Noob question:

[Jfish]

I usually mix up my water in a rubbermaid bin three or four days before a water change. I just leave a powerhead (koralia2) and heater dangling in the tub for a couple days to get it mixed up good. Any powerhead will due but I like the magnet type. When it comes time for the water change, I shut off all the pumps, blow off all the rocks, and suck the visibly crappy looking stuff off the top of the sand without disturbing the bed as a whole too much. Occasionally I will stir a small portion of the sandbed during the process too. After that I just pour the mixed water into the sump and let it mix, temp adjust with that water for a while and turn the pumps back on. I usually wash the skimmer cup in the dirty aqaurium water, give the inside of the skimmer a good wipe with paper towl or rags and thats it.

When it comes to skimmers I would just suggest going big. Skimmers are usually overrated for the size of tank they can handle and not that many people have lightly loaded tanks. My aquaC is rated for 180 gallons and I have a 75 gallon with 25 gallon sump. I don't think overskimming is really an issue so i'd rather have too much than not enough. And when it comes time for a bigger tank I might not have to worry about a skimmer right away. I think the skimmer does keep that water quality very high and pulls nasty dark crud outta the tank. If you get a good quality skimmer and fair amount of good quality live rock it will save you a bit of grief down the road. Add some good lights and flow and your not far off a full blown reef.

I was a little overwhelmed when first decieded on a sump but im glad I took the time to figure it out and I would never go back. To run the sump you either need a hang on the back overflow or drill your tank. I've never ran a hang on the back overflow but they require some form of siphon tube and I think can be a little worrysome. Im sure with regular maintenance and basic understanding a hang on the back can work just as good as drilling your tank.

[krg]

Well..I just took my latest readings, and I'm a little surprised. I'll be the first to say that, I'm lazy. I'd love to have an imaculate tank like many of you have. Without a sump, and without a skimmer..I just don't know how possible that is. I have some algae growing(red and green) that I haven't stayed on top of, and I have some things growing that I don't know what they are. They kinda look like a cross between plants, and weeds. I also think I may have bristleworms. I have little crawlie..somethings. They look like little larvea of something. Well..i'd say like a wee little centepede, not really a worm. My water changes are infrequent and as you read earlier..I'm not even sure what I'm vacuuming or doing when I do a water change. I haven't added any salt to my tank in months. I've only topped up my tank with RO water when it's evaporated. And with all of this my readings are good.
PH:8.2
Amonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0
Phosphate: .5
Salinity:1.023
Temp: 80.4
I'm not doing much, and it seems to be working. As I said..I'd like to have a tank worth showing off, I just got to get off my lazy rear-end, and maybe buy a skimmer and powerheads, etc..etc..
As I read your posts, I realise how very little I know, and how much work I should be doing. Any thoughts??
Take care everyone,
Kennan

[krg]

I'm going to check on a -hang-on-the-back sump and see if it can work for me. As well as a skimmer. I might be able to do this yet...

[Jfish]

Well just because you have good readings doesn't mean your in the clear. The red and green algea you speak of and weed like things (hair algea maybe) grow off of excessive nutrients in your tank. They are consuming the nitrates/phosphates in your tank and will keep growing until you reduce the amount of nutrients. Cyanobacteria may also be growing, its a red/purple slime that grows on anything when nutrients are low and flow is low.

The tiny worm like things sound like copeods or amphipods which are tiny little inverts that live in the rocks and sand. These along with bristle worms are beneficial life thats starting to grow in your tank.

You should never have to add salt directly to the display tank. Salt will not evaporate out of your tank so you should only have to add RO to keep your salinity right. Only time you need salt is when mixing water for a change.

Im sure there are people with very successful tanks that go no sump no skimmer. Lots of good quality live rock can provide enough beneficial bacteria to sustain a system. Thats why live rock is one of the best investments you can make in your aquarium. But since your just starting out its probably best to do as much research as possible and have all the tools neccessary before you try it with the bare minimum.

[krg]

Thanks for the advice!!
I just got back from my LFS and was checking out a skimmer. Is anybody familiar with an ESHOPPS PSK-100H? I'm going to do my research this weekend and maybe buy it next week(as well as a powerhead). Thanks again for the advice. I'll post more in the next day or so!! Take care,
Kennan