HELP!! I'm new and don't know where to start!!!

Lizy

Lizy

New member
Hi All, I'm new to reef central and to the saltwater tank life! Well kinda new. We had a saltwater tank but had nothing more than rock and damsels and the setup was never really right. I just bought a used 65 gallon tank with wet/dry filter. Here are pictures of what I got. There is no light so I know I have to buy one. I would appreciate any information or direction on how to properly set this baby up. What I should or should not buy/add etc. I have a lot of rock from our prior tanks obviously they have been sitting around and I dont know if they will work in this tank or how to make them "live". I eventually would like to have rock, fish, corals. My son wants a clown fish and anemone. I'm just clueless and yet anxious to get this baby running!!
 

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http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

I would start with reading the sticky in the link. It is at the top of forum page look for the big red arrow.


I would ditch the wet/dry filter. You will also need to get some powerheads for water movement in the tank, heater, skimmer, test kits ( ammonia, nitrite, nitrate to begin with), Aragonite sand unless you want to go bare bottom. I would also suggest looking into a sump, if you get a sump then a return pump will be needed. I would also suggest a RO/DI unit. Also, a auto top off unit to make life easier.

More than likely you can reuse your rock, look into curing rock. A general rule of thumb is 1-2lbs of rock per gallon. This will vary depending on the rock.

This should get you started with more questions. Good luck just my 2 cents.
 
Take your time and go step by step. Be patient. Ask questions. Lots of them.

The first thing I would do is start reading up on how to cure your rock. Get that started.

Next, I'd look for a sump, one that will fit in the stand, under your tank. You won't regret taking the time to set one up as you get started. After you have the sump, ask here for what to get next.

Read the stickies, as mentioned above. Read and re-read. It's overwhelming to try to understand it all as you are getting started. But it starts to make sense as you get things going.
I spend a lot of time reading the posts here on reefcentral. I learn from other people's questions and the responses.
I also find that being on a local reef forum is invaluable. I have become good friends with other reefers here and we help each other out all the time - mentoring, sharing equipment when needed and hands on help.

Welcome and good luck.
 
Take your time. Don't rush anything in this process.

+1 to all the advice above.

Since you know that you want a clown and anemone, look into what that entails and what type of clown/nem combo you want. Some nems require really established tanks and can be difficult to care for. There are also a few corals that will host clowns. Build your stocking list around your must-haves.
 
Thank you all for the welcome. I am going to start reading away and absorbing!

Im sure I will have lots of questions, and its comforting to knwo they will be welcomed!

:lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:
 
Ok so I have either been doing to much reading or seriously need reef tank set up for Dummies :hammer::sad2::hammer::sad2:
I am just overwhelmed with the information and am going coocoo for Cocoa Puffs wondering how much money it will cost me just to even get the water right before the LS and LR!
I think that I can use the wet/dry that came with my used tank "that I have to clean first" and dont remember where I read that info at LOL as a sump (because they are the same) just not use the bio-balls!! :lolspin: :spin2:
Ok so back to more reading and hopefully clarifying the overwhelmed brain
 
The tank is the cheapest thing LOL. Most of the equipment runs the gambit from very cheap to very expensive. It is hard to tell how big the wet/dry is. So let me ask, do you want to keep most of the equipment out of the tank? If so look at the wet/dry and see if you can keep a skimmer, return pump and heaters in there. I would suspect it all will not fit. A sump is fairly straight forward to make, save some $$$.
 
Well - the tank is cracked so I guess that is what happens when you cut corners and dont buy new to save a buck. It ends up being more expensive - I guess im off to finding a tank!
 
I was bummed to see your other thread about the crack. I believe it was mentioned in the other thread but Florida has some pretty active local clubs. You may have some good luck with another tank and some equipment from a local club.
 
One thing at a time. You don't need a ton of equipment right off the bat. I didn't get a light until I'd had the tank running six weeks. I didn't get a skimmer until about a month ago (and some would argue that a skimmer is not really necessary).

You don't need live sand- your sand will become live as your tank matures. Get an aragonite sand and you will be fine. You also don't need a ton of live rock. You can use dry rock for about 80% of your scape and then use 20% live to seed with microorganisms.
 
gone fishin said:
I was bummed to see your other thread about the crack. I believe it was mentioned in the other thread but Florida has some pretty active local clubs. You may have some good luck with another tank and some equipment from a local club.
Click to expand...

Yes there was a link for clubs. I will be looking into them. I guess thngs happen for a reason so it is what it is.:dance:
 
MuShu said:
One thing at a time. You don't need a ton of equipment right off the bat. I didn't get a light until I'd had the tank running six weeks. I didn't get a skimmer until about a month ago (and some would argue that a skimmer is not really necessary).

You don't need live sand- your sand will become live as your tank matures. Get an aragonite sand and you will be fine. You also don't need a ton of live rock. You can use dry rock for about 80% of your scape and then use 20% live to seed with microorganisms.
Click to expand...

I did read that with the overflow you may not need a skimmer, I would think then it would be a very basic sump. I have a ton of dry rock from our prior tank - it had nothing but sand and rock LOL but the tank was too big for the area and we had to take it down; we got a 55 gallon freshwater and we recently tented so we decided to go back to salt water and this time do it right and research, something we never did before. This is why I got the 65 reef tank - which now obviously is no good because of the crack. I think that once I find the tank I am going to go with I will go to home depot and buy sand (read on one of the newbie threads you can) use my dry rock (need to cure it) and buy some live rock to get it started. Hopefully by the time I get the tank I will have done enough research and can also have the DIY sump!

Hope I am onthe right track if not please tell me what to change.........
 
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