FOWLR equipment

rajfish

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Hey guys,

What equipment would you recommend for a 29g FOWLR? Do I need a chiller, protein skimmer, or sump?

Also, is it true that I have to adjust my hydrometer reading to the temperature? I keep my temperature at 79, and most hydrometers I read are calibrated at 75. So, if my hydrometer reads 1.024, it really means 1.028?

Also, what are some strategies for keeping pH stable? Mine has been stable, but wanted to know.

As far as alkalinity is concerned, must it be right at 2.5, or is a higher buffer okay (around 2.9).

Cheers,

Raj:fish:
 
I can answer a few that I know some info about..

A skimmer is a must for any SW system, excellent nitrate remover and depending on your bioload an absolute necessity.

A sump is a great way to hide all the extra equipment under your stand; i.e. heater, skimmer and any reactor you use such as kalk, or calcium. A sump gives you extra water volume so any issues with water parameters are less of an issue. A sump also gives you additional room for filtration and nitrate export (either biological, chemical, mechanical or any other "cal" you can think of); i.e. more LR, LS, bioballs, and macro algea. As for keeping PH stable a sump run with macro algae on a reverse cycle as your display helps maintain PH stability. A definite plus for adding a sump!

Hope my opinion helps. I am sure everyone else will jump in with their 2 cents!
 
rajfish;65963 wrote: What equipment would you recommend for a 29g FOWLR? Do I need a chiller, protein skimmer, or sump?

Sump with wet/dry filter, heater and a skimmer with you have space; otherwise, in-tank heater, canister filter and possibly a HOB skimmer. You shouldn't need a chiller unless the tank is over 92F.
 
dkelly;65979 wrote: Sump with wet/dry filter, heater and a skimmer with you have space; otherwise, in-tank heater, canister filter and possibly a HOB skimmer. You shouldn't need a chiller unless the tank is over 92F.

i think you ment 82 oh wait this is a fowler forgot but still 92 would be cooking right?
 
Nano_Reefer92;65980 wrote: i think you ment 82 oh wait this is a fowler forgot but still 92 would be cooking right?

No, for a fish-only tank I've run them up to 90 without problems.
 
Thanks guys, Atlanta climate won't require a chiller (especially since I have central air and the basement, where the tank is, is the coolest place in the house).

Where can I get a cheap sump/refugium? They can be really expensive I've heard.
 
how big do you want it you could DIY a sump with a regular tank and some acrylic and or glass dividers
 
DIY? I guess I could buy a ten gallon tank and fill it with water. Let's say I got a ten gallon tank. What would I do, step by step, (include costs) to build a refugium.

I guess one BIG added benefit is that the effective volume of water dealing with the chemicals is 39 (29 + 10 gallon sump).

Rajfish
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-Refugium-kit-for-glass-aquarium-wet-dry-filter-sump_W0QQitemZ300138463184QQihZ020QQcategoryZ3212QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem">http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-Refugium-kit-for-glass-aquarium-wet-dry-filter-sump_W0QQitemZ300138463184QQihZ020QQcategoryZ3212QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem</a>

this would be probably be the easyist for you
 
dkelly;66041 wrote: No, for a fish-only tank I've run them up to 90 without problems.
the fishes may have survived but were probably not happy. remem if the fish are still alive doesnt meann they are happy.
 
blind1993;66087 wrote: the fishes may have survived but were probably not happy. remem if the fish are still alive doesnt meann they are happy.

Certainly... I meant that in the rare occasion the tank reached that temp. it wouldn't be a complete crash like a reef would experience.
 
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