New to Salt, some questions.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

Rythic

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 3, 2009
93
0
0
Moore
Hello all,

I'm ready to become a salty! Been doing freshwater, brackish (mudskippers/crabs) and have some dart frogs. Well my buddy is needing to move and no longer has room for his 55g tank that was at one point setup for a reef tank. So the equipment I received from him was a Rena fillstar XP2 filter, Coralife 48 Inch Aqualight With 2-65W Actinic / 2-65W 10,000K Lamp Straight Pin Base (with fans) lights, 2 300watt heaters, 2 pumps, 2 night lights and bunch of chemicals and 5lb of marine salt. I've already cleaned the tank out, painted the back black (outside) and picked up a hydrometer from the local learn2brew place.

So what other equipment do I need to get before I start. I dont want to mess this up and kill any critters. I'm kinda confused on what substrate I can use. I've read buying "live" sand is a scam and to buy normal sand and the live rock will make it live eventually? Is that the case? If so, what kind of sand do I get, play sand from HD or Lowes or does it need to be another type of sand? Whats the general rule of thumb for live rock per gallon? Should I start off with all the live rock during the cycling process or just start out with like 10-20lbs worth? I have a 10g tank laying around should I setup a sump with that or not worry about a sump? Do I need to get a protein skimmer if so links to some good ones. I'm sorry for so many questions, i've been doing a lot of reading just been getting some conflicting information. I would like to get started on getting the tank filled, just dont want to start to soon and mess up.

Thanks all!
 
Rythic;4585436; said:
So the equipment I received from him was a Rena fillstar XP2 filter (Its a cannister filter. You can use this but make sure you stay on top of keeping the pad clean. Its not the way I would go for a reef but if your tight on money it will work), Coralife 48 Inch Aqualight With 2-65W Actinic / 2-65W 10,000K Lamp Straight Pin Base (with fans) lights (Good for softies, some polyps and most lps corals), 2 300watt heaters (only need one 300 watt heater for a 55 gallon tank), 2 pumps (brand and model number please, flow is important in saltwater), 2 night lights and bunch of chemicals and 5lb of marine salt (5 lbs wont be enough to start with). I've already cleaned the tank out, painted the back black (outside) and picked up a hydrometer from the local learn2brew place.

So what other equipment do I need to get before I start. I dont want to mess this up and kill any critters. I'm kinda confused on what substrate I can use. I've read buying "live" sand is a scam (true) and to buy normal sand and the live rock will make it live eventually (also true)? Is that the case? If so, what kind of sand do I get (you need calcium carbonate based sand, which is commonly refered to as aragonite. Caribsea makes some that would be locally available to you under the "oolite" grade, or you can go through marcorocks.com and get his sugar grained sized sand. I have sugar grain size sand and I like it, but keep in mind that it is a pita to deal with), play sand from HD or Lowes (its silicate based sand that will make you very very sorry. Ive run in it in a small nano once and kicked my self for doing it.) or does it need to be another type of sand? Whats the general rule of thumb for live rock per gallon (start out with 1lb per gallon, and you can add more as you go if you want. Some corals that you buy will already be attached to LR, so you want to make sure you leave room for that)? Should I start off with all the live rock during the cycling process or just start out with like 10-20lbs worth (LR is expensive. Buy maybe 5lbs worth and then head over to a place like Bulkreefsupply and buy the rest in dry (dead) rock. This will increase your cycle time but will also save you lots of cash up front. Marcorocks.com also sells dry rock for a reasonable price, and has rock/sand packages that are priced fairly IMO)? I have a 10g tank laying around should I setup a sump with that or not worry about a sump (sumps are awesome for saltwater tank. What you could do is have a fuge in the 10 gallon and use your cannister filter as your return pump. You will need to either drill the tank or buy a HOB overflow to do this though)? Do I need to get a protein skimmer if so links to some good ones (im not well versed on skimmers, ill let someone else guide you on what to get. I dont run one, but that makes me the odd man out in this forum as well. They do work, and can be worth your time depending on your bioload). I'm sorry for so many questions, i've been doing a lot of reading just been getting some conflicting information. I would like to get started on getting the tank filled, just dont want to start to soon and mess up.

Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Responses in purple.;)
 
I also want to add about how much LR to buy. The more porous, the better. I have read that the stuff from Marcorocks.com is actually dug up from an old, dead reef, and its very porous. Pukani and Fiji is also good porous LR.

Porisity is important because beneficial bacteria work off of surface area, and the little holes that allow water through also provide a surface for BB to colonize on. But it also reflects on the over all density of the rock. Something like limestone isnt very porous when compared to say Pukani rock. So, the total volume of 5lbs of the limestone is going to be less than the same weight of the Pukani. So maybe 40-45 lbs of Pukani is enough to fill you up, and in the end, the clear winner in surface area for BB to colonize on.

Also, with dry rock, you dont pay for water. Sounds dumb, but when you buy LR, you pay for gross weight, which includes whatever moisture is contained within the rock.

Just some food for thought.
 
FLESHY;4586101; said:
K. That pretty much does it. Not going to bother reading all this.
Click to expand...
Read it nao
 
Okay. I have read it. Jeez.

I run a berlin system. (Only filtration is a skimmer, powerheads, and water changes)

My h2o quality is pristine. I love the berlin system, and in fact I prefer it to having a HOB or any canisters on a tank.

The best option for SW filtration though in my mind is to have a sump, and fuge to reduce nitrates and phosphates. I always recommend skimming, others say that it skims out coral and fish food. Oh well.

Recommended brand? AquaC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom