Hi - new denver reefer with a new 90 gal

Linina

Linina

Premium Member
Bought a new setup from AquamartOnline (premiere fish). I didn't see an intro thread so please forgive me if I'm posting inappropriately!

I tried my hand at the blogs so you can click on my red house to see the build progress. As of today I'm in a holding pattern waiting for the RO/DI unit to show up so we can get going on this!

SO Excited!

Anyway, Hello!


Betsy (Linina - it's my game name which my husband says was dorking to use, but hey, it's me!)
 
Welcome Betsy,

Betsy, Linina, dorking, dorky it's all good. You are into reef tanks so everything else is OK.

Glad to hear from you and hope you can attend the DARC/SCMAS upcoming frag swap/garage sale. You will meet many men and women that are into salt water? and find a wealth of info that will be available to you.

Hope to meet you and your husband soon. In the mean time, if you have any questions, just ask on this site. You won't believe the help that is available.
 
All I can tell you, is shop around... you will save 100s - 1000s, buy as much hardware / meds / salt / tests / all the good stuff online for like 1/2 the store price... don't pay that BS mark up.

Aquamart and Reen n' pond QT fish, so they are good to buy from...

Keys (kei?) island has the best frags for the least amount of $...
 
While you do pay a bit more for the items at a LFS you also get a wealth of knowledge just by walking in the door. So it is a bit of a trade off. I live very close to you at Jewell and E 470 if you need any help let me know.
 
Don't let anyone tell you right out of the gate and make you feel bad that you have made any mistakes. You haven't and you can always upgrade or change as you learn and when the time is right.
You will find there are MANY different opinions on Reef Central and no shortage of people willing to share them.

Actually, in retrospect, I am glad I started by buying most of my start-up stuff from an LFS. I created so many emergencies by doing stupid stuff that having someone who knew my set-up helped tremendously. Is it more expensive sometimes? Yep, but in the beginning I think it is worth it to have someone help through the start-up phase. (assuming they know what they are talking about).
Now that I know a lot more (mostly with the help of RC and the internet), I am saving here and there by buying and learning on-line and from other reefers but I still love going to the Fish Store! (and I still buy stuff from there!)
 
Here's another potentially stupid question:

After my tank eventually fills ....
100_3539.jpg



I have 100 lbs of live rock purchased at the LFS. cured or uncured he says, my pick (um...cured pls?)

Anyway, this will be my first saltwater cycle. I am just curious, everything I've seen recommends throwing shrimp in the tank. Shrimp is not something that I myself eat...I can certainly go buy one just to throw in here, but my question is - won't any kind of food work (can i throw a chunk of buffalo in there or something?!) or is there something special about shrimp that helps the cycle.
 
I would get cured LR. I personally would cycle a tam with a fish like a clown. Throwing a dead shrimp in or food is not a good idea in my opinion. With 100 lbs of cured LR the cycle should be pretty easy and quick.

Dave
 
Welcome Linina and family!

I live by Smoky Hill & Orchard, so if you need a hand setting up just PM me. We also have little reef helpers, David is almost eight and Rebecca is ten.
The tank will cycle with just the cured live rock, no need to add shrimp. Always be careful of which fish you put in. it's a real bummer to tear the tank apart, trying to catch the agressive damsel or other tank bully.

D.A.R.C. is having a frag swap/garage sale on April 26th. This would probably be a good place to pick up some equipment, and make some frag contacts.

Hope to see you at the swap!
 
Linina,

I live at Quincy and Buckley. Like Tony I will help am any time too. And you are more that welcome to come over to get a complete tour of my setup. I wish I had seen more tanks when I setup. I think I would have made a lot less mistakes.

The Garage Sale/Swap should be a great place to meet people and pick up some great equipment and frags. I am looking forward to it.

Dave
 
Cool, thanks guys!

So far I'm still collecting the RO water into the tank. I am running the heaters in it now to keep it up to temp. After I get most of the water in the tank and sump(probably tomorow morning at this rate) I was going to run the pump to test the flow and plumbing. If that checks out ok, I was going to add salt, then sand to the main tank and the sump center section. Then pick up the live rock and put that in too. And I was going to throw in a shrimp to start the cycle but it sounds like that's not necessary, so cool.

Does this sound like the right sequence? How would you do it?
 
Wait on the shimp (Live?). It definitely will not make a cycle. If dead absolutely not. It sounds like your plan is good otherwise.

Wait on adding other lights until you decide to do a clam or sps. You 4 lights will keep everything else just fine. Until then work on getting everything (i.e. Nitrates, CA, Alk, PO4, MG) sable. This is the hardest part of the game.

Dave
 
Welcome to the club, these are great people, with a wealth of knowledge, and 99% are willing and able to help.
I agree with the shop around theory, also doesn't hurt to hit the zoo and the Denver aquarium with a note pad to start the list of possible additions to the tank.
I hope to meet you and many of the others at the harage sale.
I am also bringing along two guys who are brand new to the hobby,
Feel free to ask for any assistance,
Chris
 
The rock itself should be enough to initiate a cycle. To make it more pronounced, you can use a small piece or two of uncured that will have increased die-off. No fish or food or ammonia is necessary, or even a good idea. Tank management is what will make or break your success. No clams or SPS until the tank is at a minimum 6 months old and well established and "proofed". 68RUSTANG has it right. Welcome!
 
I have a couple more questions - can anyone describe what to do with the phosban reactor? I have the reactor and the media but not exactly sure how to start (how much to put in, etc).

Also should I be running the skimmer and phosban reactor this early or should I wait until the tank cycles to turn that stuff on?

Lastly, the light over the center sump chamber - should that be on 24/7 or partial?

100_3546.jpg


thanks for any tips!

Lin
 
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