Saying hello - starting first tank (1 Viewer)

[williamweber]

Thought I would say hello. I got turned on to the reef keeping hobby very recently (just the last few weeks) and I've been taking in as much information as I possible can. Though I only just found the TCMAS forums a few days ago.

Right now I don't have an aquarium or any equipment of any kind just a bit of an obsession with getting started.

I'd like to start primarily coral tank on the smaller side (I live in an apartment) in the 30 to 55 gallon range. Though I have to say that for sheer looks this little 16 gallon keeps drawing me back.

http://innovative-marine.com/nuvo-aquarium/nano16-0302.html

Without the ability to do dedicated circuts and needing to be basically 100% overflow safe, do you guys have any suggestions or thoughts on which way to go?

Is the 55 going to be too large (48"L, 12"W, 22"H)? I love the idea of a display tank and a smaller sump placed in the stand but I think for a smaller place that might be overkill.

We will likely be moving in about 2 years so perhaps a smaller tank for this place with plans to upgrade when I finally get into a single family dwelling.

Anyway, that's really my first obstacle. What size tank is going to be reasonable? I know that smaller tanks are harder to keep stable but I'm not worried so much about that. I'm not one to avoid something because it's difficult. Most importantly I want to midigate issues with stuff that I can't control, like power redundancy, repercussions of an overflow (an overflow in a house I can handle, dowsing my downstairs neighbor I can't) and that sort thing are more important than the difficultly of keeping a smaller tank.

Thanks, and I look forward to getting to know everyone. I'm also very excited for the Frag Swap in Nov. I didn't have any idea something like that was going on in the Twin Cities.

-Will

 

[Tifosi]

Welcome to TCMAS Will! I sent you a PM.

 

[deneed4spd]

I say a 40g breeder. Buy for $40 bucks, get drilled for cheap. Put a 20g sump under for skimmer, heater. Do a herbie so it cant over flow.

 

[fivesmallworlds]

I'll second the 40b display, have had tanks from 5g to 75g in the past and am getting back in with the 40b. Best overall for a coral tank IMO in the smaller tank sizes.

Welcome to the Club!

 

[Merkurfan]

I say the 65 sitting in my shop. water ready 4 bulb T5 fixture with new bulbs and timer, all glass sump, mag 7 return pump, heater, tops and stand..

About all it could use is a skimmer.

349.99

Or, Rafe was looking for a 65, if he still is, you guys can split it and put a 40B on it using all the parts the 40B and 65 share the same foot print

 

[williamweber]

I like size of the 40b. I might have a line on a gratis 55 or 30 which is what prompted the mention of those sizes. Don't know for sure and don't know the state of the tanks (drilled or not, etc.). So I may be starting from scratch. I should know in the next couple of days.

I think a 65 is going to be too large for my space. I'm a little limited on where I can place it and there are "other" considerations (*cough* wife *cough*) that need to be taken into account. She's still a little skeptical about the whole thing so I have to work within some boundaries.

Thanks for the suggestions, it's much appreciated.

Will

 

[Merkurfan]

I like size of the 40b. I might have a line on a gratis 55 or 30 which is what prompted the mention of those sizes. Don't know for sure and don't know the state of the tanks (drilled or not, etc.). So I may be starting from scratch. I should know in the next couple of days.

I think a 65 is going to be too large for my space. I'm a little limited on where I can place it and there are "other" considerations (*cough* wife *cough*) that need to be taken into account. She's still a little skeptical about the whole thing so I have to work within some boundaries.

Thanks for the suggestions, it's much appreciated.

Will

The 65 is the same width/depth of a 40B. just taller

 

[ArstenA]

40B is awesome because of the front to back distance. It give you a lot more area for rock work.

 

[Fishmonger70]

Welcome to the TCMAS Will.

I agree with everyone else as far as the 40B for a reef tank. A 55 gets a bit narrow for setting up a nice aquascape. You can have the bottom or back drilled for an overflow too.

 

[kieffer_5]

i have a 50 gallon which is the same as a 40 breeder and its awesome! so much better then a 55 because you get 18 in front to back which permits you do do better aquascaping and a 20 long fits for a sump perfectly....but if you want to go on the safe side of money i have a 20 high with 15 or 10 gallon sump setup which includes skimmer, t5's, stand, filter, powerheads live rock and sand pm me if interested but i say 40 breeder or 50 gallon r if you can find one
good luck its a fun/frustrating hobby hope it works for ya:beerchug:

 

[williamweber]

Well I'm looking into a 40B. My spreadsheet laying out the initial cost of everything is getting a little intimidating.

On the "process" side of things I was wondering the general order of things at the very beginning.

For the sake of discussion, lets assume I'm going to do a 40B with some sort of sump (probably setup with a herbie or beananimal overflow), sand, rock (probably dry because I have the extra time and a need to keep costs down where I can) with mixed coral and just a couple of fish.

What I"m wondering is how the first 6 to eight weeks progress in terms of the first cycle and what gets added to the tank when and how best to proceed.

On the setup side of things, my understanding is that i would test whatever tank for leaks by filling it and just letting it sit for a few days. Then drain it and place the rock first, then sand and then fill it with salt water. Should I get everything setup with the sump right off the bat too, getting all the plumbing, pump and whatnot going, or can that wait for a little bit?

After I get the water in the tank am I just letting it sit (I guess I assume I should have my powerheads going to keep things oxygenated) while the dry rock gets all livened up. Should I be starting water changes right off the bat? Does any livestock go in right away? CUC, a hearty fish or is it just the rock and the sand until the rock sets up? I've also read that I don't need the lights on during this initial phase.

Well that turned into a deluge of questions. Thanks all for the suggestions and help. I'll probably start a build thread as soon as I acquire a tank in order to track the progress.

-Will

 

[diermmen]

I would recommend getting your entire sump system in place with the tank while everything is dry yet. It makes any pipe-fitting easier, as well as any adjustments (e.g. moving the tank that 1/2" so you can get a pipe run cleanly) *much* easier. I would then leaktest the entire system with freshwater. Also useful to do your first power-out test then.

Dry rock is absolutely fine, and often a nicer/easier start as you don't have someone else's pests (yet) to deal with. Starting with your rockwork design is a great place. I recommend drilling/rodding where you can for holding rocks together, and potentially drilling some holds where you can mount some corals later on airline tubes. Helps out a LOT.

Next you can add sand, then water. I recommend setting a bowl on your sandbed to pour water into so you don't send it all over the place.

I prefer to then bring the system live at that point (no skimmer, but lights and pumps, etc) and let it sit for a week or two. I like to toss in some Prodibio and fire a cube of mysis or something in to give it something to 'chew' on for the cycle, rather than starting with a fish. There are certainly good resources for what a tank cycle looks like, but watch for the algae to change (green vs brown, etc.).

Once that goes for a week/couple weeks and your tests are coming out clean, it is time to think about stocking a fish and start your CUC.

 

[williamweber]

How much rock?

I know this can be a question with very subjective "it depends" sort of answer. But I'm likely going to order the reef saver rock from BRS and I'm wondering what a good benchmark is in terms of how much rock to get. I guess I was thinking of ordering 30 to 50lbs for a 40B tank. I know the reef saver is a little heavier so should I be planning on more than that?

I don't want to go completely overboard, but I also don't want to do a minimalist thing. And I'd like to make sure I have enough surface area for some nice corals down the road.

-Will

 

[acharpenter]

How much rock?

I know this can be a question with very subjective "it depends" sort of answer. But I'm likely going to order the reef saver rock from BRS and I'm wondering what a good benchmark is in terms of how much rock to get. I guess I was thinking of ordering 30 to 50lbs for a 40B tank. I know the reef saver is a little heavier so should I be planning on more than that?

I don't want to go completely overboard, but I also don't want to do a minimalist thing. And I'd like to make sure I have enough surface area for some nice corals down the road.

-Will

Its not so much how many pounds as it is about how much surface area is available on the rock itself.

 

[diermmen]

Its not so much how many pounds as it is about how much surface area is available on the rock itself.

Agreed. I highly recommend hand-picking if at all possible. You can go directly to BRS and handpick if you want. I've also had great luck at SWE both on dead rock and on live rock. As Angie says, it is all about the shapes. If you can fill the tank with pleasingly shaped rocks that provide a large amount of surface area, you win. Weight becomes somewhat irrelevant at that point.

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Welcome to TCMAS. I also would recommend a 40br as a starting system. Just an awesome tank.

LR I would recommend getting between 20-40lbs to start with. More porous the rock is the less you will need.

Generally your going to be spending around $800-1200 to setup a 40br if everything is done new. Just make sure you dont "skimp" on lighting, skimmer, powerheads, and most of your equipment. The better equipment you buy the easier it will be on you later on. :beerchug:

 

[acharpenter]

You can go directly to BRS and handpick if you want.

Last I heard - they no longer let the public cherry pic through the rock anymore. Unless you have an in.....

Chad Vossen was denied until he brought Jen with him last time around :gay1:

 

[diermmen]

Last I heard - they no longer let the public cherry pic through the rock anymore. Unless you have an in.....

Chad Vossen was denied until he brought Jen with him last time around :gay1:

Oh, for serious? Le sad.

 

[deneed4spd]

I heard that also. no more cherry picking. i know on friday's they have beer day. Maybe if you bring them a 12 pack, they will let you in :beerchug:

I ran my initial cycle without lights. Turned the skimmer on couple weeks later after i poured in the bacteria. After 2 months of dark cycling with the skimmer on, i turned on the lights and didnt get any GHA or anything else.

 

[Tifosi]

Last I heard - they no longer let the public cherry pic through the rock anymore. Unless you have an in.....

Chad Vossen was denied until he brought Jen with him last time around :gay1:

Did they give him a discount too? :biggrin: