What Do I Need For FOWLR?

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Hi, I'm setting up my FOWLR Tank, Just got the equipments have yet to pour water in.

Here are the Planned setups

Equipments

2x1x1.5 (5mm) braceless ($30)

ISTA MaxCare Cannister Filter 360L/Hr (2nd Hand)

Boyu Skimmer WG308 (2nd Hand)

Boyu Wavemaker (2nd Hand) (will upgrade to tunez 6015 or Hydor Koralia 1 Controlable later)

ANS Cooling Fan 3000 ($25) (Will Upgrade for Chillers when I'm ready for corals)

Aquazonic 2 x 24w 1 x sun white, 1 x actinic blue ($48)

Bio Media

CaribSea Ocean Direct Pacific Black ($30+)

LR 2-3KG ($12/KG)

Some Questions

Water Parameters:

How do i prepare salt water?

Conditioners Needed For FOWLR? Brand Recommendations?

Test Kits Needed?

Filter Media:

What Filter Media Should I put inside my canister?

Any more tips from Bros in SRC?

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Oh yah, before i 4get, what BB should i use to speed up my bacteria building? Chemi-pure?

[kaykay]

Hi bro, this was what I did to get saltwater when I first got the tank.

Clean the tank.

Put in distilled water. I bought 5 cartons (60 bottles of 1.5L) of distilled water from ntuc. "life" brand is good. You'll just need 4 cartons. If you have your DI unit, even better.

Run your pumps with this water for a day first to test for leaks and circulation.

I know it will be expensive water down the drain if got leak.. But the hassle saved if everything ok, is worth it.

After a day, add salt. Let the circulation continue to dissolve the salt, prob another day.

Test salinity. Add salt as appropriately.

Do your rockscape and pour in sand.

Kickstart the ANN with a piece of market prawn.

At this juncture, I dose Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter7 according to the dosage recommended on the bottle.

Then wait. I kept peering at the piece of decomposing prawn meat daily.

Today is day 24 of cycling. I haven't done water change, nor added any livestocks yet.

Patience...

My 2 cents..

[John Deroe Kenedy]

LoL yes patience is the key.. hehe

what test kit r u using? i'm so confuse with API testkits, To many test kits to buy. if im not wrong for FOWLR i just need PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates.

Nah. i dont have RO/DI. cant afford lol.. But someone told me to run DI resin and AC into an internal filter n run it. I hope seachem prime and Red Sea Salt Mix do the work since it has Ca. MG, AK/KH.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

I think i kick start with NSW, DI Top Up, regular 10% water change weekly with Red Sea SALT MIX. I find it a faster cycle. Im already using premium LR, CaribSea Live Sand.. With NSW, i think the bacteria are a whole load.

Any source for NSW with good parameters? I'm staying at west side.

BTW, Sponge, Bio Balls or CR or Bio Home, AC in cannister is it good enough?

[kaykay]

Bro, you can try this DIY method to get DI water fast and cheap.

Stuff AC and resin in a bottle, run a small pump for a few hours. Ta dah!!

Use fine filter bags for the media. I bought them at AM. If filter bags not fine enough, the media will leak.

Use some filter floss at both ends for double protection.

Invert the cut end of the water bottle to cap it.

I used a heated fork to make many holes at this cap for outflow.

So if using this method, you can just add tap water in for leak test. Then run this method before adding salt. Saves you the errand to lug 70kgs of NSW home.

Hth.

[xaine]

The canister filer you are using is a little undersized.

I started off using a 1200l/hr canister filter for my 1st setup and that's about the same size as your current tank. That would create more turnover and flow within a 2ft tank. I used ceramic rings and coralchips, it did served me well then. You could use biohome if you want.

With that said, it would be wise to perform maintenance to the canister regularly to prevent builtup of detritus within.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Bro, you can try this DIY method to get DI water fast and cheap.

Stuff AC and resin in a bottle, run a small pump for a few hours. Ta dah!!

Use fine filter bags for the media. I bought them at AM. If filter bags not fine enough, the media will leak.

Use some filter floss at both ends for double protection.

Invert the cut end of the water bottle to cap it.

I used a heated fork to make many holes at this cap for outflow.

So if using this method, you can just add tap water in for leak test. Then run this method before adding salt. Saves you the errand to lug 70kgs of NSW home.

Hth.

Hey thanks bro.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

The canister filer you are using is a little undersized.

I started off using a 1200l/hr canister filter for my 1st setup and that's about the same size as your current tank. That would create more turnover and flow within a 2ft tank. I used ceramic rings and coralchips, it did served me well then. You could use biohome if you want.

With that said, it would be wise to perform maintenance to the canister regularly to prevent builtup of detritus within.

Yah i find it undersize too? Maybe adding HoB does the job. Trying to fibd my eheim that i used long ago. Think been thrown out.

[xaine]

depending on your bioload, and if you intend to change water regularly. With sufficient live rocks and other bio media, it might work out for you. Just got to monitor the parameters.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Yes thanks bro, btw QH having 30% off its Red Sea Products. Bought Red Sea Marine Lab Test Kit(PH, Alk, Nh3/Nh4, No2, No3)@ $54. original price $73.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Qh sells nsw, 10l $5 w/o container.. Y do i find it expensive? I thought iwarna selling at 10L $1.50.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Yes thanks bro, btw QH having 30% off its Red Sea Products. Bought Red Sea Marine Lab Test Kit(PH, Alk, Nh3/Nh4, No2, No3)@ $54. original price $73.

Inside the set has a buffer. What does that do?

[xaine]

The buffer is to adjust the alkalinity level, but that's hardly used. Buffer solutions are just a quick fix.

I guess Iwarna would be far for you, but since you have already started to cycle in your tank stick with the salt mix you have to perform the water change.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Oh.. I have not start yet. Need to find NSW this weekend.. Duno where to get good parameters NSW. QH expensive 10L $5

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Any one have contacts for 100L NSW delivery?

[kaykay]

I think there will still be a minimum charge for 100L (should be ard $50 - do check around). At this minimum charge, the LFS would not mind delivering even up to 200-300L.

I once paid for a 1,000L delivery at only $120, if I don't remember wrongly.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

need contacts... maybe sumwhere where i can borrow their Jerry cans.. i want to buy 100L, theres no use if i buy a whole lot of jerry cans = useless.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

NVM, i found contacts LFS listing lol.. didnt know it Exist..