Bought the tank and need setup advice

[Carly Grant]

My husband and I found a good deal on a 41 gallon fluval aquarium complete with fluval canister filter 205, heater, propellers, etc. We bought it used, but in good condition. It is covered in salt, so I'm wondering how to clean each individual part and the tank before we put it all together?

We are interested in doing a simple reef tank (and this is my first time w saltwater, but I've had freshwater tanks). I've read you need to run a fluidized bed filter with the canister filter, but is it okay to do a refugium instead?

The last question I have for tonight is: the tank did not come w a hood, and I know we need one. However, the tank is a curved edge 24x18, and we have not been able to find a hood. Is there such a thing? If not, what can we do instead?

Any advice on any question is so appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Joeganja]

Well first off is there room in the stand to add a sump to make a Refugium. If you want to run a reef tank I recommend ditching the canister and getting a skimmer because it removes organics from the water as well as fish waste. It's the main filtration in a reef tank. Now you don't need to have a hood if you don't want to. It's more of a preference. What you can do to clean the tank is take some white distilled vinegar and dip a toothbrush and start scrubbing and rinse it off with water. You will need lights for keeping coral all depends on your budget and what you plan to keep

 

[Mjp83]

Welcome to the saltwater world!
I converted my bow front 72 to saltwater recently and you will never look back. I also added a sump, with protein skimmer and a small Tupperware with filter pads and a bag of carbon ( rinse before), and ditched the canister. A 20 long should work.
Do you have a bow front? I also could not find a hood, so I use a combo of t5's and bought LEDs and they sit about 1/2 " off the tank. I also have the glass lids on the tank. It's not bright above the tank, and does not bother us, unlike some suspended lights will.

Read up, lots of good info here, live rock is actually your best filter. I bought some from an existing reef and it helped cycling my tank. In salt, patience is the key, then, enjoy!