Got my 24 aquapod!!!

[danmartis]

can somebody guide me step by step in what to do next...i mean like everything cause i like to do it right from the beginning.i didnt get any live rocks and didnt get the water in yet.thank you in advance!

 

[sophia101]

Well, your gonna wanna buy some salt to mix with your R/o OR Distilled Water (dont use tap or spring-too much nutrients)...i use Instant Ocean(IO) which i like. It is also cheap and you can get it just about anywhere. Then buy 24 or so gallons of water from Walmart or wherever. Mix up the saltwater in a seperate bucket, with a powerhead and heater and let it sit untill you have the sand and the amount you want on the bottom of the tank. Once you have that, stick an empty bowl on top of the sand and pour the sea water into the tank. The bowl just makes it so the sand stays in place. Then once youve got that put about...24 or more lbs of live rock into the tank (try to get cured LR-if not than cure your rock either when cycling or in a seperate bucket)...and have fun aquascaping. Once all of this is done...get a 50-100 watt heater and put it in the 3rd chamber of the filter. If there are bioballs inthere take those out and put live rock rubble instead. Then, your on your way through the cycling process-the most boring time of your nano tank, but be patient! That is the key. Good Luck to you Keep us updated on the progess...

~Sophia g~

 

[Tnreefguy]

I would buy some books and magazines first. Reserch is the critical first step when starting this hobby. If you dont then even a nano is going to be costly in the long run. Reefcentral is a great site but check out nano-reef.com to.

 

[grink dude]

what sophia has said above is suffucient info for him to start up, and then he can ask us questions when he needs answers

 

[danmartis]

do i have to get a cleaning crew?

 

[slam308]

Hi All,
I'm in the same boat as Danmartis. Haven't even gotten the boxes yet. The stand came in today.
Sending hubby on a shopping trip to Home Depot. So far he's getting...
35 gallon plastic trash can
5 gallon "pickle" buckets (thinking 3, old salt water, new salt water, and new fresh water)
smaller (2 gal?) bucket to scoop water in and out for water changes
Am I missing anything?

 

[slam308]

Oh, almost forgot, what's the powerhead for in the new saltwater mix? The heater I understand.
We're hoping to set this up with my stepsons on the Saturday before XMas. I'm planning on mixing the saltwater Tues or Wed night so it's ready to go. Also, they won't be here then so I don't have to worry about sticky candy cane fingers in the mix!

 

[Illuminati]

The powerhead mixes the salt with the water, if you just dump the saltwater in without having a powerhead going the salt just falls to the bottom of the bucket.

I would be careful not to make a lot of ro water in the new trashcan and storing it long term. There is some debate about that leaching phosphates from the trashcan into the water. Maybe someone else can chime in on this.
Just an FYI.

 

[slam308]

Um...can't you just mix it together? You know, stir it all up? I've heard that warm or hot water is better than cold water. Helps the salt dissolve. True?

So, if I wanted to add water on Satuday, when should I mix it?

 

[Illuminati]

You would never get the salt to dissolve in the water without a powerhead in there. I let my saltwater sit at least 24 hours with a powerhead before waterchanges.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630540#post8630540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slam308
Oh, almost forgot, what's the powerhead for in the new saltwater mix? The heater I understand.
We're hoping to set this up with my stepsons on the Saturday before XMas. I'm planning on mixing the saltwater Tues or Wed night so it's ready to go. Also, they won't be here then so I don't have to worry about sticky candy cane fingers in the mix!

a power head is a water pump you will need to keep this running in the water from the time you mix it until you pour it in the tank otherwise your water will be stagnent like the water in a tireswing you can put the live rock in with the new water until you add it to the tank but you will really not be able to add fish until well after new years make sure you buy a book or something to help you figure it out there will be allot of advice some of it will be good some of it bad you need to be carefull and have fun

 

[slam308]

Books I have! I've been reading like a mad man. I figure if I see things 47 times it'll finally start to sink in.
Any recommendations on a basic powerhead to use for mixing the salt water? Preferable something that will work with the 24 gallons and also with a 5 gallon bucket for the regular water changes.
Do I just drop it in the bucket and plug it in?
Does the powerhead work on it's own or do I have to get a pump with it?

 

[Illuminati]

Just about any powerhead will do. I took out the stock powerhead and replaced it with a MaxiJet1200 and use the stock powerhead for my waterchanges but anything will do. It's also nice to have a backup in case your main one dies on you.

A MaxiJet 600 or something comporable would work.

It will come with a suction cup bracket, I just attatch it using the bracket to the side of the bucket, otherwise it will fall to the bottom and if the intake is against the bucket it won't cycle water through it (hope that made sense).

Powerheads work on their own.

 

[slam308]

Thanks Colinadam,
I'll order a powerhead tomorrow.
I love learning new stuff!