Beginner Questions
- Thread starter sdogatvman
- Start date
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rayn
Bluefin Believer
Sounds like a awesome start! Only issue I see is the canister filter becoming a nitrate issue unless you keep up on cleaning it.
Remember your rock and sand before you fill it totally though.
Remember your rock and sand before you fill it totally though.
sdogatvman
Community Member
Thanks guys! Does anyone else have any opinions on my system?
I agree. I used that exact skimmer and canister filter on my 55 gallon, and always kept nitrates about 10ppm. You can always dose with chemiclean or something like it to keep that down. (Be careful with that)
However, I was running the normal filter media and not the bioballs and chemipure throughout. If you have a UV light in there, make sure you keep it on.
Eventually, you may want to switch to a sump, but it's completely up to you. If the dosing works, then you're fine without it.
My best advice is this-
Keep it simple. Go slow.
Water- Instant Ocean has a pretty good salt mix that is good for the budget. RODI and ATO are great. You will save yourself some headaches there. Get a good test kit and test often, or just get it tested at your LFS every couple of weeks.
Rock- You can get a mix of live rock and dry rock and the live will seed your dry fairly quickly, especially if you use a reef supplement to get the coraline to spread quicker, such as Purple Up. Instant Ocean has a very simple Reef Supplement with an easy dosing cup on top you can't really mess up, and it works.
Get live sand in the 20 pound bags. 3 bags should give you about an inch or so bed, and that's all you need starting out.
Put your rock in first, and then pour in your sand. To keep your rock stable, you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a piece of plastic grid they use for fluorescent lights. Cut it and put it in the bottom of your tank and the rock will be less likely to slide.
Give your tank a day or two to settle out and clear up.
After that, come back to this forum, and go to the beginner's forums on how to cycle your tank. With the prepackaged sand and the live rock, it will be a good, quick process for you. Honestly, this is how I set up my 30g long about a month ago, and was able to cycle very quickly.
Once you get everything cycled and your water is good to go, you can start adding fish. When you are ready to add fish, GO SLOW. Come back to this forum. READ. Go to sites like liveaquaria.com and put in beginner as your level and it will tell you all about what you are wanting to buy. If you don't take a look at combinations of fish in your tank, it's easy to end up losing fish (and money) because homework wasn't done.
Corals- Yeah. Lots of people will tell you that you need to get some alien snot superman galaxy nuclear tank bred 500 dollar frags, but there's lots of stuff you can put in your tank that will look good and cost a whole lot less. mushrooms, zoas, palys, xenia, plate corals- all easy, and can withstand the water swings that can happen with a newbie.
Use this site often, and you'll be fine. Invest in the right equipment and you will be able to enjoy your tank rather than fighting your tank all the time.
However, I was running the normal filter media and not the bioballs and chemipure throughout. If you have a UV light in there, make sure you keep it on.
Eventually, you may want to switch to a sump, but it's completely up to you. If the dosing works, then you're fine without it.
My best advice is this-
Keep it simple. Go slow.
Water- Instant Ocean has a pretty good salt mix that is good for the budget. RODI and ATO are great. You will save yourself some headaches there. Get a good test kit and test often, or just get it tested at your LFS every couple of weeks.
Rock- You can get a mix of live rock and dry rock and the live will seed your dry fairly quickly, especially if you use a reef supplement to get the coraline to spread quicker, such as Purple Up. Instant Ocean has a very simple Reef Supplement with an easy dosing cup on top you can't really mess up, and it works.
Get live sand in the 20 pound bags. 3 bags should give you about an inch or so bed, and that's all you need starting out.
Put your rock in first, and then pour in your sand. To keep your rock stable, you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a piece of plastic grid they use for fluorescent lights. Cut it and put it in the bottom of your tank and the rock will be less likely to slide.
Give your tank a day or two to settle out and clear up.
After that, come back to this forum, and go to the beginner's forums on how to cycle your tank. With the prepackaged sand and the live rock, it will be a good, quick process for you. Honestly, this is how I set up my 30g long about a month ago, and was able to cycle very quickly.
Once you get everything cycled and your water is good to go, you can start adding fish. When you are ready to add fish, GO SLOW. Come back to this forum. READ. Go to sites like liveaquaria.com and put in beginner as your level and it will tell you all about what you are wanting to buy. If you don't take a look at combinations of fish in your tank, it's easy to end up losing fish (and money) because homework wasn't done.
Corals- Yeah. Lots of people will tell you that you need to get some alien snot superman galaxy nuclear tank bred 500 dollar frags, but there's lots of stuff you can put in your tank that will look good and cost a whole lot less. mushrooms, zoas, palys, xenia, plate corals- all easy, and can withstand the water swings that can happen with a newbie.
Use this site often, and you'll be fine. Invest in the right equipment and you will be able to enjoy your tank rather than fighting your tank all the time.
sdogatvman
Community Member
Not to rush it or anything but do u think my light will eventually work on sps when it comes time. (u can download a par data sheet on the website for *sicce led lighting*) I want to make sure I have enough light to be able to grow hard corals when it eventually becomes time. So what do u think?
ReefCartel
Well-Known Member
Cool set up. Try to get a sump because I wouldnt keep a heater in the display tank.
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
Not bad for a first time start up! - Keep researching and you will be well on your way in no time! Good luck buddy! ^_^
svogun
Active Member
Excellent start. Wish I had a tank like that when I was your age! I think what I would look into down the road is a sump that you can put a refugium in. That way you can get all your equipment out of the display and have it concealed.
saltyphish
Certified Sand Groomer
I have never heard of dosing with chemiclean. However, I would never suggest this especially for a beginner.
I agree. I used that exact skimmer and canister filter on my 55 gallon, and always kept nitrates about 10ppm. You can always dose with chemiclean or something like it to keep that down. (Be careful with that)
However, I was running the normal filter media and not the bioballs and chemipure throughout. If you have a UV light in there, make sure you keep it on.
Eventually, you may want to switch to a sump, but it's completely up to you. If the dosing works, then you're fine without it.
My best advice is this-
Keep it simple. Go slow.
Water- Instant Ocean has a pretty good salt mix that is good for the budget. RODI and ATO are great. You will save yourself some headaches there. Get a good test kit and test often, or just get it tested at your LFS every couple of weeks.
Rock- You can get a mix of live rock and dry rock and the live will seed your dry fairly quickly, especially if you use a reef supplement to get the coraline to spread quicker, such as Purple Up. Instant Ocean has a very simple Reef Supplement with an easy dosing cup on top you can't really mess up, and it works.
Get live sand in the 20 pound bags. 3 bags should give you about an inch or so bed, and that's all you need starting out.
Put your rock in first, and then pour in your sand. To keep your rock stable, you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a piece of plastic grid they use for fluorescent lights. Cut it and put it in the bottom of your tank and the rock will be less likely to slide.
Give your tank a day or two to settle out and clear up.
After that, come back to this forum, and go to the beginner's forums on how to cycle your tank. With the prepackaged sand and the live rock, it will be a good, quick process for you. Honestly, this is how I set up my 30g long about a month ago, and was able to cycle very quickly.
Once you get everything cycled and your water is good to go, you can start adding fish. When you are ready to add fish, GO SLOW. Come back to this forum. READ. Go to sites like liveaquaria.com and put in beginner as your level and it will tell you all about what you are wanting to buy. If you don't take a look at combinations of fish in your tank, it's easy to end up losing fish (and money) because homework wasn't done.
Corals- Yeah. Lots of people will tell you that you need to get some alien snot superman galaxy nuclear tank bred 500 dollar frags, but there's lots of stuff you can put in your tank that will look good and cost a whole lot less. mushrooms, zoas, palys, xenia, plate corals- all easy, and can withstand the water swings that can happen with a newbie.
Use this site often, and you'll be fine. Invest in the right equipment and you will be able to enjoy your tank rather than fighting your tank all the time.
saltyphish
Certified Sand Groomer
Looks like you are off to a good start. Just remember to take it slow and you will have fewer problems. How do you like the Hydor ATO? Also as mentioned above make sure you stay on a good maintenance plan on that canister filter they can become a nitrate factory.
