1st Saltwater Tank [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community

Ziggy953

01/20/2008, 12:26 PM

I agree! The more information that you take in now the better off you will be when you set things up. Don't take your LFSs word as law, ask lots of questions even if you don't think it's an important one. Take your time and research everything you want to get for the tank before you get it!

DGlove904

01/21/2008, 02:07 AM

Thanks just got my tank today I have read a number of books and have searched online for ahile just have to get to it now.

DGlove904

01/21/2008, 02:46 AM

wht should i do know since i have my tank but it is empty how should i get started

harryk

01/21/2008, 08:06 AM

first welcome to the hobby. second please let us know more about your tank. Is it reef ready? do you have a sump? what type of lighting are you going to use. I would start first by filling the tank with saltwater and cure about 100-150lbs of live rock. wait for it to cycle (ammonia at 0) and then proceed from there. But definitely read and ask plenty of questions. there is always someone out there willing to help and offer advice. And always, always read up on compatibility before you add anything to your tank. oh yea and set up a small QT when your ready. they are invaluable

McTeague

01/21/2008, 08:20 AM

I wish I had started out with a 110! Nice!

JoeMomma

01/21/2008, 12:03 PM

Is your tank drilled? Does it have an overflow? If not then do that first before putting anything in it!

allenpantino

01/21/2008, 01:31 PM

read read read / trial and error

works everytime

Vinnie71975

01/21/2008, 02:14 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11641665#post11641665 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DGlove904
I just got my 1st saltwater tank its 110 gallons any tips on wht i should do first im really really new to this. Ask all the questions you can think of EVEN if they seem silly to you!!!!! Read read read !!! Conscientious Marine Aquarist is a great start! Any and all books you can find on Marine fish and Marine tanks, different threads on here, find a local reef club to join! thats all the best advice i can give!

DGlove904

01/21/2008, 05:17 PM

yes it has an overflow and i do have a sump and lighting i will post pics very soon

Macimage

01/21/2008, 05:45 PM

As mentioned, you need to research and read books and RC for the information that you need to properly set up your tank. It would be difficult to include a whole books' worth of information or all the information you can find in several hundred threads here on RC in this one post.

Also, it would be easier if you post specific questions you may have if you can not find the information you need with the search button at the top of each RC page.

Please post the photos when you get time so we can see what you have and maybe give you a few pointers on the setup:)!!

Good Luck!
Joyce

kingfisher62

01/21/2008, 05:53 PM

I suggest You get a good Financial advisor because pretty soon you will most likely be obsessed with your tank and be spending way too much money on them.
Just like the rest of us!
As vinnie mentioned "Conscientious Marine Aquarist" seems to be the bible of reef keeping.

Best piece of advice i can give you is, be patient!

First of all you have to decide what you want to keep in the tank.
What are you visualizing?

danmcmahon

01/21/2008, 06:26 PM

Dont cheap out on your lighting or skimmer. If you stay in the hobby you will ony regret it later. You can pick up some good deals on ebay or this forum

DGlove904

01/23/2008, 02:52 PM

what would be a good skimmer for my 110 galllon tank.

JoeMomma

01/23/2008, 03:11 PM

Bubble King 160 :)

bertoni

01/23/2008, 05:49 PM

There are lots of opinions on skimmers, and no objective data. I would look at a Euro-Reef, ATI, Deltec, or H&S model, but some of the Octopus and ASM models get good reviews, too.

Brandon's Reef

01/26/2008, 01:28 AM

[welcome]

what up David nice little thread you got going

pfy333

01/26/2008, 01:54 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11654198#post11654198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danmcmahon
Dont cheap out on your lighting or skimmer. If you stay in the hobby you will ony regret it later. You can pick up some good deals on ebay or this forum

I second that. I am still constantly reading and purchasing equipment base on my needs. What I came across the most are people upgrading skimmers and lighting. With that in mind I purchased a H&S A150 and Tek Lights T5 6 54W for my 90 gal. which I plan to keep FOWLR and has I gain more experinence move towards a reef set up. Bascially I picked equipent for me to expand with experience later down the road. Just my opinion:D .

demonsp

01/26/2008, 01:55 AM

Question so vauge its impossible to help.
All we have is tank size. You need proper water movement,minimum amount of LR and Substrae? And i would setup a fuge or sump, the best light you can afford and research.A larger tank can go bad fast and only after time.After lots of money invested.If you go step by step and ujse the basic setup plan going slow it will seem real eay.If you rush or fail to preplan then it will seem impossible. This size tank demands respect as it will cost some money to do it right.

DGlove904

01/26/2008, 05:24 PM

Lance this is what i have so far. I have a 110 gallon tank w/ a overflow, return , and a sump in the bottom. For lighting I have 120 volt 60 Hz Max 9.0 Amps. Guys what should I focus my attention to next substrate, skimmer,live rock etc.

DGlove904

01/26/2008, 05:40 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11690979#post11690979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pfy333
I second that. I am still constantly reading and purchasing equipment base on my needs. What I came across the most are people upgrading skimmers and lighting. With that in mind I purchased a H&S A150 and Tek Lights T5 6 54W for my 90 gal. which I plan to keep FOWLR and has I gain more experinence move towards a reef set up. Bascially I picked equipent for me to expand with experience later down the road. Just my opinion:D .
I agree plan to start big even when your starting small

demonsp

01/26/2008, 07:10 PM

Its all the about the planning and setup.Also where most of the money is. Do this right and the rest will fall in place.

kingfisher62

01/26/2008, 09:16 PM

Are you planning on a deep sand bed?

DGlove904

01/26/2008, 09:35 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11696008#post11696008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kingfisher62
Are you planning on a deep sand bed?
should I ???

kingfisher62

01/26/2008, 10:40 PM

To be honest with you ! I never had one. My first saltwater tank was a 55g fish only tank with crushed coral which I still have.
It now has liverock but the crushed coral is so coarse food and sediment can fall into all the spaces. which eventually becomes a nitrate factory. I have a hard time getting my nitrates below 20 ppm. It is acceptable for a FOWLR but probably not for a reef tank.

Sand is so fine food and crap really can not sink into it and the stuff either gets eaten or filtered.
what I have heard , with a deep sand bed (4 inches or more) anaerobic , nitrifying bacteria forms deep in the sand which will change nitrates or nitrites (maybe both) ti harmless nitrogen gas which basically rises out of the tank.
At least I think that is the process! Maybe someone can explain it better.
In any case I have heard deep sand beds were excellent to have.

DGlove904

01/27/2008, 11:33 AM

deep sandbed w/ a good cuc ?????

DGlove904

01/29/2008, 02:00 PM

Lets see if I got this right never stop reading, plan to start big so I don’t have to upgrade alot and waste money. Also I want to start a reef but I may not start with it in my tank but I should still have my equipment ready for a reef . Research and see what fish are reef safe. With that said will I need a chiller?

Pulp Fishin

01/29/2008, 02:23 PM

Hello and welcome to the hobby !
I'm in the same boat as you. Just starting to get my feet wet.
My first display tank is 135G and waiting for the plumming to get hooked up. So theres no water in it yet but my QT 20G is done its cycle. I accually suport going big the first time so long as your willing to take things slow to aviod disaster.
Also think if you start on a 33G when things go wrong if you don't catch them early it may sell doom for the rest of your tank, while small mishaps may be firgivin in larger aquariums.

As for a skimmer you would probbly want to read a few reviews first. I decided to order myself a Euro-Reef RS250. I see bubble king as a amaising skimmer but I didn't think dropping $1000 on a skimmer was the best to try first. The Euro-reef RS250 may be more then the 135G needs but better to have it handle more then less.

Also a big rule for any aquarist is that only BAD things happend fast in an aquarium so take your time and do some reading before making any purchase, you won't regret it if you do.

bertoni

01/29/2008, 02:58 PM

Some setups need a chiller. Many don't. I would wait to see how the temperature shapes up before buying one.

DGlove904

01/29/2008, 03:39 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11716664#post11716664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
Some setups need a chiller. Many don't. I would wait to see how the temperature shapes up before buying one.

ok so all tanks dont need a chiller I though it was needed for all tanks that are gonna occupy a reef. Is there anyway to bypass a chiller if needed?? Like subs for it. You never stop learning

Jcohen9999

01/29/2008, 04:02 PM

what they all said and....get the biggest sump/fuge you can!

Volume is your friend when you first start out.

Good luck with the tank.

Jeff

DGlove904

01/29/2008, 04:10 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11716365#post11716365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pulp Fishin
Hello and welcome to the hobby !
I'm in the same boat as you. Just starting to get my feet wet.
My first display tank is 135G and waiting for the plumming to get hooked up. So theres no water in it yet but my QT 20G is done its cycle. I accually suport going big the first time so long as your willing to take things slow to aviod disaster.
Also think if you start on a 33G when things go wrong if you don't catch them early it may sell doom for the rest of your tank, while small mishaps may be firgivin in larger aquariums.

As for a skimmer you would probbly want to read a few reviews first. I decided to order myself a Euro-Reef RS250. I see bubble king as a amaising skimmer but I didn't think dropping $1000 on a skimmer was the best to try first. The Euro-reef RS250 may be more then the 135G needs but better to have it handle more then less.

Also a big rule for any aquarist is that only BAD things happend fast in an aquarium so take your time and do some reading before making any purchase, you won't regret it if you do.

Yea that bubble king is tooooooo much but it looks like it is great. Im going to look into that Euro-reef wht are u gonna use your 20g for

Pulp Fishin

01/29/2008, 05:46 PM

The Euro-reef RS250 is about half the price of a bubble king.
Of all the reviews I've read I'm confadent I will be happy with the decission I made. People who use them seem VERY happy with them and they work load they take care of.

My 20g is just a quarantine tank.

ljosh

01/29/2008, 06:19 PM

Having an open top will help with heat build up. Fans will help. Using external efficient pumps will help.

bertoni

01/29/2008, 06:53 PM

I agree. A few fans (and autotopoff) often can do more than enough cooling. Many tanks don't even need fans. Mine don't.

DGlove904

01/30/2008, 03:46 PM

how does auto-topoff work???

bertoni

01/30/2008, 09:07 PM

I use float switches to run a peristaltic pump. Others use a float valve, or a different type of pump. The float valve approach is the most risky, in my opinion, but it's the cheapest. I actually use a 2-switch level controller, so that one bad switch can't kill the tank.

DGlove904

01/31/2008, 03:12 PM

any more tips anyone what about using a bio box intil i get my other stuff

bertoni

01/31/2008, 05:15 PM

What is a bio box?

DGlove904

01/31/2008, 06:20 PM

sorry i meant wet/dry system

bertoni

02/01/2008, 02:13 AM

I don't use wet-dry systems, since my tanks all have enough live rock to do the filtration.

mr_anderson

02/01/2008, 05:38 AM

Here's the best advice anyone could have ever given me.

Get out now while you still can!! Sell everything that is saltwater related and forget you ever heard about saltwater reef/fish tanks! It has been my curse for over 2 years. It's kinda like that evil ring in "Lord of the Rings", I'm drawn to it all day and night!!...:blown:

alittlephishy

02/01/2008, 09:38 AM

Welcome to Reef Central!!

Here are a couple of thoughts I have.

Join a local reef club!

Go slow!

Never dose anything you can't test for!!

Water is the most important thing in the tank!

This (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=239848) thread by WaterKeeper is a good read!

DGlove904

02/01/2008, 12:51 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11737057#post11737057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr_anderson
Here's the best advice anyone could have ever given me.

Get out now while you still can!! Sell everything that is saltwater related and forget you ever heard about saltwater reef/fish tanks! It has been my curse for over 2 years. It's kinda like that evil ring in "Lord of the Rings", I'm drawn to it all day and night!!...:blown:

lol i fell like that now

DGlove904

02/02/2008, 02:50 PM

can you use tap water to start your cycle process

bertoni

02/02/2008, 03:01 PM

It's possible to tapwater, but I don't choose to take that risk.

DGlove904

02/02/2008, 06:18 PM

i was just thinking because my tank has to go through that 4-6 week or even more cyling stage and by the end of that time it should be good??? Anyone!!!

DGlove904

02/05/2008, 01:09 PM

i want to purchase my power head thinking about the hydor koralia what do u guys think??

DGlove904

02/08/2008, 01:11 AM

just ordered it can't wait to get it

bertoni

02/08/2008, 01:35 AM

The Koralia pumps seem to get generally good reviews.

DGlove904

02/08/2008, 01:46 PM

next im going to get my live rock/ sand any suggestions

dwd5813

02/08/2008, 02:13 PM

use dry base rock and dry aragonite sand to start with, both of which can be seeded with a few pieces of high quality live rock. joining a reef club like this one http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=487 or maybe this one http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&forumid=147 can help you get involved, and be a source of information and potential deals on used equipment and/or frags when it gets to that stage.
good luck!