First Time Nano! advice please:)

[dan14]

Hey everyone, I have been searching around on the Reef Central forums for about 8 months now, and i think im finnnnnnnaly ready to start a tank. Im only 15 so i have been saving my my money for a while. Here is what im thinking:

29 gallon AGA tank
200watt visi-therm heater (im in Canada, its cold! )
2 maxijet 900 powerheads for some movement
Instant Ocean Hydrometer
30inch SUNPOD 150watt hqi
30lbs live sand
45lbs fiji live rock
coralife digital thermometer
Coralife Super Skimmer 65

i think thats about it

As far as stocking goes im thinking a clown or two, some sort of goby, and some sort of nice centrepiece fish. I want to keep lots of softies and LPS, possible a clam or an sps or two further down the road.

Advice would be greatly apprieciated
thanks a lot

Dan

 

[Lakeside518]

I would get a refractometer. The IO hydrometers are quit inaccurate. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9957&N=2004+113761

Invest in some good test kits. Salifert

Everything else sounds like a good start.

 

[EricBrian]

I agree with Lakeside on both counts and would also add a pH meter.

Good luck!

 

[puffer21]

Are you goint to be using RO/Di water

 

[dan14]

Thanks a lot guys, i think i will invest in a refractometer shortly when i get some money lol

As far as water goes, i was thinking of just using the big jugs of distilled water you get at the grocery store? Is it really worth using reverse osmosis, or will distilled do?

i would also like to clear up exactly what i do with cycling;
-fill my tank about 2/3 full with salt water, correct temp and saltinity
-add live sand
-arrange live rock as desired
-keep lights on for about 2 hours a day, increasing about 30 mins a day, until they reach my desired amount of time(im thinking around 9 hours a day)
-after params are set, add in a clean up crew, wait a little while and start stocking!

does this sound about right?
thanks

Dan

 

[impur]

You will need a camera so we can see pics of your tank!!!

Everything sounds good to me. Just take your time. As for using the grocery store water, check to be sure it goes thru reverse osmosis for filtering, and find out how often they change the filters. If its pretty regularly you should be set!

 

[EricBrian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7202997#post7202997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan14
As far as water goes, i was thinking of just using the big jugs of distilled water you get at the grocery store? Is it really worth using reverse osmosis, or will distilled do?

I don't have my RO device hooked up yet and so, I use distilled water from the super market. It works great.

 

[dime079]

I have a 10 gal w/ the ac110 fuge mod just about ready to go (as soon as i the rest of the hardware) Can someone tell me when its ok to put the alge into the filter? should I just run the carbon until the tank is cycled or can it be in there from the begining, i've heard conflicting things about this?

 

[dan14]

I do have an alright digital camera, im really excited so im SURE i will take some pictures lol... i wont be able to set it up till this weekend though. my lfs is an hour away, so i have to wait for my parents to be off work to pick up my lights and rock.

thanks for the advice

Dan

 

[dan14]

BACKGROUND

black or blue
i have one of each, and am wondering what would look better with my soon-to-be reef

 

[Newreeflady]

I have done both, it doesn't matter a whole lot. Black is a little nicer in the short term because if you have blue corals they'll stand out more. In the long run, you'll probably have coralline algae that will cover a good portion of the back wall so it won't matter too much. Just pick one, no worries.

Also, I agree on the pH monitor, and you'll definitely need at least Ammonia, Nitrate, Calcium & Alk test kits.

Have fun!
-A

 

[dan14]

Well thats it. TOnight im going to put a black background on my tank, and set it up with saltwater. On saturday or sunday i will go pick up my skimmer, live rock and sand, lights, and maxi-jets, and set it all up. I will also get a good set of test kits: Ph, nitrate, nitrite, amonia, Cal and alk. i cant wait ahahha

THanks everyone for all the help

Dan