New to the Nano reef

[Illuminati]

I just pushed down the ziptie that was attatched to the output nozzle and you can pull the entire unit out then. Swap out the pumps (might have to cut and re-ziptie the end where the tubing meets the pump) and re-assemble. For me I put the suction cup mount on the Maxi-jet and had that so it's on the very bottom of the chamber to cut down on vibration, I can't hear it at all. All other parts are not needed.

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8856770#post8856770 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slukach
Also, I am picking up the LR on tuesday. Fully cured and $3.50/lb. No shipping charges. Woo Hoo!!!!

SCORE!!

And finally, is the live sand they sell at LFS's in the bags good stuff. I saw it in 20lb sizes and others. The guy I am getting the rock from is out of sand, but he said he doesn't use the pre-bagged sand, but this stuff imported from Fiji. I figured the live sand at the LFS would be fine.

DO NOT BUY THIS CRAP!!!!!!!! Let me 'splain it to ya like this...

You are alive...you are sand at the bottom of the ocean...I scoop you out of the ocean, take you to a warehouse and package you in to a bag...this processs takes 1-3 days maybe...next, I seal the bag and package you on to a pallet...you are now down to a VERY limited supply of air and such in the bag which you need to thrive...so, you now sit on this pallet in my warehouse until some LFS decides to buy you...or worse yet, until a wholesale supplier decides to buy you at which point you will then sit in THEIR warehouse for god knows how long...so, you get to the LFS and you sit for god knows how long...so, you being all alive and such have now been without fresh water, air, food, etc. for several weeks or longer...do you think you would still be alive sealed in side this air-tight bag?

Of course you wouldn't be...and neither is the sand that is sold in bags and labelled "live sand"...it is just a marketting ploy for unsuspecting salt water enthusiasts...you best bet is to go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a bag of Kolorscape play sand...only about $4 a bag for 40lbs...you will only need a few pounds but hey for $4 who cares... :lol: anyway...once you have your sand and live rock and salt water in the tank see if you can hook up with some local reef enthusiasts such as yourself...ask each of them for a small Ziplock bag full of their sand from their established tanks (maybe like a 1/2 cup for 2-4 people)...just ask beforehand and make sure their have been no outbreaks, chemical/medicinal treatments lately, etc...that will be plenty to seed you sand and turn it live...

Here is the Philadelphia Reef Club forum here on Reef Central...post in there and introduce yourself if you haven't already...this is a good way to get help and advice on EVERYTHING from people local to you...just still come to us as well :lmao: These folks can definitely help you get started with free frags, free sand, free macro algae, etc...I know our club is like that...everybody likes to help out the new folks get started in this most difficult of hobbies...

As aways, good luck and keep us posted...

 

[Illuminati]

I would put the carbin in the bottom of chamber 2 while your cycle is going, add the heater to chamber 2 also. Put some filter floss in chamber 1 to catch debris when you add the rock.


I used bagged sand from Dr. Foster & Smith but to each their own
If it's not outrageous (cost wise) I don't see a problem with using it.

 

[slukach]

Alright. Pumps are swapped. Is it terribly important that the ziptie is tight where the tube meets the MaxiJet? I was able to slide the tube onto the MJ, but it isn't super tight. It does feel like it will hold, but what problems wil I encounter if it slips off?

And also, what about the carbon. I will take the bioballs and ceramic rings out, but should I leave the carbon in?

 

[slukach]

Ahhh. You beat me to it. Disregard the question above. But what are your thoughts on the type and quality of the live sand?

 

[slukach]

I didn't see Hopefuls's answer. So that bagged sand is crap. Alright. I will check the Philly forum and see what I can do.

Thanks guys.

 

[Illuminati]

If you can move the tubing horozontally and the tubing falls off the pump you need to tighten it. I'd personally ziptie it anyway, if the tubing did come off that pump will push the water vertically into the hood and it would probably flood your floor.
I have seen a thread where this happened to a person 3 TIMES. I wish I could find that thread but it would be finding a needle in a haystack on here.

Good deal on the rock....

 

[slukach]

You guys are especially quick on the responses today. Sorry, if I repeated any questions

Colinadam.....

Is the bagged sand you got.... "lively", I guess would be the word? I assume the whole thing behind the live sand is that it has nitrifying bacteria (correct me if I am wrong here) in it. Have you had any problems with it at all?

Ok, finally, just so I have it straight, what should my 3 chambers look like whe I add the live rock and sand on tuesday? and what shoudl I add/remove when the cycle is done? And how do I know for sure the cycle is done. Everyone has been saying from 2 to 4 weeks....depending on if the rock i cured or uncured. I am assuming that this is genral.

And, when you buy zoos or corals, etc. do they come attached to rocks already? If this is the case, then is 30lb of LR too much since I will be adding rock everytime I buy a coral or zoa?

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

Personally, I don't think any of the sand packaged in bags is live in any way shape or form...save your money and buy Kolorscape...just get some live sand from local reefers to seed it and you'll be fine...just my opinion though...read a little more about it and see what you find out...

 

[Illuminati]

Ditto to the above. There are few times when you can save $$$$ in this hobby, sand is one of them. Just make sure it doesn't have silica in the sand (right Hopeful reefer???).

Right now I'd do
Chamber 1 - Filter floss

Chamber 2 - Carbon & Heater

Chamber 3 - New pump

Right before you add your first fish I'd go

Chamber 1 - Filter floss on top, Chemi-pure on the bottom

Chamber 2 - Purigen & Heater

Chamber 3 - Pump

That's how I have mine set up anyway.

Gotta get a test kit and make sure nitrate, nitrile & ammonia are at zero, then you know the cycle is done. If you go with cured liverock it will be very short.

 

[slukach]

I talked to a LFS and they have the live sand in water. Its $30 for 20lbs. So, its not too bad. Also going to get the pre-mixed water there to start off. And I found another LFS that sells the RO water for 35 cents a gallon. So, I will start to mix my own for my water changes. I plan on doing a 10-20% change weekly (since it is only going to be 1.5 to 3 gallons that I wil be changing it shouldn't be too tough).

 

[slukach]

Alright, I am setting up the chambers now.

I got a test kit from Drs. F&S. It is a marine lab kit and it tests for pH, Alk, NH3/NH4, NO2 and NO3. Are there any other tests I need to perform?

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8857003#post8857003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by colinadam
Ditto to the above. There are few times when you can save $$$$ in this hobby, sand is one of them. Just make sure it doesn't have silica in the sand (right Hopeful reefer???).

Actually, and this is coming from Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley in his chemistry forum, but Silica is not the problem in sand that people once thought it to be...yes, sand has silica...but, after testing he has found that it is not an algae causing nightmare as some people had once thought...the biggest problem with silica is the dust...so, if you rinse the sand first before putting it in the tank you will be find...or, use the bag & bowl method like I use in my 10g nano tank thread to fill the tank with water and there will be no dust either...easy way to rinse sand, fill a CLEAN bucket 1/2 with sand...fill from there up to 2/3 with water...swish the sand around...give a few minutes to settle and then pour off the cloudy water (which is water + silica dust)...may not need to fill the bucket that full to suit your needs, but you get the point...

 

[slukach]

There are 2 sponges in the first chamber. I take both out right? And filter floss...you guys said a handful. Will that be enough or should I make it similar to the size of the sponges?

And I had 2 bags of charcoal in there. Should I leave both in?

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

Test wise, you can start basic until your cycle is over...Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and temperature...all others don't matter until you have livestock in the tank which is after the cycle...also get a Calcium test kit if you want to do corals at all...

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

Also, check to see what you LFS means by "live sand in a bag"...are they making their own live sand in a huge vat in the back of the store and then bagging it for you on the spot? If not, it is not, and I repeat, it is not truely live sand...it doesn't matter what they say, it just isn't...the closest you will get to commercially sold live sand is sand someone is taking sand from their tanks and flying it to you like www.tampabaysaltwater.com does...again, otherwise it isn't live sand...period.

 

[slukach]

Right on. I will check it out and make sure it is true live sand.

 

[slukach]

I just got a Drs. F&S catalog with my order. They have coral packages (hard and soft mixes) and polyp packages. Kind of like a few different varieties for one price.

What are your thoughts on those packages?

 

[Illuminati]

A great way to get started. I never have gotten one of these myself but I live close to another mail order coral store so I usually went there and got stuff.

But you are in a big city, I'd post a message on the local forum when your ready with a wishlist. Odds are you can get better stuff for a better price from locals. I usually always have stuff I'm trying to part with, everyone does it.

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

I have not ordered them before so I have no first hand knowledge of them...however...

From reading the same catalog before they seem like several very hardy corals...once your tank cycles and you water parameters stay decent then I would say go for it...get a couple packs if you wish...

My other suggestion is again go back to the Philadelphia club...I saw you posted a few times in there so far which is good...if you haven't done a "Hi I'm so-and-so" type post...you would be suprised how many people will offer to have you over to their house to show you their tanks, give you free equipment and frags, etc...I'm assuming that most clubs are like the one I am part of and they treat new people really well (with the understanding that eventually you will treat new people the same way as well.)