I inherited a tank I want to start up

[sdurhman]

Hey there, so I am brand new to the saltwater aquarium world (fairly familiar with freshwater, although its been years since I've had a tank) and am very excited for the challenge and reward of having a saltwater tank!

I've been doing tons of research and am having some troubles with the amount of contradicting information out there!

First and foremost, the tank I was given is a 55 gallon tank (48x13x21). It has sat empty and disassembled for about 3 years but was previously a successful FOWLR before some sort of mass die off happened and it was taken apart. It came with quite a bit of equipment but I'm not sure if all the pieces to each thing are there or even if I have all the equipment I need. I would like to use as much of this equipment as I can to save on cost of course but am ready to buy new if needed. I was also given what I think is a 20 gallon tank that I think was used as a quarantine tank.

I intend to make this tank a FOWLR.

the tank came with the following equipment, most of which looks about 5-10 years old I'm guessing:

-maxi-jet 1200, 900 and 600 powerheads all still in the boxes and about 7 other assorted used maxi-jet powerheads that appear to be missing all the attachments. not sure if the 3 complete ones will be enough.
-Aqua Medic Biotherm temperature controller and 2 Aqua Medic heaters
-Hydor Theo Heater 300W still in the box
-What looks to me like 2 HOB protein skimmers? but no pumps?
-A HOB filter with 2 overflows with no pump?
-Sand (not sure if it is live or if it even matters after sitting dry for 3 years)
-About 50-75lbs live rock (again, it has sat dry for 3 years so not sure what I need to do to use it or if I even can?)
-refractometer
-TDS reader/meter

So I brought all the equipment home today, filled the tanks to check for leaks and soften whatever has dried on the inside of the glass so I can clean them. I don't really know where to go next and am hoping that based on the list above, I can get some help/recommendations on what I can use, how to get it all ready to be used, and what I need to buy!

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[lonbrat]

Hello! You can definitely set up a tank with all that stuff, but will need to buy a working protein skimmer, or try to fix up the ones you have.
(if you understand how to and are comfortable with doing it)

To start off your aquarium, wash all sand to remove dust and small particles.
Then spread it In the tank. ( sand is optional you can bare bottom too)

Then add your rocks, organize them how you like, and try to set them up so they won't fall and kill a fish later on.

And after all that, mix your water and salt mix. I find that the mixture it usually puts on the bag, is way too salty for most SW tanks, so be sparing on the salt.
( you can always remove water and just add fresh later to equal out the salinity)
I use tap water treated for fish, but I can't justify it to someone new, use RODI water, they sell it at petshops, PETCO, and fish stores, here I can buy a gallon for .50¢ or buy the unit online to make your own.

Pour your water mix into the tank onto a plate or something as to not disturb the sand. Put a bubbler or the filter on the tank
(mostly for water movement right now)
You will want a refractometer (better option) or a hydrometer (not as accurate)
And ammonia, nitrate and nitrite test strips
(PETCO, petsmart, Wal-Mart and other pet stores usually have these)

Feed your fish tank as if there were fish, and check for an ammonia spike. Once that spike happens, you can look for I nitrite spike, and then a nitrate spike. Once there is no more ammonia or nitrite reading you can do a 25-50% water change and your tank will be cycled.

You can add your first fish ( of your choice) but add fish slowly
( give each fish 2 weeks to settle before adding another)

And continue doing water changes every so often ( about once a week 25%)
And continue testing your water every so often to make sure things are going smoothly.

^^ I'm sure more can add to this and explain much better! But by following those basic steps I got a 55 gal. Reef tank that could definitely just be fowlr

 

[Buzz1ightyear]

great advice i would mention that when you do add fish make sure they will not get too big for your tank. a lot of stores will tell you something like a blue tang will be fine in your tank but in reality will grow to be much too big. also do everything slowly. things take time in a aquarium and patience is needed.

 

[CarrieB]

I inherited a tank I want to start up

Also, find your local reefing group and sign up. RC is great, but a local group is invaluable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joshbrookkate]

The first thing I would do is read the stickies in the New to the Hobby section of this site. Lots of important information there.
Then I would reread the information again. I found that a lot of it was hard to understand until I got going on my tank. But it was invaluable in helping me get started and work through the processes.
Then follow the suggestions from Ionbrat, Buzz and others who may respond, along with what you've learned in your reading.
I started out in freshwater years ago, too. Saltwater is almost totally different. It's more exciting, challenging and satisfying. And the support from fellow reefers, both on this site and locally is awesome.
Good luck! And keep asking questions!

 

[SFish]

I would buy an RO/DI filter before doing anything. If you use tap water your just asking for problems. The cost of buying water and going to pick it up makes it not worth it. Also I would get rid of the HOB filter. Unless you like the sound of running water. If you don't mind looking at things hanging off the back of the tank then the hang on the back stuff is fine. Personally I think it makes the tank look ugly. The other way you can set the tank up is to run a sump. I'm not really a fan of 55gal tanks because a 12" width is hard to aquascape. Personally I would go with a 40 breeder for $40. That being said the 55 will work it just depends on how artistic you want to be with your rock work. I look at these tanks as a work of art so a 12" width is not enough for me and I want as much stuff out of the DT as possible. Take a pice of cardboard 12" wide and play with the rock work on it and you'll see what I mean.

The rocks and sand should be fine to use. As long as the power heads work i'm sure they will be fine as well. Your better off buying test kits for testing and don't get API. Go to Here for your test kits

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquarium-monitors-controllers/testing.html

 

[SFish]

I would start by reading through this before you do anything

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

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2588686

 

[sdurhman]

Thanks for the help everybody!

So with the live rock and the sand, is there any special treatment I need to do to clean them up and get them ready to be cured? Are they still "live" even after sitting on a shelf for years or can I just rinse them and put them in?

Also, the concept of a sump in new to me. I've read a lot about them and have seen that they are not necessary but good to have. I have somewhat limited space but if I NEED a sump to have a successful tank, Ill make it work. Just thinking if there is a way for me not to use a sump, that would be ideal. But can someone explain to me if they are necessary/benefits, and if I can get by without one?

Last thing this time, are reef tanks a bad idea for someone starting out? I know they take a lot more work but I would LOVE to end up with a reef tank. Can I convert my FOWLR to a reef tank once a have some time and experience under my belt or is it better to plan for a reef tank right away?

Thanks again!!

 

[SFish]

For a fish only tank you don't need a sump. If it was a reef tank then I would say your going to want one. All a sump is is another tank under the stand. A sump would be your filter. Equipment, macro algae, pod ect can be grown there. Give this a read

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/

 

[SFish]

For your scape take a look at this

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2217633

 

[lifeoffaith]

+1 on the 55 gallon and 12" not being much to work with when it comes to aquascape. If you can find a 40 breeder at the Petco/Petsmart $1 per gallon sale that would be ideal. It gives you a much wider base and will look better and give you the space to create your artistic aquascape with your rocks.

You can definitely run this as a FOWLR without a sump, and you could do a reef, but it will take more maintenance and won't look as nice without a sump. I would also suggest that if you are buying anything, to buy it with a reef in mind. In other words, if you're going to buy a skimmer, buy one that will handle more than a 55 gallon tank, especially if you plan on keeping all of the fish you have in your FOWLR when you start adding corals. Lights are another thing that I didn't see mentioned above. For a FOWLR you can get away with lights that aren't very powerful, but if you're going to go reef down the road, get something that will support corals, preferably enough to handle SPS corals, as you will eventually want to do SPS most likely. They take a bit more light. Also keep in mind that you will most likely end up wanting to upgrade your tank down the road as well. You'll find that you're going to end up wanting bigger fish or more fish or more coral, and then you're going to want to go with a monster tank eventually. Trust me, I started with a 24 gallon and bought a 120 before I knew what happened. I'm down to the 120 again, but I really want to upgrade to a 300 gallon soon. Lots of dreams, not enough money. Basically all I'm saying is that you want to plan for more than what you intend to have initially. If you do that you will save yourself money in the long run.

The rock and sand is no longer live. What makes it live is the bacteria and various organisms that will live in it as it matures (sponges, worms, copepods, etc). I would do what was suggested above. Set the tank up like you want it, then start feeding it (as if you had fish, it will allow the bacteria to build up) and testing the water for ammonia.

 

[lonbrat]

You can get away without a sump, but as mentioned if you ever think you're going to do corals, a sump is great.

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/95631192065950062/

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/220254238000373812/
(Hope these links work)

Benefits of not having a sump? Looks nicer, deal with less equipment, have less of a chance to over flow from top tank.
( but if you make it right it won't have any of these problems)
Benefits of having a sump?
Well it looks nicer on top of the tank when there's no equipment hanging in, it gives you more gallons to work with, makes water Changes a little easier, and most of all, they usually work as a super filter for your tank.

I've had a tank with a sump and without, the tank with the sump never had an algae breakout, because majority of the sump was a refugium.

A refugium is basically a place you want algae to grow, usually a macro algae like chaeto or caulerpa, it removes nitrates from your water without water changes, and that's pretty great, it also allows pods (small crustaceans) to grow safely, and they are detrovores (they eat fish poo) which adds to the filter aspect.

As for cleaning your rock I just wash mine with normal water, to remove any dust or odd particles, but there's acid washes and other stuff that people mention for nutrient removal and such.
Your rock and sand are dead, or more accurately not full of the bacteria they used to have. So that's why you need to feed the empty tank for a while, to grow bacteria that will keep your fish alive and healthy.