55 gallon conversion

[killianaquarium]

I am in the process of changing my 55 gallon FW into a FOWLR tank. I bought a 37 gallon to house my current FW fish. I also purchased a RO/DI 5 Stage Plus from BRS and it is working nicely. I am currently have my 55 filled about 80% full of saltwater with my powerheads running. I will get my dry live rock in from BRS tomorrow. I ordered 52lbs. of Pukani because it was the most pourous. I plan on taking my time with this build and doing it right. After I place the dry live rock in my aquarium tomorrow and do some aquascaping, what next? Do I need to place a peice or two of seeded live rock to seed the new? I also picked up a 20 gallon long from Petco, along with a heater and sponge filter, while they are running there $1 per gallon sale for my Quarantine Tank. Thanks in advance for your answers.Kyle

[Reefing Madness]

I am in the process of changing my 55 gallon FW into a FOWLR tank. I bought a 37 gallon to house my current FW fish. I also purchased a RO/DI 5 Stage Plus from BRS and it is working nicely. I am currently have my 55 filled about 80% full of saltwater with my powerheads running. I will get my dry live rock in from BRS tomorrow. I ordered 52lbs. of Pukani because it was the most pourous. I plan on taking my time with this build and doing it right. After I place the dry live rock in my aquarium tomorrow and do some aquascaping, what next? Do I need to place a peice or two of seeded live rock to seed the new? I also picked up a 20 gallon long from Petco, along with a heater and sponge filter, while they are running there $1 per gallon sale for my Quarantine Tank. Thanks in advance for your answers.Kyle

you could throw in a shrimp form the store to start the cycle, then you have about 6 weeks of waiting for your numbers to drop. Salinity to 1.025, temp to 78-80. Powerheads, you have enough flow? Skimmer? Pukani is some nice stuff. You could throw in a few lbs of LR if you wanted, either way will work.
Cycling Your Aquarium, Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle: Start Cycling Aquarium Guide
Water Changes in the Cycling Aquarium - The First Tank Guide - Don't Water Changes Keep the Biological Filter from Maturing?

[killianaquarium]

you could throw in a shrimp form the store to start the cycle, then you have about 6 weeks of waiting for your numbers to drop. Salinity to 1.025, temp to 78-80. Powerheads, you have enough flow? Skimmer? Pukani is some nice stuff. You could throw in a few lbs of LR if you wanted, either way will work.Cycling Your Aquarium, Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle: Start Cycling Aquarium GuideWater Changes in the Cycling Aquarium - The First Tank Guide - Don't Water Changes Keep the Biological Filter from Maturing?

Will just one raw shrimp start the cycle? I have read other articles where they say 1 cup of shrimp per 30 gallons. I would rather do just one if that will work. I plan on taking my time on this project. My flow rate is 1016 GPH with 2 powerheads and my return from the wet/dry. Is this enough? Some articles I read say it is, but then some I read it falls on the borderline. I also bought a skimmer compatible with my wet/dry. Do I run the skimmer while the tank is cycling? I can't wait to get my rock today. Thanks for the reply.

[Reefing Madness]

Will just one raw shrimp start the cycle? I have read other articles where they say 1 cup of shrimp per 30 gallons. I would rather do just one if that will work. I plan on taking my time on this project. My flow rate is 1016 GPH with 2 powerheads and my return from the wet/dry. Is this enough? Some articles I read say it is, but then some I read it falls on the borderline. I also bought a skimmer compatible with my wet/dry. Do I run the skimmer while the tank is cycling? I can't wait to get my rock today. Thanks for the reply.

Run the skimmer during the tank cycling. They tell you to throw in a bunch of shrimp to get alot of bacteria growing, this is not needed. Thats why you should add fish slowly once the cycle has ended, so the bacteria can then play catch up without going through another cycle. One shrimp will do it. You have enough flow. For a fish only tank rule of thumb is 10x the water trun over, for a reef its 20x.

[killianaquarium]

Should I turn the light on/off while the tank cycles? Also, what % should the weekly water changes be? Thanks

[Reefing Madness]

Should I turn the light on/off while the tank cycles? Also, what % should the weekly water changes be? Thanks

You can cycle the lights as you would a normal tank. 8-10 hours on. Whenever you want those times. I turn mine on at 3pm and off at 11pm, times when I'm home and can enjoy the fish.
Water Changes in the Cycling Aquarium - The First Tank Guide - Don't Water Changes Keep the Biological Filter from Maturing?

[killianaquarium]

Okay, got my rock put in and tank running. Added two raw shrimp to start the cycle. Here are some pics of my 37 gallon eclipse tank where I moved my FW fish and then a few others of last night. Pictures by killianphotobucket - Photobucket

[Reefing Madness]

[killianaquarium]

Should I be using carbon at this point?

[Reefing Madness]

Should I be using carbon at this point?

No its not needed yet. You can if you want to , it won't hurt anything.

[killianaquarium]

When should I start water changes, and what ratio? Or should I just add RO/DI water as needed?

[chrisfont23]

When should I start water changes, and what ratio? Or should I just add RO/DI water as needed?

There are probably a ton of opinions on this. I usually start my tanks wc's immediately after the cycle has finished. So when your Ammonia and Nitrite levels read 0 and your nitrate levels have ** some ** reading, I do a water change. I would recommend doing 20%. I have done this on every SW/FW tank (x 3) or pond (x2) I have started. Personal opinion - yes - but I have not lost a fish yet.

I would then let things stabilize for another week or 2 before adding CUC. I would wait a month or so before adding the first fish with 2 weeks in between each fish, as so to not shock your system bio-filtration you worked so hard to establish. And for water changes, I would recommend 10% weekly.

HTH!

[Reefing Madness]

When should I start water changes, and what ratio? Or should I just add RO/DI water as needed?

Water Changes in the Cycling Aquarium - The First Tank Guide - Don't Water Changes Keep the Biological Filter from Maturing?

[killianaquarium]

Can someone help me regarding my ProClear MPS75 Protein Skimmer? I am not sure where to place the drain line off of the foam collection cup.

[Reefing Madness]

Can someone help me regarding my ProClear MPS75 Protein Skimmer? I am not sure where to place the drain line off of the foam collection cup.

Into a one gallon milk jug, to collect more than the cup can handle.

[leebca]

killian,

You need to give a thorough read of the sticky with the title: Setting up a FOWLR Aquarium found in this forum. That post, has links in it which send you to other posts that give you the reasons for making some of the choices you are faced with. I'd be hesitant to try and answer specific questions, since I might miss something important AND you may not be asking or thinking about all the questions you should be asking. That post will help a lot. Good luck!

[killianaquarium]

List of set-up:55 Gallon Aquarium200 Watt HeaterProClear SlimLine 60 Wet/Dry w/ CAP 1800 PH (476 GPH)ProClear MPS75 Protein Skimmer1 - Aquaclear 402 PH (270 GPH)Hydor Koralia Evo 750 (750 GPH)All Glass 48" Compact flourescent light52lbs of Pukani dry live rock - added 9/29Quarantine Tank - 20 Gallon Long100 Watt HeaterHydro II Sponge Filter w/ Penguin 550 PH (145 GPH)I lost the Impeller shaft in one of my 402's and I replaced it with the Hydor. Is 1496 GPH too much flow for a FOWLR? I want to wait until the tank matures before adding any fish...

[leebca]

Waiting for maturity is a good plan, but you do want to introduce clean up crew as suggested in the post I suggested you read.

[Reefing Madness]

List of set-up:55 Gallon Aquarium200 Watt HeaterProClear SlimLine 60 Wet/Dry w/ CAP 1800 PH (476 GPH)ProClear MPS75 Protein Skimmer1 - Aquaclear 402 PH (270 GPH)Hydor Koralia Evo 750 (750 GPH)All Glass 48" Compact flourescent light52lbs of Pukani dry live rock - added 9/29Quarantine Tank - 20 Gallon Long100 Watt HeaterHydro II Sponge Filter w/ Penguin 550 PH (145 GPH)I lost the Impeller shaft in one of my 402's and I replaced it with the Hydor. Is 1496 GPH too much flow for a FOWLR? I want to wait until the tank matures before adding any fish...

No such thing as to much flow for a FOWLR. They get their excersize on the water flow, keeps them healthy.

[killianaquarium]

Waiting for maturity is a good plan, but you do want to introduce clean up crew as suggested in the post I suggested you read.

Yes, I do plan on adding the CUC. Just waiting to add fish. Is there anything I can do to start the coraline faster?