My First Tank

[Saltine]

Just picked up this tank. Been lurking and waiting for a deal, I think I found a decent one and I'm ready to get started. Currently waiting on the substrate to settle, it is live sand containing all types of invertebrates. Currently just running a pump to circulate the water and an aerator to get some air in the water. Not positive what to do from here, just waiting for everything to calm down then top off and test the water. The Sea Clone 100 skimmer had a bad pump so the previous owner bought the Reef Octopus. Looking to make a mostly coral tank along with just a couple fish. I think adding a refuge will make my life easier and I also need more water flow. Will the Fluval be enough filtration for now? Tank is 36 gallons.

Thank for the comments and suggestions.

Salt.

PS Sorry about pic size, not sure why they are huge.

<a href="http://imgur.com/emxaxum"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/emxaxum.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/LW0ITMf"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/LW0ITMf.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Before Breakdown

<a href="http://imgur.com/GA8kPe5"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/GA8kPe5.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

[Frantz]

Filtration needs will be based on your bioload. I personally like coral heavy as well. Fish take more filtration. What's your livestock dreams on this one?
Make sure you read up on cycling, you'll need a full cycle before adding livestock. It's a patience game. Get some liverock and get your landscaping in order. Set your improved flow to work with the rockscape. The slower you go, the better the success will be.

[Mark9]

People typically say to put your rock on the glass, not the sand. Things may shift when on sand. So when you get rock, you may want to dig out some sand and place them on the glass.
If you want to shorten your cycle, put in a bottle of bio-spira after you get your rock.
Use ro/di water.
You'll need a test kit for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate so you know when your cycle is done.

[Ron Reefman]

I'd make a small 'stand' out of egg crate with 3/4" pvc pipe legs. Make the legs 1" to 2" taller than the sand is deep. Drill a small hole near one end of the leg and use small plastic cable ties to attach the pipe to the egg crate. Place the 'stand' where you want it and create you rockscape on top of it. When you are done, place some smaller rocks along the edge of the stand and in the sand. It will hide the edge.

Now water can flow under 90% of your rock which will help reduce dead spots that can contribute to red cyano patches and you've increased the amount of sand for your sand loving critters like snails, shrimp, sea stars, sea cucumber, wrasses and more.

I did this 5 years ago when I built an entire rock wall that stacked up against the back glass of the aquarium and it's been great. I added a small yellow sea cucumber I brought home from the Keys about 3 years ago and it has more than doubled in size. But it has so much sand available under all my rock (up on the egg crate stand) that we only see it once every 2 to 4 weeks when it makes a pass along the front of the rock wall. Oh, and I never have issues with cyano bacteria.

[Saltine]

People typically say to put your rock on the glass, not the sand. Things may shift when on sand. So when you get rock, you may want to dig out some sand and place them on the glass.
If you want to shorten your cycle, put in a bottle of bio-spira after you get your rock.
Use ro/di water.
You'll need a test kit for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate so you know when your cycle is done.

Thanks! The previous owner put flat rocks against the glass then covered them with sand to make it so the live rock doesn't shift. So I think I will be ok. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Salt

[Saltine]

I'd make a small 'stand' out of egg crate with 3/4" pvc pipe legs. Make the legs 1" to 2" taller than the sand is deep. Drill a small hole near one end of the leg and use small plastic cable ties to attach the pipe to the egg crate. Place the 'stand' where you want it and create you rockscape on top of it. When you are done, place some smaller rocks along the edge of the stand and in the sand. It will hide the edge.

Now water can flow under 90% of your rock which will help reduce dead spots that can contribute to red cyano patches and you've increased the amount of sand for your sand loving critters like snails, shrimp, sea stars, sea cucumber, wrasses and more.

I did this 5 years ago when I built an entire rock wall that stacked up against the back glass of the aquarium and it's been great. I added a small yellow sea cucumber I brought home from the Keys about 3 years ago and it has more than doubled in size. But it has so much sand available under all my rock (up on the egg crate stand) that we only see it once every 2 to 4 weeks when it makes a pass along the front of the rock wall. Oh, and I never have issues with cyano bacteria.

I had never thought about this, do you have any pictures of the egg crate idea? There are currently a few flat rocks underneath the sand to provide stability of the live rock. Should i just sit the egg crate on those and then the live rock on that to provide circulation?

Thanks,
Salt

[Shawn O]

You could just cover the entire bottom of the tank with a piece of egg crate and stack your rocks on that, which would be a LOT easier, but Ron's idea sounds pretty good. Some folks use PVC Ts, elbows and straights to make a support system and fill in with sand.

crude sketch attached

[Saltine]

Thank you!