newbie needs advice.

[oldsweat]

I'm in the process of setting up a marine tank after many years keeping tropicals.
I have read up on the subject and I have decided to start with a fish only setup with live rock. I'm reasonably confident my previous experience will help me in the cycling process, stocking, and the general care and welfare of my fish, where I get confused is the differing advice recieved from local aquatic centres on equiptment required.
I have been advised to not use a protein skimmer but instead use a uv sterilizer, is this correct?
I am going to use a juwel tank ( I now know not ideal but to late) and will add a fluval external filter. Should I still use the juwel filter as well?
Would you consider the lighting in the juwel 180 sufficient for a fish only tank.?
Any advise would be most appreciated.
Steve.

[oceandeep]

welcome to the world of marine.

to answer a few of your queries. a protein skimmer is a good insurance in case something big dies in yr tank. it oso helps maintain overall stability in water parameters of the tank. a UV sterilizer can be applied but bear in mind,it kills beneficial bacterias as well.

external canister does it's job but you will have to be diligent in cleaning it,otherwise it would be a nitrate factory.

for fish only tank,any sort of lighting will do as it's merely for your viewing pleasure.

[csloo]

Originally Posted by oldsweat

I have been advised to not use a protein skimmer but instead use a uv sterilizer, is this correct?

wow, even experience reefers also not dare using such method.

FYI, SKimmer is the factory to remove your unwanted materials from your tank. Since you remove it, those unwanted materials will stay on your current tank and the critical level of them will raise and generate some effects to your LS, such as bleaching color of a fish and SPS while LPS having critical illness on dead tissue.

[harif887]

I would buy the skimmer before the UV sterelizer...and YES i did put them in order of importance. Although i have heard of some tanks that run without skimmers i wouldnt reccommend it. Keep in mind if you decide to upgrade to a reef tank your going to have to take off the sterelizer since it would kill you corals. I suggest (in FOWLR and reef) to only use the sterelizer if you have an epidemic or during treatments for certain sicknesses.


Like ocean deep said. Welcome to the world of marine!! its the best damn world out there!

[damien]

UV is sometime not recommended in marine tank. coz they will kill the beneficial bacterial at the same time.
a protien skimmer is an insurance. and as a factory as csloo mention.