Getting a bigger tank!!
- Thread starter Turtle77
- Start date
waynesworld
Premium Member
ya if you can come over this weekend we should be around just give me a call.
Turtle77
New member
Ok so all the family visits are over and the summer vacations so today I am trying to get my tank put together. Getting a little fustrated because I am not sure this is all going right or that I am putting things in the right place but I will try to post some pics later today. If anyone likes to aquascape let me know 
Turtle77
New member
I think I have the tank put together correctly (lets all keep the fingers crossed for the sake of the carpet) and now I am getting ready to put some rock in the tank.
First question is, should I put the sand in first or should I put the rock in the bottom first then add the sand around it?
Also whats the best way to the the water flow started, should I fille the tank and then turn everything on and let the sump fill up or should I fill the tank and the sump and go from there?
First question is, should I put the sand in first or should I put the rock in the bottom first then add the sand around it?
Also whats the best way to the the water flow started, should I fille the tank and then turn everything on and let the sump fill up or should I fill the tank and the sump and go from there?
waynesworld
Premium Member
If you are not busy this Sunday you can come over and look at our stuff to show you some ways to do things and you can get some of that branch rock to hold it up.
DMBillies
Active member
I'd take wayne up on that offer. Seems to be a really good idea to get as much of the rock up off of the sand bed as possible and the tonga is probably the easiest, most attractive way of doing it.
I've always put a layer of rock in, then the sand, and then started adding rock as I added water (you know, add a layer, add a few inches of water). Keeps you from getting soaked and keeps the rocks from drying.
I think you'll be really surprised how hazy the sand will make the tank if you aren't careful not to disturb it, so do your best to prevent that. There are a few ways to accomplish this, but I always use a bowl or something to pour the water in so the water doesn't stir up the sand bed as I add it.
I've always put a layer of rock in, then the sand, and then started adding rock as I added water (you know, add a layer, add a few inches of water). Keeps you from getting soaked and keeps the rocks from drying.
I think you'll be really surprised how hazy the sand will make the tank if you aren't careful not to disturb it, so do your best to prevent that. There are a few ways to accomplish this, but I always use a bowl or something to pour the water in so the water doesn't stir up the sand bed as I add it.
Turtle77
New member
Ok it's been a very long time since I have posted anything here for this tank, and some of you may have noticed that I had decided to get rid of it at one time but I changed my mind again. Tank is now up with rock and water. I am hoping that I have everything in the sump setup correctly. The potein skimmer intake hose is VERY loud and the instructions says it comes with an intake silencer but it was no where in the stuff I got from the previous owner. I have sand in the middle section of the sump but wanted to go with no sand in the tank. I ran tests on the water last night.
The Salinity is too high at 39 and Gravity at 1.029
pH = 8.3
Nitrate = 50
Nitrite = 1.6
Ammonia = 0.25
I have added a scoop of sand from my 12 Gallon nano that is well established.
Still waiting to get the lights up and trying to figure out how I want to run them.
Is there anything else I need to do right now? Do I need a light on the sump? So I need anything else in the sump?
Thanks
The Salinity is too high at 39 and Gravity at 1.029
pH = 8.3
Nitrate = 50
Nitrite = 1.6
Ammonia = 0.25
I have added a scoop of sand from my 12 Gallon nano that is well established.
Still waiting to get the lights up and trying to figure out how I want to run them.
Is there anything else I need to do right now? Do I need a light on the sump? So I need anything else in the sump?
Thanks
sandalscout
New member
What all is in your sump currently? Most people run a bed of sand, some rock rubble, and usually some macroalgae (like Cheatomorpha) to trap nitrates. Any algae will need a light, but a cheap twist bulb in the 6500k range will suffice just fine.
Ride out the cycle, once everything get's to zero, you should be golden. Be ready for a diatom bloom once you get your lights on.
For the silencer, you can take a film can, and then either punch two holes in the lid, run your intake hose into one and then fill it with some cotton batting, or you can punch a hole in the bottom and one in the top, run your intake into one side, and then a short length of tubing into the other side. Make sure the 2 sides are past each other so that the air has to go into the first tube, and then go backwards to get into the other tube (does that make sense?). Just make sure it's above your skimmer and it shouldn't flood.
Ride out the cycle, once everything get's to zero, you should be golden. Be ready for a diatom bloom once you get your lights on.
For the silencer, you can take a film can, and then either punch two holes in the lid, run your intake hose into one and then fill it with some cotton batting, or you can punch a hole in the bottom and one in the top, run your intake into one side, and then a short length of tubing into the other side. Make sure the 2 sides are past each other so that the air has to go into the first tube, and then go backwards to get into the other tube (does that make sense?). Just make sure it's above your skimmer and it shouldn't flood.
sandalscout
New member
If it's rock that you don't care too much about, you can try busting it up some to increase the surface area, that'll allow more contact surface for filtering bacteria to build up on.
Turtle77
New member
Tank has been cycling for a couple weeks now. Hopefully I have everything hooked up correctly. Everything seems ok but I still do not have the lights mounted or hung for the tank yet. Its a retro kit so I am not sure if I should just hang it (cause its this ugly mass of wires and did I say ugly yet) or if I should try and have some kind of hood made for it. Is not having the lights on the tank slowing down my cycling process because my chemical water tests are not progressing. I have a light on the sump and there are now the brown diatoms showing up pretty well on the refugium. I have sand and small peices of my rock in there and I used a scoop of sand from my 12 gallon added to. I have one power head in there now. Any suggestions as to what I need to do next or that I am missing?
I spent so much time with the frogs lately I feel I have neglected my other animals LOL
I spent so much time with the frogs lately I feel I have neglected my other animals
LOL
supertech99
New member
I think more ammonia in the tank would help multiply your bacteria faster. I have heard good things about the rotting shrimp method. I have been told that rock cycling takes a while.
Turtle77
New member
Ok I am back from vacation and ready to get this tank started with some life. I decided to hang a shelf above the tank and hang the retro kit with lights from it. How far from the water should I hang the lights?
Also now that I am getting the lights hung I decided I wanted to go ahead and put sand in the tank. That will put me behind a few days on transfering some stuff. My question is what kind of cleanup crew should I get for a 58 gallon? Opinions and suggestions welcome.
Also now that I am getting the lights hung I decided I wanted to go ahead and put sand in the tank. That will put me behind a few days on transfering some stuff. My question is what kind of cleanup crew should I get for a 58 gallon? Opinions and suggestions welcome.
