Looking for a mentor...

[NakiFantaki]

Title says it all... I'm a newb in this hobby and I have a TON of questions. I feel silly always posting a thread when there's a question I have that's hasn't already been asked here on the forums..
Anyone up for the challenge?
I'll bake you some brownies... lol

I have a IM Nuvo Fusion 20 gallon and I am in the aquascpaing phase..

Thanks in advance!

 

[rock_lobster]

Ask questions on this thread. Will be glad to help.

 

[NakiFantaki]

Well thank you Lobster! (Yea, I totally sang the song in my head)

I'll give ya a quick run down. I've always had freshwater tanks and always wanted a reef tank but never had the means to and I moved around a lot. Now I'm good to go and ready to jump it. I acquired a lightly used Fusion 20 all in one tank for a killer price a few months ago and since then I have been reading and researching this hobby. I went with the all in one style tank because I thought it would be the easiest route to go since this is my first one.

Fast forward to now... I just received my reef saver rock from BRS and gave them a 50/50 vinegar/water bath and then a nice good rinse and they are set up to dry outside in the sun for the next day or too. I am going to use Dr. Tims one and only nitrifying bacteria and going to dose with Dr. Tims ammonium to kick off the cycle.

ANYWAYS! Everything I have read says I should be using a pound of rock per gallon in my tank.. so I should be using 20 pounds of rock right? This tank is pretty small and I don't foresee that being close to possible. If I am only able to use 12-15 pounds is my tank going to suffer from the lack of the biological filtration? Is there a way to put small rock or rubble in the back where the return pump is to increase the amount of rock in the tank?
I have seen people set up little refugiums in the back of these Nuvo tanks and use a clip on light... what is the benefit to that? Could I use a HOB refugium instead?

Well.. sorry that was long and drawn out.. but that's my first question for now. I will add some pics of my aquascape attempts..

Current equipment list (in case that helps)
IM Nuvo Fusion 20 gallon
IM Skkye LED 18watt x 2 ( I know I need to upgrade my lighting at some point)
Stock IM media caddy
IM filter sock
IM triple media filter sponges
Ehiem 75watt heater
Refractometer
Chemi-pure Blue
API saltwater testing kit
Jabeo PP-4 powerhead/wave maker (just ordered this today)

My goals for the tank is to keep fish alive and fat! Kidding..
I want a few fish and some softie corals.. maybe some zoas and beginner/hardy corals.

If you read all of that.. then thank you!!!

I have a ton more questions but I don't wanna scare anyone away.

Thoughts on my first attempt at an aquascape? Tips? Tricks?

 

[sinekal]

The one pound per gallon rule isn't hard and fast. Make an aquascape that you like and it will likely provide plenty of surface for bacteria. If you have sand it's another surface, as is everything else that isn't already alive.

 

[NakiFantaki]

Ahhh. That make sense. Thanks.
I forgot to add what I am using for substrate! I choose a 20 pound bag of live reef flakes by tropic eden. I read great things and jumped on it.
As far as I understand - since it is live sand I don't rinse it right?

 

[Harris3005]

Usually with live sand I would say no, just put it in before the water and use a big plate to pour the water over but I think those reef flakes are a bit different and they do tell you to give them a quick rinse before using them.

 

[NakiFantaki]

It says minimal rinsing required in the bag, but I also noticed it said the same thing in the dry stuff.

 

[gashunk]

i like rock scape 2,3,5 also the refugium in the back can be for algae which you could do pods and more

 

[rock_lobster]

looks like you are ok the right track. Keep us updated) the hob refugiums are generally for small tanks that are not AIOs. You can also drop some ceramic media in the rear compartment if you feel you need additional filtration for a heavy bioload. I actually just bag up about a 1/2 pound bag of sand and put it in a high flow spot in the rear chamber.

 

[NakiFantaki]

Awesome. Thanks lobster.
So in the filter sock.. do I put something in it like chemi-pure or another kind of media? Or do I just stick it in? Do I cycle the tank with it in there or wait till after to put it in? Same question about the sponges in the caddy..

 

[rock_lobster]

• Let it cycle before putting any of your media in. They will just delay the cycling.

 

[NakiFantaki]

Okay cool.
Here is a silly question..

When setting up the tank do I put the sand in and then my rocks? Or is it the other way around? Does it matter??

 

[Fishyj]

I have done it both ways. I really think it a personal choice based on if you put fish in that burrow or not. On my tanks the rocks have always been put on top of the sand.

 

[sinekal]

I agree you can do it both ways. Rocks first probably gives you a more steady foundation, or at least the opportunity to create one. Rocks that are not a structural support for another rock probably don't need any added foundation so it probably wouldn't matter. I have rocks all the way on the bottom and ones the are more sitting on the sand in my tank.

 

[sinekal]

If I were picking one of your scapes I would go with the second one, and I would glue the arch so it doesn't fall, and I would move the other two rocks that are on the sides a little away from the arch structure because I think it would let me squeeze just a few more corals and I have a problem, I mean hobbie

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

I am really digging scape #5 looks great for coral placement.
All great answers so far in this thread!

 

[NakiFantaki]

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

 

[NakiFantaki]

Another quick few questions

Can I go ahead and start my cycle without my powerhead set up? It still hasn't shown up on my door step.

I'm am using Dr. Tims one and only and then the ammonia dosing. Should I wait till my water gets up to temperature before I make the first dose of ammonium?
I will be getting my saltwater premixed from my LFS... I assume it won't be heated.. so do I need to bring it up to tempature first before putting it in my tank?

 

[Tahoe61]

Another quick few questions

Can I go ahead and start my cycle without my powerhead set up? It still hasn't shown up on my door step.

I'm am using Dr. Tims one and only and then the ammonia dosing. Should I wait till my water gets up to temperature before I make the first dose of ammonium?
I will be getting my saltwater premixed from my LFS... I assume it won't be heated.. so do I need to bring it up to tempature first before putting it in my tank?

It's fine to go ahead and cycle with the stock powerhead setup.
It's also fine to add the cycling product although the water has not yet reached optimal temp.
For initial set up without live rock (animals you may want to preserve) the water does not have to be to temp. If you're preforming larger water changes in the future you can either move the water over to a larger container with a heater or simply fill up a larger sink or bath tub with hot water and place the water containers in the warm water to heat up( that is what I do).

 

[MaiReef]

I like setup 3 the best, but any will work. Now is the time to be patient. It is so difficult to just let it cycle then be slow on adding livestock, but that is the hobby. PATIENCE.