Tank Size

[PMM]

hello everyone.can anyone please give me some information.
i have just bought a 48x18x18 tank what is the actual gallons ot this tank,and will it be allright for a reef tank.and what type of hang on skimmer would you recommend.
thanks alot.

[Siddroww]

I think its a 75 gal .

Perfect for reef .

Check out aqua C Remora as a skimmer

[PMM]

cheers mate thanks alot.

[yrureefing]

It is actually a 70g tank.

[Siddroww]

I said I think 75 . I thought a 75 was 20 inches but i've never seen or heard of a 70 .

[PMM]

thanks alot lads.will one 300 watt heater be allright.

[Pomacanthus1]

300 watts is fine, but keep in mind pumps and lights will add heat to the tank, so you don't really need something quite that powerful.

Are AquaC skimmers available over there in the UK?

[PMM]

cheers mate.i bought a vecton uv25 for a 125 gallon tank,but i had to sell the tank because it was too big for upstairs.
would this be ok for my 70 gallon tank.
thanks.

[Pomacanthus1]

It would be okay, but i don't recommend anyone use UV sterilizers unless they are having some serious disease problems. They're like ozonizers, unnecessary. I would just save in case you have problems with water-borne diseases, or sell it for a few bucks.

Check out this thread (www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8972) and this thread (www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45025).

[PMM]

thanks alot.and thanks for the threads mate.

[coachgail]

http://www.aquasite.com/knowledge/calculator/calculator.shtml#calc

Calculate your tank size and volume it will hold. Ignore recommendations for lights. Lose the UV sterilizer. Mine is off unless I have an ich outbreak. Though it would be cool if it killed cyano

[PMM]

thanks for the info gail and also for the link.does the uv actually kill ich.id really like to keep tangs,should i keep it for those.
thanks.

[coachgail]

I <cough> have never ever had an outbreak of ic on my tangs <knocking on wood many times>. Make that tang. You will only be able to keep 1 in your tank. Or the tang polie will get you. Actually, one tang is a happy tang in MOST cases. Some people keep 2 or 3 different kinds with good results, Many do not and the beta tang suffers. I have one in the 180. He is a happy tang. He likes me...for supper

[Pomacanthus1]

Coachgail-
Awesome site! Thanks for posting it!

PPM-
Any ich that passes through it will be killed, but there will still be plenty left in the rock and substrate. Ich cannot be completely eliminated from the system. The best thing we can do is feed a proper nutritional diet that keeps our fish and their immune system healthy and functioning optimally.

[PMM]

are surgeon fish tangs and if so are they only to be kept alone.
and are trigger fish safe for a community tank.
im sory for asking too many questions.
thanks again.

[coachgail]

Trigger fish are basically mean, aggressive fish that cannot be kept in reefs. A FO tank, perhaps, but not reef

[Pomacanthus1]

Yes, surgeon fish are the same as tangs. IMO you could keep 2 in your tank, but none of the really big ones like naso and shoal.

Triggers are big, mean fish that will chow down on any inverts you have. Snails, crabs, hermits, and shrimp are especially at risk. I wouldn't recommend one for a community, only for a predator/aggressive fish only tank.

[PMM]

thanks mate,i like surgeon fish the ones you mentioned are they blue with yellow markings.and are draggon wrasses mean.

[PMM]

coachgail how big is your acrylic tank.i cant seem to find any in england.maybe ill have to order one.
thanks.

[coachgail]

180 (nside dimensions w overflows subtraced). 200 would be what it is sold for. I would order one anyways. It is much cheaper. Many palstic/acrylic companies will make one to order. Although, I love my acrylics, I would get glass for reef. The acrylic scratches too easily.

[PMM]

thanks coachgail,i bet they are a lot lighter than glass,i had to carry my 150 gallon glass tank downstairs with a mate of mine and nearly broke my back.i now have a 48x18x18 tank would a red sea prizm hang on skimmer be allright for this tank or would it be to small for a reef tank.
thanks alot coachgail.

[coachgail]

Eww. I had a Pirzm. Not worth it! Get a good skimmer like an AquaC, www.myreefcreations.com, or another model. You will need to spend quite a bit for a decent skimmer, so look for a used ones (although, people usualys ell crappy skimmers, not their good ones!)
gail

[PMM]

them aqua c skimmers,are they like aqua medic skimmers.
what do you think of the aqua medic multi turbo 1000 hangon skimmers.
thanks coachgail.

[xanthurus]

dragon wrasses are not safe for a reef tank. They are mean and love to rearrange rocks. They also can get quite large and would not be advisable for a 55 gallon

[Pomacanthus1]

Aqua Medic would probably be your best option, considering AquaC isn't available over there in the UK. I've heard a lot of good things about them and a lot of bad things about them. Seems like the owners either love 'em or hate 'em. A search will turn up more specific info.

What other skimmers do you have available to you? Have you ever seen a Precision Marine HOT-1? Along with the AquaC Remoras, they are among the best hang-on skimmers.

[rhiggsbear]

)48" x 18" x 18" = 15552/230 = 67.6 gals.

48" x 18" x 20" = 17280/230 = 75.13 gals.

Keep in mind this is the way a tank manufacturer sells them. To determine the real capacity, you should use the inside measurements.

Actually, you divide by 231 (close enough:D

[PMM]

thanks lads for replying.no i havent seen any of thoes.the ony ones i see over here are the aqua medic and the red sea ones.
have you ever heard of the beast skimmer.
thanks again.

[coachgail]

Of course, I forgot Aqua Cs aren't available there, unless you had someone ship it to you. I would still try MyReefcreations and see if ANdy can ship

[PMM]

hello coachgail,ive tried connecting to the site but it says cant find web address.am i doing something wrong.
thanks alot.

[coachgail]

www.myreefcreations.com
let me test and see if it links

[coachgail]

It works for me!

[PMM]

thanks again coachgail ive got it at last must have been my computer playing up.ill have a good look now.is there like any makes that are as good has aqua c.

thanks.

[coachgail]

AquaC is NOT as good as the ones Any makes. Not even comparable. But, he does not make a hang on version. These are for in the sump.

[PMM]

coachgail what size sump would i need.and are they hard to setup.
cheers.

[coachgail]

Well, for a 75, I would use one of the large clear sterilite (plastic) tubs you store clotehs and stuff in. The one that is 40 inches long and about 18 inches high and wide. (open on top). Youcan use the lid, after you drill the holes. You will need an overflow box, or better yet, get your tank drilled). Water into overflow box in one end to the other end a return pump to hose or pvc back to the tank. you could easily make thisa refugium by adding LR, a DSB and/or macor algae and a light.

[Pomacanthus1]

I have a Sterilite bin as my sump, no complaints. It works and it's cheap.

As for getting the tank drilled, i would just get a hang-on overflow. Drilling the tank could cause it to break, and the risk isn't worth it IMO.

Keep in mind, if you buy a MyReef skimmer, you're going to need a big, powerful pump too.

[PMM]

thanks coachgail.
thanks pomacanthus.
can i have my heater in the sump instead of being in the main tank.
would a 5 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet tank be to heavy for an upstairs bedroom.i sold it, now the bloke says he cant afford it so ive got it back again.

[coachgail]

It depends on where it it. You want it next to a load bearing wall. You caould always but a floor jack underneath it....

Only place a heater in your sump if you don't have heat problems from your lights. Hmmm, I don't think I even have a heater in the reef tanks. I have them in one of my fresh water...no, make that 2. The 20 and the 55.

[DgenR8]

Originally posted by coachgail
It depends on where it it. You want it next to a load bearing wall. You caould always but a floor jack underneath it....



Right, against a load bearing wall, perpendicular to the joists.

[PMM]

thanks alot dgenr8,i have a sand filter will i also need a mechanical filter for getting rid of big particles.

[DgenR8]

Sand filter?? Do you mean a fluidized bed filter?
I've never used one, not on a tank. I had one on a swimming pool once but that's not gong to give me much to go on here.
I'd do a search on them, I expect you'll find loads of people describing "fluidized bed" filters much like bio balls, obsolete technology and nitrate factory.
A mechanical filter might be usefull in clearing the water, but you wouldn't want to run it after that, so IMO, it would be a waste of money. I think you should just give it a little time. Your system is new and it WILL go through stages that don't look very appealing at all. It's a waiting game and time will make this "problem" go away. Patience is the key here, and you'll NEED to employ it as you progress in the hobby, start now. ;)

[PMM]

cheers mate ill have a look at all filter options.