Tropical Fish Forums

[wozza]

hi everybody,
I have a 35 gal tank with

Red Sea Prizm Skimmer
http://www.1st4aquatics.com/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=454

fluval biolife filter
http://www.first-choice-aquatics.CO2.uk/acatalog/Fluval_Biolife_Trickle_Filter.html

fluval 3+ with the foam pads out and polyfilter put in it place
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=HG10170

fluval 2+ with the foam pads out and Activated carbon in it place
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=HG10165

and 6 kgs of live rock
and these fish and inverts
1 Spotfin lion fish (Pterois antennata)
1 Percula clown fish (Amphiprion percula)
1 Blenny (Lipophrys pholis)
1 common shrimp (Palaemon serratus)
1 red leg hermit
1 unknown crab
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fish are fun and food

[wozza]

do I have to much or is there room for one more clown fish?
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fish are fun and food

[FloridaBoy]

The Lionfish will eventually eat the clownfish; not a good mix.
Please abandon the idea of mixing predators with small fish.

If as you say, the blenny and shrimp are larger than the Lionfish you should be okay for a while until the Lion gets bigger.

As for filtration,the skimmer is a great choice but I am not keen on the two internal filters; I would opt for a hang on the back model and remove these gizmos out of your precious tank space. Even better, a small undercabinet tricklefilter with a built-in sump will provide room for your heater and chemical pads also. You can always use live rock down there as opposed to plastic media.

My goal has always been to design/build museum quality settings that look as natural as possible, to do this you have to keep as many electrical gizmos and other mechanical junk out of the display as possible; a few hidden powerheads are fine but even these can be a problem if you get a trigger that likes to chew. Sumps are perfect for this solution.
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years

[wozza]

OK I've finnished an idea for a sump.
what do you think?
http://www.reefland.com/forum/attachments/saltwater-fish-only-aquariums/7634-sump-designe-any-good-will-work-my-sump.jpg?d=1152264480
cheers james
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fish are fun and food

[sirreal63]

I wouldn't use the bio-balls, put a skimmer in that compartment instead. Bio-Balls tend to hold and release nitrates, this is OK if you never plan on any corals but most people remove bio-balls from their systems at some point so it is better to just not use them at all.

Everything else looks fine.
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Out on the road today...I saw a DeadHead sticker on a Cadillac...
Jack
110 Gallon DSA Pentagon

[wozza]

OK this may just be me being stupid, but with out the bioballs how do ammonia and nitrite get broken down? because there is no ware for the bacteria to live.
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fish are fun and food

[sirreal63]

It isn't a stupid question...the live rock, the sand, the glass and all surfaces will house the live bacteria that break down wastes. The protein skimmer will remove the d.o.c.'s before they have a chance to turn into ammonia, nitrite and finally nitrate. A light stocking of waste producing creatures will also help in keeping things in balance. Saltwater unlike freshwater, is all about balance and clean water.
_________________
Out on the road today...I saw a DeadHead sticker on a Cadillac...
Jack
110 Gallon DSA Pentagon