How to set up a Reef Tank...

Seehag,

You may want to rethink using unistrut. Even though it's galvanized, it will eventually rust and you'll have to replace it. Consider building the stand entirely of wood and stainless steel screws.
Also, one tip I'd like to offer you that I don't see posted here often: Make the stand taller than the ones they sell in the LFS. The purpose of the tank is for viewing, and if you have to bend over to see everything, eventually you'll get tired of bending over. I built a 10" tall hollow platform under my AGA stand. It makes viewing easier weather your seated or standing at the glass. Only drawback is that I need a 2' ladder to work inside that tank. Since this is a weekly task at most, I don't mind. The bottom of my tank is 38" from the floor. The taller stand also gives you a lot of extra space inside the stand. Ask anyone here, there never seems to be enough room under the stand for all of the equipment. See the pictures in my gallery for ideas.
 
I picked up a 30 gal truvue octagon tank free. Not bad shape little scratched, I was thinking about setting it up as a quarantine tank, only problem is the wife doesn't want another tank in the house, so that makes it's home the garage, this place has wildley fluctuating temp's and all kinds of other good stuff. But I will be putting it somewhere. It would be nice to have one under my tank that I could just somewhow use the water from the big tank to run through it. But I guess that would defeat the purpose....:)


Goofball
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=4944184#post4944184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Seehag
and I don't plan on putting live sand in just setting up a 2-4 inch bed and then letting the live rock propogate into it.
Click to expand...

Takes too long. At least it was for me. So I purchased a sand seeding kit.
 
Ok, this is taking forever.... I am now at the point of no return. I have filled the tank up with tap water and cleaned it good, I am running a filter on it now to remove any floating stuff... I will be emptying the tank sump/fuge, and top off soon. I will then fill up with ro/di water and add salt...

http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...1171229505142&itemNo=1&In=Fish&N=2030148&Ne=2

Good price on this at petsmart in the area..

I have to get rock and sand. I talked myself out of the hefty price tag for Tampa Bay stuff and settled on dead sand from my lfs that look's like what I want, ( fine tan aragonite) I am thinking about the Hawaii Rock from Reefer Madness, Probabaly order 150# from them, then let the tank Cycle.

From what I read using dead sand with live rock will get the sand alive from the rock. I am wondering about Die off from the rock dirtying up the sand, should I hold off on the sand till after the Amonia Cycle?

I know this has been along drawn out affair but dam this is an expensive hobby. Can't wait to do this next step...


Art
 
Hi Art,

I am always in favor of curing LR in a separate curing vat of some type. I mean; Why put all that dirty water in a new tank? Rubber Maid trash containers or plastic storage bins are fine. After the rock cures I then place it in the main tank. Here is the whole story The New Tank Thread.

You really want to get some true LS to help seed the dead type. Rock just doesn't have the same critters on it that lurk in the sand. I'd get at least 10-20 lbs of true LS for a tank your size. It will really make for a better bed in the long term.
 
Tom,

I was thinking that was the way to do it after reading the Tampa Bay faq sheet. Would a 55 gal garbage can fit 150# of Hawaii rock?

When you seed with 10-20# of live sand are you talking about the stuff in the bag or getting that from someon else ( forum buddy or lfs)


Art
 
Hi Art,

For that much rock I might consider two 55's. Then change out about half the water each day (you only need to cover the rock not fill the cans). For the LS I like to order the real stuff from someone like Tampa Bay.
 
Ok here's a odd question.... For curing the rock do I need to use Ro/DI to make the salt water.....Or can I get by with Tap water treated for chloramine? I know Tap is not the way to go but if I have to change it everyday I don't know that the Ro/di will keep up, It only make 75 gal per day..

Art
 
Art use the dechlorinated tap to make the salt mix. The rock won't be exposed to it long term so no ill effects will occur.
 
That's good to know, I will be doing alot of this soon. I saw in another thread about using a kids pool. You can pick those up cheap around here you can get one that is 18" high by about 6' diameter. That should be big enough I would think. If I set it outside then it would get sunlight for the rock or I could set it up in the garage, with a couple of strip grow lights on it. I also saw where you said to throw a protien skimmer in it I can do that easy enough.....


Art
 
Well it was -6 here just a day ago, not conducive to tropical rock curing but if you are lucky enough to have a wading pool that is about 70+ in February, I say go for it.
 
What do you think of the Hawaii live rock. Look's to be volcanic in nature and it read's like they are throwing it in the ocean to get organisms then removing it. It is a little more expensive but I think it look's good.... My wife likes it and that is a plus. But......I saw a post where it said not to use Volcanic rock as it was full of Copper and metals that were not good for a reef tank... Here's a link to the rock I am considering....


http://www.reefermadness.us/RM-Hawaiian_cultured.htm


I will be ordering this soon maybe next week I am going to be outa town next weekend but when I come back I am going for the end, spending the last little bit and getting the rock...


Art
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Setting up 10g quarantine tank
Replies
9
Views
553
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
E
Which RODI system to buy?
Replies
18
Views
639
Uncle99
Uncle99
B
Left Tank for a long time, now want to reboot
Replies
8
Views
474
SantaMonica
S
C
Another coming back to reefing post
Replies
6
Views
294
Uncle99
Uncle99
skipper03
first saltwater aquarium, weird 15g setup, many questions
7 8 9
Replies
170
Views
2K
skipper03
skipper03
Back
Top