Setting up 90 gallon reef tank

[Gaxmode]

Ok so tomorrow I will be going to the pond shop to grab some 1 inch flex pvc tubing to connect my return pipe and overflow. After this my brain is playing tug of war of which steps to do first. I have 90 or so gallons of ro water sitting in 2 brute trash cans in my basement just waiting. I have 80 pounds of live sand. Still need to get some live rock.

Which steps should I be doing next? I was going to mix the salt water in the tank since it is the first time and seems to be the easier route at this point. Then I was going to wait until the salt stabilized using my refractometer then add the live sand. After that I would add in my live rock and wait for the tank to cycle, how does that sound?

 

[GimpyFin]

There's not really a set method for doing it. Some people add sand, then rock, then water. Others do rock, then sand, then water. You could do water first, though it might be more work getting the sand and rock situated and dealing with the cloudy water while adding sand. Personally, I like to get the rock and sand in with no water in the tank and then pre-mix the saltwater and just pump it into the tank.

 

[Gaxmode]

Even though the sand is live, I can put it into a dry tank? I would probably fill 49 gallons of salt water after I do that so it leaves room for rock. Then pump the remainder of the water into the tank after the rock is in place to prevent over filling. Thanks for your input.

 

[GimpyFin]

Yes, there's water in the bag too. You just don't want pre-rinse live sand before putting it in the tank or it will remove the bacteria.

 

[Pmj]

I had my water already mixed with salt (even if you don't have all of it, enough to cover the sand). Put in sand and rocks first, then put in the first batch of water. That way the "live" sand was sitting in water shortly after removing it from the bag and it doesn't dry out.

I also planned out my rock structure (at least the major parts) beforehand and used an epoxy to help keep some together.

 

[davehead86]

1. Lay down "egg crate" (light diffuser panels from Big Box Store) under where the rocks will sit.
2. Fill with sand partially to just get to the eggcrate.
3. Put down base rocks over eggcrate
4. Fill in remaining sand around the tank
5. Build rock structure to desired position / height
6. Pull rocks apart then insert rods / epoxy to keep rocks stable (OPTIONAL)
7. Add RODI or Salt Water (Your preference).
8. Let cloudy water settle
9. Turn on powerheads and equipment, start the cycle.


If you add sand AFTER water you will have one cloudy mess in your tank. Your "Live Sand" is supposed to have good bacteria in it already so you won't want to rinse your sand at all. This will cloud your tank no matter what order you put it into the tank. Let it settle down in the tank before turning on powerheads and such.

 

[Gaxmode]

Thanks for the advice. Per reef crystals instruction I added .5 cup of salt per gallon so 20 cups to 40 gallon of ro. I set the heater to 78 in the can and have my power head towards the bottom mixing the salt right get now. Tomorrow going to finish plumbing then lay down some egg crate and add some sand and rocks.

 

[Gaxmode]

So I can cure the dry rock in my tank since it is a new set up correct? The live sand should seed the tank? Should I still add a piece of shrimp? Also, during this time I am also filling up my sump and tank enough for overflow and pump to be functioning? Should I add anything to my refugium? Should I keep the sock filter on my sump?

 

[Pmj]

I would not count on live sand to add much. I added straight ammonia from Ace hardware to 2 ppm twice and watched the ammonia and nitrites fall. Only took about two weeks total. I also added some flakes to add phosphates, etc. Better to know for sure your system can handle an ammonia spike in my opinion.

I also just cycled the main tank with a power head, not the sump. You are cycling the rocks, just a waste of power running the sump.

 

[Ztous]

The tank will seed itself no live sand needed. If it was my tank I'd rinse it, I've done a few sand bottom tanks and I'd rather have less fine particles of sand floating about.

 

[Gaxmode]

Ok so the skimmer gives no benefit while cycling?

 

[thegrun]

The only advantage to running the skimmer during the cycle is to break it in. On new tanks I usually wait until the last week of the cycle to plug in the skimmer.

 

[Gaxmode]

Just an update.. Cut the egg crate to fit bottom of tank and put first layer of black latex paint on back panel. After a few more layers of the paint it will be time to put in some live sand and about 40 gallons of 1.025 salt water.

 

[Gaxmode]

Just purchased 60 lb of dry Pukani Rock, epoxy putty, carbon and gfo reactor and salifert ph,nitrite,nitrate,ammonia kit.

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

+1 on rinsing the sand, I skipped the rinse on my first set up I will never do that again.

 

[Gaxmode]

Unfortunately I didn't rinse the sand.pretty murky at this point haha

 

[Gaxmode]

Topped the tank off with water, got the sump filled up. Running my skimmer and filter sock to get rid of the sand dust and it's working wonders. Water is currently 1.024 salinity.

 

[davehead86]

Unfortunately I didn't rinse the sand.pretty murky at this point haha

Its going to be murky every time you have to clean or adjust something in the sand. I would stir the crap out of the sand in your tank. Itll make all the little particles come out and then filter out through the sock.

 

[Gaxmode]

I was under the impression the sand would stabilize once the bacteria settle on it and weigh it down, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Tisbe]

It will to a point. I would get as much of it out as you can before you put in livestock. Otherwise you will have mini sandstorms every time you move things not to mention if a powerhead accidently falls in the sand.