92 tank build

[stangd1909]

This is my first saltwater tank, so learning as I go. No real problems yet, everything is going ok.



So far I have 80 LBS of live sand, 30LBS of live rock, and a heater. I am using a filter sock in the sump as my filtration. I will be getting a skimmer soon. some pics, let me know if you see something I should fix.


Day 1 - setting tank up

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/photo-1.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/photo1.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/IMG_0153.jpg

[stangd1909]

filling it with water and salt




http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/IMG_0151.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/IMG_0149.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/IMG_0150.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/IMG_0155.jpg

[stangd1909]

time for sand and rock....it's still cloudy, I just put the rocks in. I should have a better pic when it settles down.



http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/1a711240.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/014c9aae.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/4ed9bff2.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/454782c9.jpg


http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/b6ee2510.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/91db0ff4.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/341c38d9.jpg

[stangd1909]

I will be out of town this weekend. I'm thinking of letting it sit and cycle until next week. When I get back doing a water change, thats not to soon for a water change is it?

[jhentr]

Sounds like a good plan. I would add another 50lbs of LR (if not some in the tank, then some in the sump). You can test your water when you get back to decide if you need a water change or not.

The filter sock will only be for mechanical filtration. The LR will aid in biological filtration along with hiding places for your fishes.

[stangd1909]

My buddy said the same thing about more live rock....but i really have no room for it. I have about 5-6 LBS in the sump, added it today. So I have about 33LBS all together.


I guess I could stack it a little higher...but I wanna make sure the fish have enough room to swim around.


Thanks a lot for the input...

[chimmike]

looks good so far!

[MarkGP]

Definitely want to go with more rock if not in your sump it looks like you have plenty of room in the display. That and a good skimmer will be your filtration. The filter sock is just for removing particles in the water. I personally wouldn't do a water change until the tank has finished cycling....no ammonia...no nitrites! Then start doing water changes to bring down nitrates. Patience is the key here!

[stangd1909]

Definitely want to go with more rock if not in your sump it looks like you have plenty of room in the display. That and a good skimmer will be your filtration. The filter sock is just for removing particles in the water. I personally wouldn't do a water change until the tank has finished cycling....no ammonia...no nitrites! Then start doing water changes to bring down nitrates. Patience is the key here!



Thanks a lot. I guess I will add more rock then. Another 20LBS maybe, that would be 50 LBS total. I plan on getting a really good skimmer soon. I don't wanna go cheap on one, so tax money soon..... then skimmer.

[MarkGP]

What size sump is that? You could add some more rock in that too from the looks of it. It looks like you have more than 30 pounds in your display. Are you sure it's 30?

[stangd1909]

Yeah, I weight it out...33.8


It's a 20 gallon sump, I can put some more in it for now. But I will have to take it out more than likely when I get my skimmer.

[RCERNA280]

+1 on more rocks in tank and sump. This is just me but maybe you can shorten the return hose, you might get more flow from your return pump by doing that. Other than that everything looks great, I was thinking about getting a corner tank myself

[MarkGP]

Yeah, I weight it out...33.8


It's a 20 gallon sump, I can put some more in it for now. But I will have to take it out more than likely when I get my skimmer.

Oh yeah, forgot about the skimmer. So it looks like you'll have to have all the rock in the display. One of the downfalls of having a small sump.

[stangd1909]

+1 on more rocks in tank and sump. This is just me but maybe you can shorten the return hose, you might get more flow from your return pump by doing that. Other than that everything looks great, I was thinking about getting a corner tank myself



I was thinking about that this morning, I will do that tonight. Thanks for the reply...

[stangd1909]

Oh yeah, forgot about the skimmer. So it looks like you'll have to have all the rock in the display. One of the downfalls of having a small sump.



I'm going to add more rock to the display. I have thought about a bigger sump, maybe in the future.

[stangd1909]

I'm getting excited, the tank has almost cleared up and I will be adding 25-30 more LBS of rock this week. Then I will wait 2 weeks and add fish.




http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/f99bc9d6.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/stangd1909/Fish%20tank/eafb40e6.jpg

[MarkGP]

Looking good! Make sure you test for ammonia and nitrite before you add anything.

[stangd1909]

Oh, I will be doing that soon. I haven't check it at all yet.

[brian15876]

i have the same tank minus the canopy...looks like your moving along quite well good luck with it

[stangd1909]

Thanks a lot man....