New 90 Gal Tank

[Trincate]

This coming weekend I'll be starting my journey (some have told me addiction) into reef keeping.

I started the process here, where I received a tremendous amount of good advice.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1495470

I've purchased a complete 90 Gal setup from Salty Critter. Dan at Salty Critter is doing a lot of the stuff that intimidated me initially like wiring up all my lighting, doing the plumbing, painting the back of the aquarium etc.

I'm extremely anxious (and a bit nervous to be honest) that I'm going to screw something up...so I'm hoping that by documenting my progress here, you guys can stear me away from catastrophe.

So this week is my prep week. I'll be picking the tank up on Saturday (11/8).

I have two initial challenges to overcome this week. The first of which I think I have figured out.

1.) Getting a sufficient quanitity of R/O water


The wife is checking w/Clearwater systems today to inquire about delivering approx 130 Gallons of R/O water to the house this week. I realize that down the road a R/O system will be in order, but for now this will have to do.

2.) Figure out how to keep the LR healthy while I set the tank up.

This is the part that has me worried. I live about an hour and a half away from Salty Critter. I also have to unload and phsyically move the tank into the house. Then I need to get all the plumbing set up, the sump set up and make sure it is all working properly. Of course I need to mix the salt water and bring it up to temperature. All this while my cured LR is sitting in boxes. I'm concerned about losing to much good stuff on the LR while I'm busy setting up the tank. I know my luck..and something is sure to go wrong during set up...like me screwing up where some pipe goes in....or I can't figure out how the skimmer works or something like that.

Am I over thinking this or should I think about getting a big rubbermaid tub and filling it up w/saltwater, add a heater/powerhead to keep the LR alive while I set up the tank? If I did this I could relax and not feel rushed to get the tank up and running before my LR starts dying off.

Alternatively I could make another trip to Salty Critter to pick up the LR on Sunday...but with a 3 hour round trip....I'd rather spend a few bucks on a rubbermaid container.

Am I overthinking this or should my LR be fine while I set everything up? How long will it take for the salt to become fully disovled in the tank? How long should I expect it to take for it to come up to temperature?

 

[Matt1351]

Trincate really im not one to give to much info out because i dont know that much, i started about 11 weeks ago, ( and im hooked). I was thinking the same things as you were... but i did the same thing as you are thinking and everything is going grate for me. "so far" I have put coral and fish in my tank for a week now. And its coming along.

"Trincate--- rubbermaid tub and filling it up w/saltwater, add a heater/powerhead to keep the LR alive while I set up the tank? If I did this I could relax and not feel rushed to get the tank up and running before my LR starts dying off." It worked for me good luck some of my rock was in there a couple days

 

[Aadler]

Well, "live rock" usually gets pulled from a south pacific ocean, sits on the beach for awhile, gets tossed into boxes to be shipped to LAX, where it may get dumped into storage containers (saltwater vats), then it gets sold to the retailer and shipped 2nd day, then if you buy it online it has another two days of shipping before it gets to your house. So I think you are over thinking it a bit, the tank WILL take awhile to set up, but even if it takes all day and part of the next day you will be fine. You will have die off, but you need this to create a nice cycle anyway.

It is my understanding that the minute you take rock out of the water things begin to die, but the rocks hold a good bit of water protecting most of the bacteria living within, or at the least enough that soon as live stuff starts to die the bacteria explode and multiply eating the dead life.

So don't worry about it. But I would go to HD or lowes to buy 32 gallon brute trash cans, and a good pump (MAG 5?) to mix salt water with for water changes etc, I would also want to have my first 32g mixed up for the tank once it is set up.

Also... this will be hard... but do a leak test before putting saltwater in :c). Just to be safe! have the hose out and fill her up once set up just to make sure all is OK!

Best of luck!

 

[Trincate]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13672183#post13672183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aadler
Well, "live rock" usually gets pulled from a south pacific ocean, sits on the beach for awhile, gets tossed into boxes to be shipped to LAX, where it may get dumped into storage containers (saltwater vats), then it gets sold to the retailer and shipped 2nd day, then if you buy it online it has another two days of shipping before it gets to your house. So I think you are over thinking it a bit, the tank WILL take awhile to set up, but even if it takes all day and part of the next day you will be fine. You will have die off, but you need this to create a nice cycle anyway.

It is my understanding that the minute you take rock out of the water things begin to die, but the rocks hold a good bit of water protecting most of the bacteria living within, or at the least enough that soon as live stuff starts to die the bacteria explode and multiply eating the dead life.

So don't worry about it. But I would go to HD or lowes to buy 32 gallon brute trash cans, and a good pump (MAG 5?) to mix salt water with for water changes etc, I would also want to have my first 32g mixed up for the tank once it is set up.

Also... this will be hard... but do a leak test before putting saltwater in :c). Just to be safe! have the hose out and fill her up once set up just to make sure all is OK!

Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice....much appreciated.

That's good to know about the LR. As I mentioned I'm just extremely cautious/anxious about doing something wrong.

Not sure I'll be able to pre-mix anything because I won't be picking up any of the equipment and the salt I purchased until Saturday. I was planning on mixing in the tank.

 

[Tonycip]

and during your leak test its a good time to double check that everything is level, with the additional weight of the water.

 

[Burgman]

Hi,

I would get the tank/sump set up with salt water, pumps, heats, lights & get the live rock/sand/livestock after it is all up and running. I know the excitement of getting it all together is great but take it easy & be safe. Don't rush yourself by having live rock sittting while you are checking out or setting up your system. PM me if you need some help. I have had my 75 gal. up & running for over ten years so I know a little about reef tanks(not much)LOL...........

Dave

 

[Jeff Trout]

I would just hold off on the rock.

 

[Trincate]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13673173#post13673173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Burgman
Hi,

I would get the tank/sump set up with salt water, pumps, heats, lights & get the live rock/sand/livestock after it is all up and running. I know the excitement of getting it all together is great but take it easy & be safe. Don't rush yourself by having live rock sittting while you are checking out or setting up your system. PM me if you need some help. I have had my 75 gal. up & running for over ten years so I know a little about reef tanks(not much)LOL...........

Dave

Yeah, now that I've put some more thought into the logisitcs, it probably would be much better to wait on the LR until the tank is all set up. Likely I'll pick up the tank on Saturday get it all set up and make sure everything is functioning properly, then head back up on Sunday to pick up the LR and LS.

Kind of a pain because of the distance, but oh well. Hey Salty Critter guys open a franchise in the Akron/Canton area!

 

[otisforme]

maybe they can start franchising...

 

[vietcu]

Instead of making two trips, I would get some salt and R/O water mixed in some trash bins and a heater ready. Pick up the LR and place them in the bins once you get them home. I have a few extra heaters that you can borrow, if you want to go that route.

 

[Burgman]

Hi,

It might take a day or two for your tank to get up to temperature and get your salinity set. Don't forget to set up your sump so that in case the power goes off you don't flood your house.

Dave

 

[Milkman78]

the way i set mine up was get the tank sump and all plumbing done then fill the tank get the pumps and heaters and everything running make shure you have no leaks then start adding salt to the tank mix it right in the tank let it run 3 to 4 days then get your rock do your aquascaping let it run for about 2 days with no lites on then turn lite cycle on and within a week add all your snails and hermits then try a cheap fish or two then you can start adding a few cheaper corals this is the way i did my 90 gallon and i have not had a problem in 17 months

 

[aznnutty]

if you want to save a little money, i have some live rock left over from my frag tank project- asking 2.50/lbs.

 

[Trincate]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13676611#post13676611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vietcu
Instead of making two trips, I would get some salt and R/O water mixed in some trash bins and a heater ready. Pick up the LR and place them in the bins once you get them home. I have a few extra heaters that you can borrow, if you want to go that route.

If I go this route, I'd likely use a rubber maid container. How large (in gallons) would you estimate I would need to hold 90 lbs. of live rock?

 

[Jeff Trout]

Trash can?

 

[Trincate]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13688345#post13688345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeff Trout
Trash can?

Really trying to get an idea as to the volume of salt water I need to prep ahead of time specifically just for the rock and what the minimum size container 90lbs. of live rock would require.

 

[Jeff Trout]

I think you can fit it in a 32g trash can.

 

[itZme]

If you are talking about those 30 gallon rectangle storage containers then you will probably need 2-3 of them but I think what Jeff Trout is suggesting is to spend a few bucks now on a Rubbermaid "Brute" trash can that a lot of guys use for storing RO water or mixing salt in. You will probably need some sort of water storage in the future and it will solve your issue for now also. If you can get about 20-25 gallons of your RO water in the trash can and add your preferred salt then heat and throw a pump in there for stirring you can stick the rock in there while setting up your display and take your time aquascaping. Don't forget that the rock will displace quite a bit of volume and will overflow the can if it is too full.

You will want to get RO/DI if possible. The DI stands for De-Ionized. The DI stage removes any of the left over minerals so you start with virtually pure water. Then you add all the minerals back when you use a commercial "saltwater" salt. If you do not use the DI you cannot be sure that there is no mineral in there that may reach an undesirable level after adding salt.

If you would like to borrow an RO/DI unit and don't mind the drive out to Amish country I have a spare unit that you could simply screw onto your faucet and make 50 gallons per day. It might be just as cheap to go buy the water somewhere but the offer still stands.

I also have a heater and mixing pump that you are free to borrow if needed. Just let me know.

-- Kevin

PS. I could probably get it all boxed up and have a friend from work bring it home with him to Uniontown if you really need to borrow all the stuff.

 

[Trincate]

cool, I'll pick up a 32 gal "brute" tomorrow then. Might as well pick up a pump/heater as well since I'll likely use it to mix future batches of water. Any reccomendations as to what heater/pump I should get?

I'm having some R/O water delivered tomorrow as well that i'll use to set up the tank. I'll likely get my own RO/DI system set up eventually.

 

[itZme]

Any submersible heater over 200 watts should do the trick. Some people prefer the Titanium ones since there is the whole glass/electricity/rocks/saltwater thing going on in there

I have been using glass ones myself but you will have to be more cautious that way. Just about any pump will work for you too. You will want to keep the water moving to dissolve the salt. A more powerful pump will get the job done quicker but most people suggest letting the water "cure" for at least 24 hrs anyway before adding it to your reef so a Maxi-jet 1200 or so will do just fine. If you feel like doing your first easy DIY project pick up one of the "Sure-Flow Maxi-Jet upgrade kits" and turn your Maxi-Jet into a really good salt mixer.