Am I getting close to ready to actually add water?

DiverGirl82 · Jun 23, 2015

So I've been working on getting stuff to get my tank going for at least a month now; maybe 2, and I think I might be close to being ready to actually putting water in and starting the cycling process. Here's a list of what I've got. Please tell if I'm missing something that's a must have before putting water in to cycle. I know there are some things such as an ATO and an Apex controller that I'll want but I don't necessarily have to have them before I start so I'm not worried about that kind of stuff.

60g cube tank with stand and hood
Sump
Skimmer
Return pump with plumbing
Fans
Led light
Thermometer x 2
10g quarantine tank
Filter pump and bubbler for quarantine tank
Heater (not big enough for DT but could work in QT plus it's up to 106 here. right now and just going to get hotter. Do I need a heater now?)
RODI system
Lamp stand I thought I might use for QT
Ammonia alert badge x 2
1 basic power head (might must use it for now and order some I found on Amazon later)

I think that's it for now. If I can go ahead and start the cycling process with that then next paycheck I'll order the rock, sand and salt. I know I need buckets but I was thinking that maybe just to start with I might just mix the salt water right in the tank. Thoughts on that? I don't know why but I'm having the hardest time with buckets. I don't really want to go with 5g ones and have to fill them over and over and over again but the 32g ones are too big and I'm having trouble finding something in between. Plus I'm not sure how many I'll need and I'll need a cart to move them around when full. So much to think about. I'm just really itching to see this thing get wet. TIA

Daytonareefing · Jun 23, 2015

Your list looks fine to start as long as you can keep the water moving you will be fine. You can mix the water right in the tank the first time no problem just not after you add livestock. What are you using to filter the tank other than the skimmer? The tank really will not start to cycle till you add the sand and liverock but the water can be put in before that if you want too but its easier to add the sand then liverock then the water. If you need a smaller bucket you can get a 2.5 gallon from walmart or lowe's where ever. You may want to get the basic salifert test kits soon as well. As far as a heater where do you live? I don't use one myself but I'm in florida. LOL

DiverGirl82 · Jun 23, 2015

Daytonareefing said:
Your list looks fine to start as long as you can keep the water moving you will be fine. You can mix the water right in the tank the first time no problem just not after you add livestock. What are you using to filter the tank other than the skimmer? The tank really will not start to cycle till you add the sand and liverock but the water can be put in before that if you want too but its easier to add the sand then liverock then the water. If you need a smaller bucket you can get a 2.5 gallon from walmart or lowe's where ever. You may want to get the basic salifert test kits soon as well. As far as a heater where do you live? I don't use one myself but I'm in florida. LOL

There's also a sock in the sump for filtration and a section where I can make a refugium. I think I might put some of my rock and sand in there. If I'm going to mix the salt water in the tank can I put the sand and rock in first or do I need to put them in after mixing in the salt and letting it dissolve? I live in the southern CA desert so I'm thinking I might not need the heater till winter.

Daytonareefing · Jun 23, 2015

Keep an eye on that after you get your tank going I found they clog fast so I don't use them. The refugium good thing to use and you can use your sand or some people like miracle mud and there others just for the refugium and putting rock rubble in there does help a lot with filtering. It would be better to mix the water outside the tank if adding the sand and rock in the tank first. Say you mix the water in the tank first when you put the sand in put the bag in the tank and in the water and dump it on the bottom that way so it doesn't stay in the water column. I would not not worry about a heater till winter in cali.