New tank Equipment 29 gallon....need help!!

[Buchananlion]

My tank is just finishing up its cycle and i am about to buy a clean up crew. Looking into the future i know i want some anemones for a pair of ocellaris clowns and other corals that would be good in the tank. This being said i have a few questions about the equipment i have. lets start with Filtration: i have a Quiet flow 50 filter made by Aqueon, its has a turn over of 250 gph is this ok for my tank in the future? any recommendations/comments? next topic flow in the tank: i don't know the brand names off the top of my head but i currently have 2 power heads one i bought that has a 700flow rate and another small one that has a bout 50. where should these be positioned in my tank to give coral/fish a nice flow? do i need more flow? next topic lighting: Now i know for a FACT that the lights that came with the tank are not going to cut it in the future! is there anyone that can refer me to a relativity cheap and cost effective light, that will still allow my coral and fish to be healthy and happy?

thanks for all the help!

[chrisfont23]

My tank is just finishing up its cycle and i am about to buy a clean up crew. Looking into the future i know i want some anemones for a pair of ocellaris clowns and other corals that would be good in the tank. This being said i have a few questions about the equipment i have. lets start with Filtration: i have a Quiet flow 50 filter made by Aqueon, its has a turn over of 250 gph is this ok for my tank in the future? any recommendations/comments? next topic flow in the tank: i don't know the brand names off the top of my head but i currently have 2 power heads one i bought that has a 700flow rate and another small one that has a bout 50. where should these be positioned in my tank to give coral/fish a nice flow? do i need more flow? next topic lighting: Now i know for a FACT that the lights that came with the tank are not going to cut it in the future! is there anyone that can refer me to a relativity cheap and cost effective light, that will still allow my coral and fish to be healthy and happy?

thanks for all the help!

Congrats and welcome. The CUC is your first step. I would let them at it alone in the tank for a few wks to a month, the better. Since inverts are particularly susceptible to water fluctuations it's a less expensive way to figure out a problem...it's not humane by any standards, but you are at the point of adding livestock so take it slow. The filtration in a SW tank is done through live rock and the sand bed. Typically a 1 to 1 1/2 lb per gallon of live rock is enough. A deep sand bed (ie + 5 inches in the fuge) will help you too. And your natural 1-2 inch SB in your DST is fine as well. The water passing over and through the rock and sand creates enough denitrification. The filter can be a detriment. They tend to harbor nitrates and make combatting nutrients difficult. The general trend is to ditch them all together.

For flow, it depends on your corals. There are a few schools of thought but for a LPS dominant tank you need about 10x to 20x flow. For SPS you will probably need more than that. The 10x means 10 times your gallons in tank. So a 29 gallon tank at 10x turnover is a 290 gph turnover, or about the equivilant of a MaxiJet 1200 on full throttle.

About the light - I would recommend a T5, Metal Hallide or LEDs for your tank. I have a 29 myself now, and am upgrading to a 90g. I will not be reusing my light, rather, will be selling it come the end of the year. It is this one: Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 Lighting Fixture Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5 Light Fixture coralife t5 fixture coralife t5 lighting coralife t5 lights That light allowed me to keep everything in my tank - SPS, LPS and even a Maxima Clam. It is adequate for your tank, no doubt.

[Buchananlion]

So what your saying is lose the filter? Wouldn't that be harmful? And do you think that the power head that turn 700gph is the enough?

[Reefing Madness]

So what your saying is lose the filter? Wouldn't that be harmful? And do you think that the power head that turn 700gph is the enough?

yup, ditch the filter, Live Rock does your filtering for you, along with a skimmer. And yes, 700gph in a 29g tank is good.

[Buchananlion]

yup, ditch the filter, Live Rock does your filtering for you, along with a skimmer. And yes, 700gph in a 29g tank is good.

Huh, interesting! I thought the filter kept the water clear and the carbon kept the smell down. And as I am new I have very little knowlege on the acronyms that are tossed around on this site. (LPS) (SPS)

[Reefing Madness]

Huh, interesting! I thought the filter kept the water clear and the carbon kept the smell down. And as I am new I have very little knowlege on the acronyms that are tossed around on this site. (LPS) (SPS)

Large Poyp Stonys Coral
Small Polyp Stonys Coral
The use of carbon from time to time is a good thing. I haven't run carbon in my tank in a year myself. The Live Rock will keep your water crystal clear for you, providing you are using RO/DI water.

[Buchananlion]

Well thanks! I'll be sure to try that, one more question, should I have a skimmer? What kind?

[chrisfont23]

Try an Aquamaxx HOB-1

[Reefing Madness]

For a 29g, I'd say no. Your right on the border here of needing one. But if you keep up on the weekly water changes, and keep an eye on the water parameters, for right now, in my opinion and from what I know, no you don't need one. If you can't keep the water parameters stable with weekly water changes, then yes you will have to get one.
Tunze DOC 9002 Nano Skimmer
Reef Octopus BH1000 Hang on the Back Skimmer W/OTP1000 Pump
Hydor Koralia Nano/Slim-Skim Internal Protein Skimmer