i need for my 150 gal? funny thing is thats the pump i have and the motor is shot! I also have a Magnum 350 Canister that has stoped working. So i want to get a filter so i can atleast get my saltwater in the tank. What advice do you have on a filter and skimmer for 150 gal.?

Thanks for all the posted articles they are a great help!
HAPPY NEW YEARS

[leebca]

Thanks.

When I wrote, 'landscaping' I meant the layout of the rocks and inside decorations.

There are many online and LFS sources for live rock. You have to find the ones you like, and the type you need. Can't help you there.

Lighting on a FOWLR tank is just needed so Coraline algae will grow. That isn't much light, actually. Any other light is just enough so you can see your fishes and inhabitants, since light isn't directly required for their existence.

Almost any skimmer will work. What you have to do is size it properly. Don't believe what they tell you. Verify what the skimmer is capable of doing by how much volume it processes. That info is found in this post: What is Water Quality

Regarding pumps, and circulating pumps -- you want about 10X turnover per hour of the entire/total water in the system and enough circulation to prevent dead spots in the tank.

Regarding filters, you want at least a chemical filter and a mechanical filter (assuming you will be using live rock for your biological filter). I prefer to use filters that will process no less than the entire system volume every 2 hours or less. The mechanical should capture all the suspended solids that the inside powerheads/pumps keep in circulation. Most manufacturers do rate them reliably, however I tend to buy those that are rated for about 130 - 170% of my total volume.

Good luck!