So I just bought all this stuff

[puttyman]

Hello.
I've been lurking for a while wanting to do a reef tank. I've had a freshwater planted tank for about 18 months now. I started thinking about a larger planted tank, then decided on a reef.

I've been watching craig's list and the dry goods forum and finally found a deal on some equipment. I got all the stuff from this sale-
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14174">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14174</a>
Really nice guy by the way. Very friendly and helpful.

Anyway as you can imagine I am chomping at the bit to start getting the rest of the equipment I will need and get started. Is it possible to start the cycling process with the equipment that I have and purchase other things as the live rock cures and the tank cycles?

What I have:
1. 120g aga rr tank with aga stand

2. 40 gallon breeder that was used as the sump. I presently has a 3 divider baffle about a third of the way along the length of the tank. I believe I need to add another divider splitting the remaining 2/3s in half? Then I would have a skimmer section, a return section in the middle, and a refugium. Does this sound right? Do I need a bubble tower? This is the part that is most confusing to me so far. I have read a good bit about them already but have no experience with a sump. There are so many different possibilities it is a bit overwhelming.

3. Several submersible return pumps.

4. Current usa 130w 48" cf fixture. Is this enough light to start the cycling? I plan on upgrading the light, now if necessary but later would be prefered.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post. I think now I'll go pay and join the club so I don't feel guilty for all the dumb questions I'm sure I'll ask in the near future.

 

[sagent3000]

no you don't at all i am sorry. that tank you have is all wrong. if you want me to help you will have to sell me the tank so you can get a better one. i think a fair price would be $300.

1. you need to get a RO filter that way you can make some water?
2. you need some salt, sand and some rock and you can get started?
3. how deep do you want your sand bed?
4. you need some powerheads too

 

[johnr2604]

If your asking if you have the stuff to start cycling then yes but there are some other things to keep in mind.
One would be that when you put the rock in it will cycle again unless you buy fully cured rock and transport it submerged to minimize die off.
Another is that some people say to cycle with the light some say without so you would be OK with whatever light if you want to run it during the cycle.I am assuming that you know that is no where near enough light to support a reef and would only work for a fish only.

Good Luck

 

[puttyman]

Sorry I forgot an item

5. Coralife Super skimmer needle wheel 125 gallon. Is this good enough to get started? This is another item I would like to upgrade later if possible. Maybe to a MR-1 since the are local to me.

Sagent3000, I assume you are joking about the tank. Ok so an ro/di system, and some powerheads. Thanks. I would just as well by the live rock locally if possible. Any of the local shops you would recomend, what about the drygoods and livestock section? I think I've seen live rock on there. How many pounds would you say for this tank? Sand bed depth? Is deeper better?

johnr2604
Yes I plan on getting a much bigger light once i need it. Maybe even a geisseman if I can swing it by the boss(wife).

 

[johnr2604]

At bare minimum I would say 1 pound a gallon to start. Salt Water City could help you out for cheap on the rock.

 

[tnyga]

Bleedingthought;160602 wrote: Hmm, 1/2 pound per gallon worked for me.

1 pound per gallon is way too much, in my opinion. Of course, it also depends on how you do your rockwork. But I can't imagine putting 210 pounds of rock in my tank!

I have a 130 lbs in a 90 and if one liked LR than it would need more....for me it worked fine

 

[puttyman]

Thanks for all the responses. So somewhere between a 1/2 to a pound per gallon. Sounds good.

Is this skimmer a pos? It kind of looks like it compared to some of the pictures I've seen so far. Do you run the skimmer while the tank and rock are cycling? Also does the rock and sand cycle the tank enough to start adding fish etc. slowly? I have read on reef central about cycling by throwing in a couple dead shrimp.

Does my plan on the sump sound reasonable?

2. 40 gallon breeder that was used as the sump. I presently has a 3 divider baffle about a third of the way along the length of the tank. I believe I need to add another divider splitting the remaining 2/3s in half? Then I would have a skimmer section, a return section in the middle, and a refugium. Does this sound right? Do I need a bubble tower? This is the part that is most confusing to me so far. I have read a good bit about them already but have no experience with a sump. There are so many different possibilities it is a bit overwhelming.

Thanks for all your help.
BTW does anyone know when is the next tour of tanks? Seeing some of this stuff in person has got to be soo much better than looking at pictures on the net.

 

[ralph atl]

your sump sounds fine so far, but here is some great info:

 

[ralph atl]

and Welcome!

 

[ralph atl]

you have to export MORE or the Same as you IMPORT when it comes to nutrients. First come ammonia, then nitrites, then nitrates. The key is to have a multi-attack plan to eliminate Nitrates & Phosphates. Live sand, Live rock, Fuge, Phosphate reactor, Carbon, all contribute to accomplish this goal. In addition to the Main Goals, Live rock & Live sand also is esthetically pleasing, supplies micro fauna, food, hiding places, etc.

 

[seedless reefer]

That was a great deal on that set up. you beat me to it by just a hair.

 

[puttyman]

Seedless Reefer;160648 wrote: That was a great deal on that set up. you beat me to it by just a hair.

Yeah, sorry about that. He said that there were people waiting if I didn't show. None of the stuff is shiny, but its functional. I looked at new stuff at marine fish and reef. Really liked the oceanic tech tank. I couldn't really afford a all new set up anyway, but I hate to be the new guy with all the shiny gear. Got to work your way up.

Mysterybox. I plan on the live rock, live sand, fuge. I was hoping to do a canister filter with carbon, and possibly phosban? to start out. The reactors would have to come later. I have read about this method on RC in the reefkeeping 101 articles. BTW if anybody is familiar with this method do the intake and output of the canister go on the sump?

Off to add the baffle to the sump.

 

[sagent3000]

puttyman;160526 wrote:
Sagent3000, I assume you are joking about the tank. Ok so an ro/di system, and some powerheads. Thanks. I would just as well by the live rock locally if possible. Any of the local shops you would recomend, what about the drygoods and livestock section? I think I've seen live rock on there. How many pounds would you say for this tank? Sand bed depth? Is deeper better?

yea i was just kidding. me personally i did 1.5 lbs per gallon for the rock. the sand i did a 5" Deep Sand Bed. there are many different opnions about the good and bad of Deep Sand Bed. i personally love my DSB but some people say its not good

 

[basscyn]

Welcome Putty!
I am a bit of a noob myself. I have been working craigs list for a sump/fuge tank too. You must be the one who keeps getting to these guys first.I have only been a member for a few weeks. This is a great community of reefers. I am still in the ASKING questions stage. I dont dare give advice...yet. Just thought I would send out a welcome.
Here <u>is</u> some guidance I have received here in relation to your question.
<ul>
<li>I have about 1lb per gallon of LR...I will be getting some more.As you can see...opinions vary. Keep your eye on the drygoods forum for deals.</li>
<li>Get the biggest skimmer you can afford...within reason. Figure 1/2 the advertised rate.</li>
<li>The melvesreef link is a must see</li>
<li>These guys can help you spend lots of $$$$:yes:</li>
</ul>
Enjoy!

 

[sagent3000]

and don't listen to any of these guys you should get

TROPIC MARIN PRO REEF it is the best salt in the world unless you can steal it from the ocean

 

[puttyman]

sagent. very funny. I think I need to get an avatar. I have used cartman from south park before. Nothing funnier than a smart *** child cartoon character. lol. I don't watch family guy as much, what's the baby's name?

Barbara. Thanks for the advice. Saltwater city sounds like the place.

BASSCYN. Yeah I know the big money is yet to come. Live rock, light, etc. If I buy used stuff I can stress how much money I'm SAVING to the wife. She's been doing it to me for years. lol.

Here's some pics of the clean up and sump with the new baffle. Riveting I know. As you can hopefully see the sump has 3 holes drilled in the side that have been capped. I'm guessing these might be useful in the future?

Now to go read about sand beds.

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before

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after

 

[puttyman]

Hey guys
I searched sand bed depth and could find much. I guess I should say nothing that wasn't buried deep in some build thread. Is this the way of it? If any one remebers a good article or thread here or on RC that would be great. Or maybe better search terms?

 

[sagent3000]

puttyman;160822 wrote: Hey guys
I searched sand bed depth and could find much. I guess I should say nothing that wasn't buried deep in some build thread. Is this the way of it? If any one remebers a good article or thread here or on RC that would be great. Or maybe better search terms?

try these sites

http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm">http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm</a>

[IMG]http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.php</a>

 

[puttyman]

Stewie, HA! Thanks for the links. Interesting reading. Sounds like the down side is you can't have that pristine white sand and it limits the type of critters you can have (gobe and certain starfish). Are there other animals you can't have with a deep sand bed? What other problems have you found?

Dawgdude,
As to the sand debate I have no idea yet. Why would any of the salt manufacturers have these chemicals in their salt? Are they a byproduct of something else?

So I put things together, plumbed the sump, and I'm doing a dry, or wet, run outside before I move it inside. Since this is my first sump and only second aquarium I though this might be wise. No leaks and no flood when I unplug the pump. After the tank drains down into the sump when the power goes I still have about and inch and a half left before it would overflow. I guess there is no way to stop a flood if both overflows clog?

Some more riveting pictures of sump and equipment.

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the sump plumbing

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the skimmer side of the sump is pretty much a bubbling cauldron. I've read about a bubble tower(some say they don't work) or a sock. Any input for a newb?

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the overflow plumbing that came with the tank. The overflow stand pipes are adjustable. How far do I want the water to fall in the overflow box? I guess I don't understand why you would need to adjust this?

Any input welcome? Even, "Hey dip sh*t don't do that! Do this!" lol. Now to get an ro/di system and start calling locally about live rock and sand. Some how I just like the idea of live stuff locally.

 

[puttyman]

I hope I didn't offend anyone with my wise cracks! I did have some serious questions in there though. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I went over to salt water city and looked at their live rock. Great price and really nice people. Thanks again.