Help with Live Rock and Live Sand

[tmcpeek]

Hello, I have a 180 gallon tank. I plan on making it a FOWLR. If I want to go reef I will probably get another tank down the road. I have a few ?'s

1. How deep should my DSB be.

2. If I do the 1.5 lbs of rock per gallon (270lbs) should I remove the bioballs in the sump.

3. Should I get a cleaning crew or will the fish suffice? ( The only must have fish so far is a dog face puffer )

Thanks,

Toby

[reefrunner69]

1. How deep should my DSB be.

I think the general consensus is 4-6"

2. If I do the 1.5 lbs of rock per gallon (270lbs) should I remove the bioballs in the sump.

IMO, yes. If you do not overstock the aquarium the LR and LS will handle all the nitrification and denitrification for you

3. Should I get a cleaning crew or will the fish suffice? ( The only must have fish so far is a dog face puffer )

Depending on fish selection, a clean up crew may not be possible. A dogface puffer is not conducive to the health and well being of most clean up crew members.

[tmcpeek]

Thanks Kevin. I will do some reading on the compatiblility of the fish/cleanup crew.

[sokhamik]

cleanup crews are usually inverts right? a puffer enjoys eating inverts..

[fishfreek]

One thing depending on how dense your rock is you might have a problem getting 270lbs of rock in the tank. for example a fiji rock that weights 10lbs is ALOT bigger than most FL aquacultured rocks that weight the same amount.

I would say at an absolute minimum 1lb per gal and a more optimal 1.5lbs per gal