Got a tank, and a few accessories, now what?

[Bootstrap]

Got an Oceanic Pre-drilled tank tonight, and stand. Also a Current brand T5 light, 48". The light had some moonlight LED's in it, which I'm assuming are Ultraviolet, but one of the connections was corroded so I'm going to go to oznium.com and reinstall some new ones in the hood with upgraded LEDS. Anyway, on to pics. The Tank came with this Canister/skimmer filter, but it needs a couple parts (a pump, plastic shroud that is cracked) but i'm unsure if i want to use it anyway.. however I have already spent all this $$ on the tank and stand. I also received a large emporer dual bio wheel HOB filter, which I suppose is also kind of useless here... :sad:. So I've basically got a tank, and a bunch of "live rock" guess there is still a ton of money to be spent.

5x 5 gallon buckets full of live rock

I had really planned on doing LED lighting, but I guess the T5 will have to work for now, being that i really need to spend money elsewhere first, at least I have a light...

TLDR, fix canister filter? or get a custom refugium/skimmer/sump set up.

Also, I'm deathly afraid of this pre-drilled stuff! I might just have my LFS come out to make sure I set it up right and this thing won't leak on me.
really feeling kind of down about the whole thing lol, I'm just so overwhelmed, and all the $$ yet to be spent just to set it up!

 

[kimle]

I feel yea as I'm in the same boat. Looking at coral and fish prices doesn't make it any better on the wallet.

 

[solar]

That is a very good start i like that tank

There should only be 2 hoses coming from the trickle filter or w/e that is in the bottom of the stand, a input and a output, they should also be labeled on the unit itself output to the tank and input from the drain in the bottom of the overlfow. the last fitting at the bottom of the unit should be a drain valve make sure thats closed or it will leak tank on floor!

use plumbers tape for all screw fittings and should be gtg assuming the pump and all that works

To clean the hob soak it in a little white vinegar and water all that stuff on it should come right off soak for about 10-20 min then scrub it off with a old toothbrush
Pumps arent that much and you can probably take that filter apart and gut it and install some baffles and make your own sump/refugium looks to have a protein skimmer in it already!

Take more pics and i can probably help you out there!
I personally would put the emperor on the side the overflow isn't on, get the rocks in and put some water in it.... and get it cycling :bathbaby:

 

[Bootstrap]

That is a very good start i like that tank

There should only be 2 hoses coming from the trickle filter or w/e that is in the bottom of the stand, a input and a output, they should also be labeled on the unit itself output to the tank and input from the drain in the bottom of the overlfow. the last fitting at the bottom of the unit should be a drain valve make sure thats closed or it will leak tank on floor!

use plumbers tape for all screw fittings and should be gtg assuming the pump and all that works

To clean the hob soak it in a little white vinegar and water all that stuff on it should come right off soak for about 10-20 min then scrub it off with a old toothbrush
Pumps arent that much and you can probably take that filter apart and gut it and install some baffles and make your own sump/refugium looks to have a protein skimmer in it already!

Take more pics and i can probably help you out there!
I personally would put the emperor on the side the overflow isn't on, get the rocks in and put some water in it.... and get it cycling :bathbaby:

Yeah, the canister has filters and bioballs in it, from what I understand the bioballs aren't too helpful in a reef tank, but the water is likely moving too fast to put cheato in there.. I see that a lot of tank setups have no mechanical filtration as far as filters, so why use an hob filter at all?

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[cdness]

Don't use thread tape on threaded bulkheads. Use the paste as the tape adds to the thickness and can split ABS bulkheads easily...

Get some water in and start cycling. There is really no way to mess up a reef ready tank plumbing wise. As it fills just watch for leaks. That will be a maintenance thing for you anyway so might as well learn the spots that like to leak now before there is livestock in it...

 

[Bootstrap]

Anyone familiar with the brand of tank? Oceanic

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[Loki]

No need to worry about it being drilled. It's actually a huge plus! It should have two holes in the overflow. Does it have any in the back glass? Also before you do much else I would paint the back glass. Tanks look better that way.


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[Bootstrap]

No need to worry about it being drilled. It's actually a huge plus! It should have two holes in the overflow. Does it have any in the back glass? Also before you do much else I would paint the back glass. Tanks look better that way.


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Yes the two holes are in the bottom of the overlfow. What paint would you recommend. I basically was going to just use construction paper

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[Cory-girl]

Don't be discouraged.

I know the hobby can be expensive but it doesn't have to be. Check out the reef forums and craigslist for equipment sales. You would be surprise the good deals you will get on used products. Plus people have a wealth of knowledge they are always willing to share. I purchased a 120 with stand used. Then a fellow reefer was selling his live rock and equipment which I got for a great deal. Even frags at your LFS can come pretty cheap if you are willing to wait and watch them grow. This hobby can be very rewarding. Don't give up!!!

Start cycling your tank and watch what comes out of it at night. One thing I have come to learn about keeping a reef tank is that there is treasure! Sounds corny but true.

 

[Bootstrap]

Don't be discouraged.

I know the hobby can be expensive but it doesn't have to be. Check out the reef forums and craigslist for equipment sales. You would be surprise the good deals you will get on used products. Plus people have a wealth of knowledge they are always willing to share. I purchased a 120 with stand used. Then a fellow reefer was selling his live rock and equipment which I got for a great deal. Even frags at your LFS can come pretty cheap if you are willing to wait and watch them grow. This hobby can be very rewarding. Don't give up!!!

Start cycling your tank and watch what comes out of it at night. One thing I have come to learn about keeping a reef tank is that there is treasure! Sounds corny but true.

I hope to have the filtration system sorted soon, so I can add water. Which Is another obstacle lol

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[Loki]

I am painting my 150 and am using krylon fusion spray paint. I have don't about 10 coats and it looks really good. From everything I've read you can even paint the inside of the tank just make sure it cures before adding water/livestock.


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[Bootstrap]

Should be getting the glass cut for this plan today. Only running macro algae, maybe small pieces of live rock.

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[Loki]

That's awfully tall for a skimmer. My ASM g3 runs in 9" of water. You can always but it on a stand. The more water the better though. Also you may want a bubble trap after the skimmer. I know the sponge should do the job but one more piece of glass will stop them all.

I'll show you


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[Loki]

this one the skimmer is on the right with a bubble trap and then the fuge to the return pump. I like this one but would lower the baffle heights and make the return larger.

This I would nix the first baffle before the skimmer and move the skimmer over. I would make the return area larger. Also the bubble trap wouldn't work well because of the water level on the fuge side of it is to high

This is my favorite and I really wouldn't change much. I would however put a third piece of glass after the skimmer at the level you want your skimmer water to stay.

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[Bootstrap]

That's awfully tall for a skimmer. My ASM g3 runs in 9" of water. You can always but it on a stand. The more water the better though. Also you may want a bubble trap after the skimmer. I know the sponge should do the job but one more piece of glass will stop them all.

I'll show you


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Yeah the more height the better, i figured ill have to raise the skimmer 2", but this way my macro is minimum 7.5" of water, and max 11.5" which allows for a lot of evaporation (4")

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[Bootstrap]

I like your design too, but why is the sump section so large

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[Loki]

This is what I would propose to your design. It's not the only way to do it and your way would work but I thought I'd throw this out there.


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[Loki]

I like your design too, but why is the sump section so large

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Do you mean pump? That's because it's where the evaporation would happen. It will give you more time if a problem was to happen. It's the first place (when the tank is running) that will be affected by a change in water level


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[Bootstrap]

My mentor had me lower the second baffle for the same evap reasons, so i have 4" of leeway. I see what you're saying though... I may give the pump another inch of width

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[Loki]

That's a good idea as well I've not thought about that. The only problem I could see is when your chaeto gets large you will run into the problem of having a low level and your chaeto is out of the water.


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