Aquarium Set-UP FAQ page 3

I have a 55-gallon freshwater aquarium already set up, and I wanted to add some rocks to create shelter and decorate the space better. I was wondering if there is any reason why granite rocks should not be used in a freshwater tank--will it hurt the fish?

There is absolutely no reason not to use granite in a freshwater aquarium. It is typically an inert stone, and will not affect water quality. If you collect it yourself however, make sure you sterilize it by soaking the pieces in hot water, then rinsing thoroughly and allowing to cool before use.

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I have a new 75 gallon aquarium. How long should I have it set up and running before I add fish to it?

A good rule of thumb is to wait one to two weeks to allow the water to age.

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How bad is the use of crushed coral as substrate in a reef tank? Can I still get anaerobic bacteria? Do I have to do as much mantenance as I was told if I use crushed coral?

We have no idea what you mean by your questions. If we had to guess, this looks like one of those classic examples of why it is a good idea to read some books instead of trying to get all your information from the Internet. Remember that half the folks giving out information on the Internet are only quoting some information they got from someone else on the Internet who got their information from someone else on the Internet, etc., etc.. It's like a rumor spreading. Each time the story is told, it changes a little, until the story gets so twisted that the original meaning is lost. The Internet is a great place to find good information, but you have to know when that information is valid or simply someone's opinion. To do this, you have to first read some un-biased information, such as that found in a good aquarium book. Now the answers. Crushed coral is not bad at all to use as a substrate. We have been using crushed coral in reef aquaria for 25 years and have had no ill effects at all. There are other substrates that are better buffering agents, such as aragonite, but there is nothing wrong with using crushed coral. If you use a thin layer of any marine substrate on the bottom of the tank you will not get anaerobic bacteria.

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I have a 55 Gal Hexagon Tower tank. I'm wondering what filtration system to use on it. Can you advise me?

If by a "tower" tank, you mean that you have one of those tanks that has about a square foot of surface area and is five or six feet tall, we would advise you not to set it up at all. Surface area determines the number of fish you may keep and the overall health of the environment. Tower tanks are not sold by aquarium stores for a very good reason, they don't keep fish alive for long regardless of how much filtration you use. If you do set it up, your plan is a good one, but we would also recommend you be very cautious about how many fish you try to keep.

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I would like to purchase a larger tank for my 3 goldfish. What size is adequate, and how do I introduce them to a new tank?

Our rule for goldfish aquariums is one fish per thirty gallons of water and ten more gallons for each goldfish added. So, you would need at least 50 gallons for your 3 goldfish, more if you can afford it and have the space. Goldfish require more room than tropical fish. The best way to introduce existing fish to a new tank is to simply use all the gravel and most of the water from the old aquarium so you don't shock the fish with new water conditions.

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I have a 29 gal tank that I want to setup as a saltwater tank. I know I should be a Wet/Dry filter and a protein skimmer but I am having a hard time finding information about which one to get. Do you have a recommendation for me?

You should actually use both not one or the other, but if you can't afford both, a CPR Bak Pak skimmer with built-in biological filtration is a good compromise.

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I currently have a 55 Gal tank. I'm looking into converting it to a saltwater tank. However I have heard MANY very different ideas. Currently I have a canister filter. Do I need a whole new filter or can I just buy a protein skimmer and go from there??

The best way to go would be to purchase a good wet-dry filter and a protein skimmer, each driven by a dedicated pump. That is the standard configuration for fish-only aquaria. If you are planning on doing a reef tank, you should consider a Berlin reservoir instead of the wet-dry.

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I just bought a figure 8 puffer and am wondering what other fish I can add to my 10 gallon tank.

The Figure 8 and most other so-called "freshwater" puffers are actually brackish water fish that do best with about a teaspoon per gallon of aquarium salt added to the water. The other fish that share the aquarium should also be brackish water species. These puffers are notorious fin-nippers, so make sure you only get semi-aggressive species. You are also very limited by your tank size. Some suggestions would be: Bumblebee Gobies, Knight Gobies, and possibly some baby Scats or Monos, but only if you are planning on getting a larger tank within a year.

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I am setting up a 90 gal saltwater tank. It will eventually be a reef tank. I want to put in some powerheads because I know I will need a lot of water movement. How many and what size powerheads do I need?

I would use three power heads capable of about 200 to 300 gallons per hour located at various vertical levels in the tank and with flows directed in different directions.

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I am setting up a 125 gallon tank and need to know if I can fill it all at once or need to wait due to the weight?

You can fill it all at once, provided you know that the stand you have was designed to hold an aquarium that will weigh about 1200 pounds when filled.

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