Newbie future tank thoughts

[angiegreenwell]

Hi all,

I am still researching a first reef tank. The current thought is a custom 36x24x22 tank and stand. So questions...

While tank and stand are being built, does it make sense to get LR and cure it outside of the tank or as it is a new setup, just wait and do it in the tank?

Where is the best place to get LR? Buy it from craigslist/here/lfs/online?

Refugiums - is that needed out of the gate or a simple sump will suffice? Who doesn't love rubbermaid, right? Any thoughts on making one yourself vs. buying a sexy acrylic fuge? I'm a woodworker so I have tools. Just haven't messed with plastics before. And I have a track record of building something 3-4 times before I'm happy with it - so DIY is typically more expensive for me, although fun.

Skimmers - any brands people recommend? What would be ideal? Octopus seems to be mentioned a lot.

Lights - I like the look of a single fixture that spans the length of the tank with legs that sit on the edge of the tank. Any brands, features that are highly recommended? What would be ideal?

I know I haven't talked about what is actually going in the tank. The super vague answer is coral, fish, and stuff. At the moment I want to focus on the equipment basics but also a setup that is versatile and that could support pretty much anything. With that setup in my head I'll then figure out the critters and adjust the plan if necessary.

Thanks!
Angela

 

[smallblock]

yes it would speed up the cycle if you cured them before you set up the tank. Youll still need to give the tank a week or two after you set it up. The sand is what you want to get going too.

Make a sump out of a glass tank and add baffles accordingly, after you decide what skimmer for space limitations.

Go with T-5s the tank will be cooler in temp vs the metal H also acentics are usually in the fixture as well

 

[smallblock]

Also IMHO go with base rock and start a new. If you get LR from anywhere there is no telling what may end up in your tank.

 

[angiegreenwell]

It was my understanding you needed some LR to seed the base rock, and that it would take ages if it was all base rock. Did you start your tank this way?

 

[mbrady4him]

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">Sump ideas, I found a 55 gal tank for cheep and took it apart and had a glass place cut it shorter for easy access in and out of the sump, order a caulk tube of aquarium sealant and rebuild the tank. This one came out to be about 40 Gal sump with lots of room for equipment and fuge. So you may be able to find a used tank that you can work with for your set up, vs spending more money on an acrylic set up. Just an idea. </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The Light I went with a TEK T5 fixture 6 bulbs X 54watt on a 75gal tank, but I think it all depends on what you want to spend, what you are going to keep and what look you are going for. T5's are nice because you can pack many bulbs into a small space, the bulb life is longer than say MH bulbs, and they do not produce the heat that you get with MH bulbs and you also use less energy. I have a small 29 Gal tank with 175 Watt MH and 2 X 40 Watt actinic bulbs, I have to run a fan but it has been a good light for me. </span></span>

 

[hackman72]

I'd like to commend you first for researching and not just jumping in and starting the system up. Many times people have avoidable problems because they don't do their homework.

I'd buy actual LR myself. You'll wind up with hitchikers when you buy inverts that are attached to liverock anyway. It's not a matter of if you get a nuisance pest but when and what. When you get the liverock, have a plan in mind on how you want to aquascape the tank and this will help in deciding which pieces will go where. Play around with it before you cure it so you'll have an idea of how you want it. Place the liverock directly on the bottom of the tank to keep it stable. I'd also highly,highly recommend curing it in a rubbermaid tub and NOT the tank.

Sand was mentioned. Buy it dry, rinse it well and get a cup or 2 from several different "pest free" tanks from members here in the club. This will add to your biodiversity.

Sump/Fuge, I'd agree with those above and just use a glass aquarium, silicone in some baffles and it's basically ready to go. You can use a rubbermaid and use eggcrate to section it off. Since you like to DIY, look at pics of different sumps and plan what will work best for you. The possibilties are endless.

You're in Woodstock so I'd recommend you swing by Imagine Ocean and see Jenn. She's a wealth of good information.

Always remember, only bad things happen fast in a reef tank. It takes time and patience to be successful.

 

[chefrepo]

LR.........Buy it here or at a sponsor store. I have bought plenty from both and have never had any problems. Usually when you buy from people here it is usually coming out of well established systems.

Refugium......Personally I dont see it as "important" right now but it will be good to have down the road. With that being said, if you can, install it now. I think that you will find it to be easier to go ahead and plumb it in when you plumb in your sump. This will give you time to make any adjustments that you may have to make and if you get it in and dont like the way it is you can change it without risking having no filtration for your livestock for hours. As far as what to make it out of I have seen them made out of plastic trash cans, empty kitty litter buckets, rubbermaid tubs, old tanks etc. Get your creative juices going and have fun.

Skimmers..... What would be ideal? Kinda hard to say. Opinions on this vary. Some like needlewheel skimmers, some like beckett skimmers and some dont like skimmers.I have an old style MRC that still works like a champ. Got an old Coralife 65 that still pulls some amazing goo. Really it depends on how much room you have and how much money you want to spend. There are several high end skimmers for sale on the boards at some amazing prices but whatever brand you go with make this one of your first purchases. IMO it is an essential piece of equipment.

Lights...... Again this is another area where opinions vary. Some, like me, are fans of Metal Halides. Some prefer T5s while some like LEDs. I have seen some stunning tanks using all three. I have even seen them using natural sunlight. Depending on what you plan on having in your tank will really the final decider here. Are you planning on going with stony corals or soft corals or both?
Metals....about $70-$80 per bulb to replace every 9-12 months. Can also cause heat issues. Gives a really cool shimmer and is one intense light. May only have to have one or two to support whatever you are growing.
T5s.....Low to no heat issues, bulbs cheaper to replace, can get colors to enhance the look of the tank but depending on what you have you may have to have 6,8,10 bulbs to reach the intensity of MHs.
LEDs.... slim, compact, last up to 50,000 hours, no heat issues, some models you can program to have cloud cover etc. Very high initial cost but way cool.
No matter which way you go there are several high quality brands that are out there. Stay away from the el-cheapo brands you find on ebay and the like. You are asking for trouble. I promise.

 

[gnashty]

angiegreenwell;574897 wrote: Hi all,

I know I haven't talked about what is actually going in the tank. The super vague answer is coral, fish, and stuff. At the moment I want to focus on the equipment basics but also a setup that is versatile and that could support pretty much anything. With that setup in my head I'll then figure out the critters and adjust the plan if necessary.

Thanks!
Angela

I would go ahead and try to at least narrow down what you want to keep - it will dictate what type of lighting and skimmer (imo, get the biggest you can afford) you would need. some fish poo alot more than others and corals have different lighting needs.....Im a T5 guy myself.

 

[cr500_af]

Good job on looking before you leap! With live rock, I'd prefer to get it out of an established system (meaning, locally) that you can see while it is up and running. That way you can spot many of the things you want to avoid (aiptasia, hair algae etc). You still may end up with a hitchhiking animal of some type but the odds are in your favor. If you buy "new" live rock (which I did) you can end up with hitchhikers that you'll have to deal with, but that gives you something to do during the cycle (and we all know that we can't leave our tanks alone even when they have no fish in them).

Skimmers? There are many good ones, but you are going to need to plan the tank and sump size first (unless you use an external skimmer). Without knowing what your sump will be, you don't know what footprint will fit in there. Octo, MRC, Vertex, Bubble King... top choices IMO.

If you cure your LR (assuming what you get is uncured) in the tank or outside doesn't make a lot of difference. I'd personally do it in the tank unless it is very "fresh" (meaning hasn't been curing in the store system for long). Really fresh LR produces some nasty gunk while it cures, and the smell is just as nasty.

Welcome and looking forward to seeing your build!

 

[nanonano]

I'd get live rock. I don't have the patience for base rock. Plus I think part of the fun is all of the cool things you get can from live rock.

I promise you I never added all the bristle worms, pods, asterina stars, feather dusters, etc. etc. etc. that all reside in my tank now.

 

[jef4y]

I agree that I'd go with liverock. Always have... I initially started with 100% cured liverock from various LFS and friends, but as I've upgraded I've added some dryrock along the way which has cured & colored up just fine without causing problems.

The biggest thing is to keep an eye out for what is on the rock. If I saw tons of bubble algae or any aiptasia I didn't buy. I've been pretty lucky in that I've never had a bad hitchhiker...

 

[angiegreenwell]

I went and saw Jenn yesterday and asked my billion questions while my children ran around the store as if it were a race track. Thanks for the suggestion!

Hackman72;574921 wrote: I'd like to commend you first for researching and not just jumping in and starting the system up. Many times people have avoidable problems because they don't do their homework.

I'd buy actual LR myself. You'll wind up with hitchikers when you buy inverts that are attached to liverock anyway. It's not a matter of if you get a nuisance pest but when and what. When you get the liverock, have a plan in mind on how you want to aquascape the tank and this will help in deciding which pieces will go where. Play around with it before you cure it so you'll have an idea of how you want it. Place the liverock directly on the bottom of the tank to keep it stable. I'd also highly,highly recommend curing it in a rubbermaid tub and NOT the tank.

Sand was mentioned. Buy it dry, rinse it well and get a cup or 2 from several different "pest free" tanks from members here in the club. This will add to your biodiversity.

Sump/Fuge, I'd agree with those above and just use a glass aquarium, silicone in some baffles and it's basically ready to go. You can use a rubbermaid and use eggcrate to section it off. Since you like to DIY, look at pics of different sumps and plan what will work best for you. The possibilties are endless.

You're in Woodstock so I'd recommend you swing by Imagine Ocean and see Jenn. She's a wealth of good information.

Always remember, only bad things happen fast in a reef tank. It takes time and patience to be successful.