Setting up a 220gal

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Thank you both. Just curious about a few other things.
1. Do you recommend placing the tank on any type of styrofoam versus directly onto the stand?
2. Do I need to to lay anything on the bottom of the tank before adding my live sand?
3. I currently have about 90lbs of live sand, what is the most economical way to obtain another 100lbs or so?(other than CL)
Thank you
 
Ok, if your buying new let give you one piece of advise, register the tank for warranty immediately. Aquamarine /perfecto warranty all their large tanks for life, just fill out the forms and submit with proof of purchase. Now, for your questions.

No foam, place the stand directly on the stand, and make sure your stand can handle the weight. The tank DRY is gonna tip the scale at 400 lbs. Get help! I had 5 guys, should have had 6, its awkward weight.

What do you mean by live sand? Is it used, or just the stuff that's labeled live sand (it isn't)? I would use all fresh sand, and reefrocks.net has the stuff for cheap. They are also unbeatable for dry rock prices. Your going to want aragonite sand, don't opt for anything else. You don't HAVE to place anything under it, just rinse the sand thoroughly and pour into the bottom of the tank. You can if you choose though.

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Lay the tank directly on the stand.

Before you put your sand down, head over to Home Depot or Lowes and buy some egg crate. You can cut it with pliers and put it down before you put the sand in. Then your rock can sit on something other than the bottom glass of the tank.

Perhaps buy 100lbs of dead sand and mix it with the live. You can get 30lb bags of CaribSea® Aragonite at the LFS for 20 bucks. Or order it online for cheaper if you have the time to wait.

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Thanks. I have sand from my 90gal that's still in the tank and the tank is running(no fish in there). The stand is very solid. I'm actually concerned about my floor bring strong enough this things gonna weight 3k lbs or so. Would that egg crate stuff hold in or cause nitrates at all if it decomposes?? Thanks again.


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The 90 has no fish now, but did it ever? If that sand was used in a system, toss it. Yes it is live, but when you disturb it to move it in a new tank all you will end up with is detritus. Tons and tons of fish waste and it will cause more harm then the beneficial bacteria in it will cause good. If its never been used, but it's just sitting in an empty 90 gallon, go for it.
 
My 90gal was up and running 4 years or so in a FOWLR. Sold my fish back in November, took my tank down and moved it to new house set it all back up Filter and protein skimmer running. Toss out the sand?!?! #@%* I was hoping you weren't going to say that...
 
Yeah, I'd recommend you toss it. That old sand has some beneficial bacteria, but not enough to be worth the parameter swings all that kicked up waste will cause. If you absolutely must use it, rinse the hell out of it first.

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X2 rinse it well first. I might even dry it out outside if it's hot enough and let the sun bake it.
 
Well, the weather isn't the best here in IL for drying the sand off, but I really don't have a choice. I will remove the sand this weekend and rinse it as best as possible for a few days. Just found out yesterday I will have to add support to my floor for this tank, so that will give me more time to do things and shop for my goodies. Just a few more questions please.
1.What heater or heaters do you recommend?
2.Where do you place the heaters in the sump?
3.Lighting, was looking at LED's for the low/no heat factor. Your recommendation?
Thank you again for your help.
 
I put my heaters in the middle section (for me that's my refuge). Water will not drop below 6" in there with the baffles. So I put the heaters about 3" off the floor. That way they can never dry out and burn down my house...lol

Lights all depends on what you want to do. FOWLR lights dont matter. Corals = lights are everything.

I want to grow coral, so I went with LED. With tanks our size, it's the only option now a days - or else pay one hell of an electric bill every month...

You run MH on a 6'+ tank and you need water chillers, fans to cool the fixture, all kinds of crap...

My LED panels got here today via UPS. So check by build thread over the next few weeks.
 
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