Okay, my lfs is a marine specialist and they sell 25litres of RODI pre mixed salt water for £5 which is enough for one water change. So il be spending £20 a month on water which I'm happy with, no fuss which is great. I'm looking at an internal skimmer as I can't fit one on the back and I can't fit a sump under my tank. My lfs said it isn't needed but id like to hear your opinion on that. My bio load won't be massive. A pair of clowns, a firefish, a watchman goby, sad shifting starfish and some crabs/shimp/snailsI'd always go RODI, no reason not to. Once you go RODI you may not even need Phosguard which takes out a lot of cost since you'd be replacing it often if used by itself and have decently high Phosphates. Would be more cost effective this way IMO. If after you go RODI you still need the Phosguard then you should add it in IMO.
Yes the Live rock and sand will act as your bio filter once tank is stable.
Whats the difference between the two stars which means one won't starve? And iv seen an internal protien skimmer that is for 40 gallon and mine 35gallon. I'm going to be buying pre mixed rodI saltwater from the lfs. He told me he dosnt use a protein skimmer on his personal tank at home and says he thinks I shouldnt need one on my tank size but il probably get one tbhYour LFS said the protein skimmer isn't needed? IMHO, if you are going to keep any fish a protein skimmer is essential. Dissolved organics (what skimmers help remove) build up over time leading to algae problems as well as seemingly inexplicable fish deaths.
Skip the sand sifting star... it will starve to death in a tank that size. If you are not planning on keeping corals, you could try a chocolate chip starfish. I am dying to have FOWLER so that I can get one again!
Ah okay well thanks for that, could for a chocolate chip star then, I'm going to buy that internal skimmer. I can't get a HOB skimmer as the gap at the back isn't big enough and I can't fit a sump under my tank. Basicly il fully clean my tank and filter il put a powerhead at one side and put a duck bill from my canistet filter in the other corner to create a good disturbance on the water unless you think I should just skip that idea and go for two powerheads. Then fill my canister with foam,bio media, phosguard and carbon. Add live rock and sand, fill with salt water and let it cycle. Oh and add the skimmer too.Chocolate chip stars are carnivorous. I fed mine pieces of sea food (held the seafood next to the starfish's leg and he would run right over the food and start digesting it) where sand sifting stars sift for microbes and detritus in the sand bed which are depleted very quickly in small tanks.
I tried a stand sifting star in our 150 gallon and that was still not big enough!
You can get away without skimmers, but the trade off is doing frequent, large water changes.
