First time reefer

G

Goldmund

New member
I've kept freshwater tanks for a long time now, and in recent years they have started multiplying like crazy (up to 7 running tanks). Lately I've been itching to expand into saltwater, and now I find myself with an empty 40g breeder. I've got so many fish only tanks on the FW side that FOWLR doesn't really appeal to me, so I think I'm going to dive in and start off with a reef tank.

I understand that saltwater setups, reef in particular, can be a black hole of gear and money. I'm hoping to ease into things, and to start off will only be keeping soft corals and LPS with minimal lighting requirements, and 2-3 fish. I've got an old t5 ho 2 bulb fixture I think will work well enough for lighting. I will be drilling the tank in the next week or two, and am planning a 20g long sump/refugium. I won't be running a skimmer right off the bat, and am using that money towards an RO/DI unit instead.

I'm definitely still in the planning stages, so any advice or suggestions are welcome. Ideally I'd like to get everything setup and started cycling by mid-Decemberish.
 
2 bulb T5 fixture will get you softies at most. i wouldnt try LPS until you upgrade your lighting system. a 40B is kinda wide for smaller tanks, so i feel that your light fixture is undersized for what you want to do. again. itll grow softied if they are under the bulbs but i wouldnt chance LPS until you upgrade the lights....

now with running softies a good idea is always run carbon when your running a softies tank. so either way of reactor (best scenario, will eventually get it anyway) or a bag of carbon in the sump section (not ideal, but better then not running it at all)..

as far as flow goes. i would suggest looking into the jebao RW4 pumps. 2 pumps would be ideal. but can def start with one while the tank matures...

i wouldnt try to run a conventional fuge in your sump honestly. it would kinda be to small to really get the benefits of a fuge, i would just add a section to the sump and run on chaeto in that section...
 
Welcome to the salty side! Sounds like your off to a good start. I would definitely continue your research but it sounds like you already know that.
 
First time reefer

Goldmund said:
I've kept freshwater tanks for a long time now, and in recent years they have started multiplying like crazy (up to 7 running tanks). Lately I've been itching to expand into saltwater, and now I find myself with an empty 40g breeder. I've got so many fish only tanks on the FW side that FOWLR doesn't really appeal to me, so I think I'm going to dive in and start off with a reef tank.



I understand that saltwater setups, reef in particular, can be a black hole of gear and money. I'm hoping to ease into things, and to start off will only be keeping soft corals and LPS with minimal lighting requirements, and 2-3 fish. I've got an old t5 ho 2 bulb fixture I think will work well enough for lighting. I will be drilling the tank in the next week or two, and am planning a 20g long sump/refugium. I won't be running a skimmer right off the bat, and am using that money towards an RO/DI unit instead.



I'm definitely still in the planning stages, so any advice or suggestions are welcome. Ideally I'd like to get everything setup and started cycling by mid-Decemberish.
Click to expand...

Just pickup some ati bulbs. I would do either 1 blue plus bulb and one purple plus bulb, or one blue plus bulb and one coral plus bulb. This should be fine for softies, lps, and some lowlight sps. You can find these on Amazon easily or if you can find em locally that would be fine too. What size bulbs does this fixture take?
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! There is a ton of stuff to learn, so I appreciate all the help.

This Hamilton Aruba Sun 2 is the light fixture that I already have (purchased it years ago). Looks like it uses 48" 54-watt bulbs, and I've never replaced the ones it came with, so that is definitely a top priority.

Looking at my 20L, it does seem that a refugium chamber would be pushing things space-wise. I definitely plan to run at least a skimmer eventually, but until then should I be doing anything else filtration wise? Filter sock?
 
If you aren't planning on getting a skimmer right away, just make sure your water change schedule is frequent and regular as this will be the only way to export nutrients.

I would suggest weekly 20-30% changes. Can drop this back after you get a skimmer
 
One month update!

Tank is progressing along nicely! Finished up the plumbing and rock work this past weekend, and got her filled up tonight. There was a last minute overflow box change after the tank failed one of my emergency scenarios, but luckily I didn't have to touch any of the rock to make that happen. Everything is running great now, and tomorrow I will be adding HW salt mix and starting the cycle.


IMAG0346.jpg by meramsey, on Flickr


IMG_1010.jpg by meramsey, on Flickr


IMG_1015.jpg by meramsey, on Flickr


IMG_1016.jpg by meramsey, on Flickr
 
Also I blew my original budget, but it's all stuff I would have gotten sooner or later anyway. Picked up a SpectraPure RODI unit, Tunze ATO, and a Reef Octopus 110int skimmer. Skimmer isn't in yet, so I'll get pics of the sump once it's all setup.
 
This is probably a dumb question. I have a sponge filter I'm going to use for my quarantine tank, can I just toss the sponge in the sump without an air pump while I'm not using it in the QT?
 
Very nice. I like the flow of the aquascaping, it will give you a great look when the tank grows out. I love the look of the plumbing also, very nice work.
 
For the sponge I'd say that's fine untill you use it in QT. I don't know if any treatments performed in QT either with copper or other medicines would stick to the sponge and could transfer bad stuff back to the display setup. I'd say put the spong in the sump to let it start getting some bacteria growth, then one time use for QT, and get a new spong to keep in the sump untill you need to QT again. Not sure how bad it could be, but just a goo safety precaution.

I love the rockwork by the way, looking good so far!
 
Thanks all, I'll pick up a few more sponges to keep on hand. Tank has only been cycling for a few days now, so I've got plenty of time to worry about it. =)
 
Great start! Would you mind elaborating a bit on the plumbing in the first picture? How is this being overflowed, just a hole with a grate on it?
 
Tiki God said:
Great start! Would you mind elaborating a bit on the plumbing in the first picture? How is this being overflowed, just a hole with a grate on it?
Click to expand...

I was in the middle of redoing things in the pictures, so it doesn't quite show how it is now. Basically, it's a Herbie design, but only the main siphon is in the overflow box with a downturned 90° pvc elbow, and the emergency is sitting out in the main tank (where the hole is now) with an upturned 90° elbow and grate on the top. Water is cloudy since I just got done moving some sand around, but I'll try and grab a photo.
 
iO8MIPXl.jpg


WqjMWG7l.jpg


I am going to paint the white elbow with some black Krylon Fusion for plastics spray paint, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
 
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