Captain Ron
Reefing newb
I am new to reefing and am about to start a 29 gallon tank. (29 is the biggest we can fit into our apartment floorplan.)
I am planning to go FOWLR and maybe in 3-6 months add some coral fragments. For now I am thinking of starting with just rock and a HOB filter (an AquaClear 70), no sump, and a RODI unit for preparing the water. I have heard a skimmer isn't necessary but preferred with fowlr. Is this true? In the future I would like to add a few shrimp and eventually a few small fish without overloading my tank. I don't know what a good bioload for my 29g is yet.
For rock I have seen mentioned here reefrocks and marcorocks. Is one better than the other or are there additional recommendations? I am worried about introducing pests and bad things into the water, and a local LFS mentioned something about bloodworms or some other possible infestations on live rock. Is this an issue? Is it better to start with totally dead rock and wait a month (or two?) for the rock to become live? She also mentioned not using more than 1/2 inch of aragonite sand on the bottom to not have anaerobic stuff at the bottom which could poison the tank. Is this an issue? Basically, how should I start with rocks and sand?
Thank you for any guidance you can provide.
-Capt. Ron
I am planning to go FOWLR and maybe in 3-6 months add some coral fragments. For now I am thinking of starting with just rock and a HOB filter (an AquaClear 70), no sump, and a RODI unit for preparing the water. I have heard a skimmer isn't necessary but preferred with fowlr. Is this true? In the future I would like to add a few shrimp and eventually a few small fish without overloading my tank. I don't know what a good bioload for my 29g is yet.
For rock I have seen mentioned here reefrocks and marcorocks. Is one better than the other or are there additional recommendations? I am worried about introducing pests and bad things into the water, and a local LFS mentioned something about bloodworms or some other possible infestations on live rock. Is this an issue? Is it better to start with totally dead rock and wait a month (or two?) for the rock to become live? She also mentioned not using more than 1/2 inch of aragonite sand on the bottom to not have anaerobic stuff at the bottom which could poison the tank. Is this an issue? Basically, how should I start with rocks and sand?
Thank you for any guidance you can provide.
-Capt. Ron