SlipperyWhipple
Active Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2019
- Messages
- 128
- Reaction score
- 281
- What state or country do you live in
- Arizona
Hello everyone,
This is my first post, first saltwater tank, and I would like some advice from the experts. I have experience with freshwater planted tanks and I feel like that’s given me some experience in frustration but also maintaining a living tank. So here’s what I got:
1. 60 gallon Mr. Aqua cube bought used and the previous owner had it drilled the tank for a single overflow. I ran hard pipe off that but the siphon kept creating a sucking sound so I put a valve on it and then it was at risk of overflowing if it wasn’t perfect. For that reason, I modified a HOB overflow box so that I could have an emergency overflow.
2. Current orbit LED light 18 inch wide.
3. 500 gph pump that I got from my lfs used - they told me it will hardly lose head pressure at 4 feet (maybe 50 gph loss). I have a variable speed DC pump on the way and this one will be my backup.
4. 15 gallon sump with 3 compartments. First compartment is flow over with my protein skimmer, second is refugium, and third is pump.
5. Reef Octopus 110 classic skimmer.
6. Single CFL 5000k bulb over refugium for Chaeto growth.
7. 2 Jebao OW-10 Powerheads on the side pointed at the front glass.
8. Dry rock that I got from a fellow reefer.
9. Caribsea “live” sand.
10. The rest I made myself from pvc and such.
I started the tank on Saturday, 9/14 with FritzZyme turbo start 900 and Algae barns refugium starter kit. I added a little bit of fish food to get the ammonia to rise and help the cycle. I’m going to eventually add corals to the tank, LPS, softies, maybe a clam. The few questions I’d like opinions on are:
1. What do you think about my setup?
2. Is there anything you would change?
3. Is there anything I’m missing?
4. What does your cleanup crew consist of?
5. When would you add your first fish? First corals?
6. Is there anything else you think I should know?
?
This is my first post, first saltwater tank, and I would like some advice from the experts. I have experience with freshwater planted tanks and I feel like that’s given me some experience in frustration but also maintaining a living tank. So here’s what I got:
1. 60 gallon Mr. Aqua cube bought used and the previous owner had it drilled the tank for a single overflow. I ran hard pipe off that but the siphon kept creating a sucking sound so I put a valve on it and then it was at risk of overflowing if it wasn’t perfect. For that reason, I modified a HOB overflow box so that I could have an emergency overflow.
2. Current orbit LED light 18 inch wide.
3. 500 gph pump that I got from my lfs used - they told me it will hardly lose head pressure at 4 feet (maybe 50 gph loss). I have a variable speed DC pump on the way and this one will be my backup.
4. 15 gallon sump with 3 compartments. First compartment is flow over with my protein skimmer, second is refugium, and third is pump.
5. Reef Octopus 110 classic skimmer.
6. Single CFL 5000k bulb over refugium for Chaeto growth.
7. 2 Jebao OW-10 Powerheads on the side pointed at the front glass.
8. Dry rock that I got from a fellow reefer.
9. Caribsea “live” sand.
10. The rest I made myself from pvc and such.
I started the tank on Saturday, 9/14 with FritzZyme turbo start 900 and Algae barns refugium starter kit. I added a little bit of fish food to get the ammonia to rise and help the cycle. I’m going to eventually add corals to the tank, LPS, softies, maybe a clam. The few questions I’d like opinions on are:
1. What do you think about my setup?
2. Is there anything you would change?
3. Is there anything I’m missing?
4. What does your cleanup crew consist of?
5. When would you add your first fish? First corals?
6. Is there anything else you think I should know?
Last edited:
