Starting from scratch

[hurulez]

Hi to all, first i would like to say, GREAT SITE!!!!! Tons of info. But i would like to get some help or some more needful info. Will be purchasing a 72 or a 100 gallon tank. This tank would be a self contained tank (lazy guys tank),also purchasing a hydrometer, heaters(2), Salt, pump (2), test kits, live rocks, sand and a skimmer protien (bak pak). Yes this tak will be a RT. Now the questions.

1. What kind of lighitng will best fit this tank?
2. How many ponds of live rock is needed?
3. What kind of text kits are good for all the needed tests.
4. This might sound dumb, but can I use tap water to fill the tank initially? If no, then what can I use to fill it up with?
5. For this size tank, will 2 300 watts heater be enough?

That's it for now.............any advice or help? Anyone? Please?
Thanks for the info in advance.......

 

[mg426]

Lighting will depend on what you want to keep. Very goos article at WWW.wetwebmedis.com

1 lb per gallon minimum for a reef tank setup

Test kits, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate PH (a monitor is better if you got the $$$$) Ca. Alk Will get you started

Best to use ro/di water for sure. many problems are avoided by doing so.

Sound like plenty of heater to me

 

[Andrew]

[welcome]

 

[countertopguy]

My only advice would be to use to incorporate a sump (great at hiding heaters and other equipment) and think about a top-off strategy. My reef experience has greatly improved since adding a sump and top off.

When you say "self contained tank" what do you mean?

 

[mcegelsk]

First you are off to a great start...reading before going nuts! Second, to read more is what mg426 was trying to provide you with www.wetwebmedia.com he just typed incorrectly, always use the spell check. I'm not huge on light info yet...but as far as your water I'd get an RO/DI (reverse osmosis/ Deionized) unit. There are several places however I just purchased one from airwaterice.com and had read tons of great reviews about them,, but find out for yourself that's part of the fun...research! Good Luck! ~Matt

 

[hurulez]

countertopguy,

the self contained tank is where all the filtration is built in the back side of the tank. from overflow, areas where you can hide the heaters and the blue balls...............that did not sound right....... but you know what i mean. and to all who replied, thanks for the input. yes, i will have a lot of research to put in. it will mainly be a reef tank, but you never know...........LFS is telling me to put $400.00 worth of live rock. is that enough or to much?

 

[Andrew]

It depends on how much they charge for their rock. You could always go with half liverock and half baserock to cut down on spending.

 

[hurulez]

mcegelsk

you mentioned that you purchased a RO/DI @ airwaterice.com. Which one did you purchase and where did you hook it up? The reason i ask is because I already have a water filter built in underneath my kitchen sink. With the RO/DI, can i get a garden hose adaptor so i can directly hook it up that way?