Any Thoughts

[pprmntshrmps]

My plan is to set up my 30g with just LR and LS in it. Add a few crabs and shrimp and a snail or two just to have movement, and leave that set up until we move (we have no clue when this will be, whenever our house sells) so I don't risk the lives of lots of critters. No fish, no corals. Very minimal life in the tank.

I am thinking that I will not fill the sump and just use a powerhead for flow. Of course then I need my heater in the tank not the sump. Thoughts?

What does everyone think? How long can I keep this going? I think this will let me learn how to maintain levels. What will I still have to test for? What tests won't I need.

WHAT HAVE I NOT THOUGHT OF???

 

[ade]

I am wondering why you would do that.
If you are going to cure your rock, all you need is a brute can or tub filled with salt water heater and a power head. Test for your general cycle tests. Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate. No light is needed. When ever I have cured rock I used to place a skimmer in there also.
IMO I would try to get your basic test kit. PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and a good hydrometer.
I would think that it would be hard not to place any fish or corals in a tank that is set up. IMO if you are set on going that far but not place fish or corals in there I wouldn't place a sand bed in there I would go with bare bottom so that it makes it easier to clean up the invert poop on water changes.

 

[pprmntshrmps]

Well, we want to do it because we need a happy thought, and we want to have something to actually look at. We have had the tank, lights, stand, etc since may and we want to actually move forward with it. It may be 6 months before we sell our house or longer, So we decided to finally do something. Who knows maybe in 2 or 3 months we may add some fish or corals or go all out, but thats not in the plans now.

Isn't the mantra of this hobby, go slow, well, thats kinda what we are doing isn't it?

Define "good hydrometer" for me please. I know they can be very inacurate. What is a good one to get?

 

[ade]

What size tank are you talking about? Yes going slow is best. If it were me I think that I would set it up all the way, with sump skimmer and so on, regurdless if you are going to place fish or corals in there. IMO you shouldn't put corals in there for a few months anyway. Let you tank cycle, then add a few inverts. I bought a lab grade Refractometer years ago and it cost me mucho, I think you can pick them up fairly inexpencive now.

 

[vetdog]

hydrometers work well but a refractometer will be more accurate. here is a nice one: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...n=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-HD&Category_Code=
If you choose to go with a hydrometer (which is def more affordable) I have found the Instant Ocean hydrometer works pretty well: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4952

 

[pprmntshrmps]

30G with a 10G sump. Mostly, my wife has agreed to let me do the LR and a few critters, we'll see what she agrees to in 3 months.

 

[ade]

It is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permition. lol

 

[pprmntshrmps]

I almost did that several months ago while she was out of town, but I put down a new kitchen floor instead.

 

[pprmntshrmps]

Well last night we went and bought sand and some other supplies we needed, and my wife started asking, "well..how long would it be until we can add an anemone or some corals?"

So she is already thinking along the lines of going all out.

Freshwater test is done, I have 50lbs of sand. I'll need some live sand to seed it. If anyone would like to donate a cup or so I would appreciate it.

I am going get water on Saturday.

 

[J. Montgomery]

I prefer a shallow sand bed, 1/2" - 1" in depth. Easier to maintain and keep clean. For a true deep sand bed, you need 4-6" of sand and thats unsightly in a small tank.

You should probably go ahead and break the news to her that you're a long way from adding an anemone. She might like Xenia as a suitable alternative, it sways in the current and will "pulse" its polyps.

 

[ade]

Rock slide.

Rock slide.

You should wait until you place your rock in your tank before adding any subrate.

 

[pprmntshrmps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13515387#post13515387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J. Montgomery


You should probably go ahead and break the news to her that you're a long way from adding an anemone. She might like Xenia as a suitable alternative, it sways in the current and will "pulse" its polyps.

We understand it takes a long time. She is the one that has been keeping me from setting up the tank until now, and that was an agreement of limited livestock. Ade had said forgiveness before permission, so I was reporting this new development as she is comeing along now.

 

[pprmntshrmps]

Re: Rock slide.

Re: Rock slide.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13517606#post13517606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ade
You should wait until you place your rock in your tank before adding any subrate.

I'm going to place some base rock before the substrait and then build my liverock on top of that.

 

[ade]

Good deal. If you want to bring your bride bride to take a look at my tanks you are more than welcome to do so. May help you speed things up with the wife after she see's a tank with fish and stuff. I have a 180 reef and a 33 mixed reef.

 

[pprmntshrmps]

We might do that one of these days. Hard part is she works nights on weekends so she sleeps most of her off time away.

We may be hitting up the meet on the 18th.

 

[NbMaxx13]

Yeah , I have always found that showing the spouse an example of a good looking reef with awesome fish is the best way of expediting the process.....

 

[J. Montgomery]

Here's a shot of my tank taken earlier this week:

 

[mike68]

you can come by our place sometime if you like. i can give you some sand if you need some. also some good starter corals when your ready. we live right in roanoke.