New guy jumped all the way. Help me get going!

[Rscott]

Hey everyone!

So i have posted a few recent threads about jumping in after about 2 years of lurking around.
Originally i had planned on a $2500 budget and that is the topic of a thread many of you replied to.

Many of you suggested i look around for used gear. I took your advice and made some local calls.

I stumbled upon something remarkable. A LFS that used to be a Red Sea dealer had two tanks in stock. Giving them away for less then retail still in the crate. I was planning a Red Sea reefer 250.
The LFS had a 350 or 450. I needed white cabinet as some of you may have read because of the home decor. Of course the 350 was black and the 450 was white. Never thought i would jump in this big but here we are!

I could of got either tank for the same price. So although i think I’m nuts, the 450 was put in the back of my truck. I am now 100% at the mercy of you all of this great forum to help me get it going, learn, suffer a bit, with what will be sure to be painful learning and hopefully someday have a beautiful reef in our home.

I was not planning to go this big because we dont really have the room for that big of a tank but now, I’m 100% committed and its the centerpiece of our open floor plan fist floor of our house. In the middle of our kitchen and living room.


While i was there, i also picked up a Vectra M1 brand new in the box for a crazy price, 80 pounds of sand and a bag of Red Sea salt.

Last night i built the stand and enlisted some friends to help me move the tank in this morning. WOW
Is that thing heavy.

Its directly over the steel Ibeam in our basement so it should be just fine.

Although my plans may change I’m planning a mixed reef but mostly SPS....... someday anyway. I’m sure there will be many trials and tribulations first.

My next steps are as follows.

ADD FISH IMMEDIATLEY!!

Please see the pic this is a joke obviously

Second, i will order some rock from somewhere.

Suggestions on amount? 60 pounds maybe? 91 gal display 24 gal sump. I plan to spend a good amount of time aquascaping.
Also ordering a 6 stage RODI system and two 100 gallon tanks for water mix station in my basement.
I will have a plumber run the lines from the basement up the wall and into the inside of the tank stand. MY goal is to make this very easy for maintenance.

Aquascape and sand

Then i need to start learning about the cycling. I want to avoid the ugly stage like everyone.
Not sure what is best. A shrimp and Dr Tims?

I also dont know if i should get live or dry rock. I could get some live rock locally or some dry from a retailer online?

Pros and cons on this appreciated ...

Will start a nice slow cycling process.

Prior to that i still need to pick up some equipment choices. I’m looking through the classifieds for a nice skimmer, lights, and power heads. Quite is key with this. Its in the main living room area and it needs to be virtually silent.

Its 116 gallons total.

Thanks so much in advance for the awesome support you all give and comments and suggestions so far!

Some pics for you all regardless i know there are a million build pics but this one is mine

After a few years I’m finally in the hobby! (At least kind of....)

 

[Taxus812]

I am glad you decided to jump in and join us. The water is great! I don’t regret my redsea tank at all. I actually like it more everyday.

I went with cured live rock, live sand (rinsed) and seawater. This basically gave an old aquarium with new glass. I really didn’t have much of an ammonia cycle at all. I think that is about as short as it can be. I haven’t really gotten the uglies (did get a bad diatom bloom) and want to keep ahead of things myself.

My redsea equipment is very quiet (in my bedroom) but I have their AIO. I hope others can join in with more tips. However feel free to ping me on anything.

 

[BadFish619]

Great looking tank! I'd go live rock if possible. Will help your process along and super beneficial

 

[Rscott]

I had a good lead on live rock, its sitting at a LFS in a tub with a skimmer and pump just running.
I was concerned about pests so I didn’t spring for it yet.

Are pests a concern with a new tank and live rock?
Thanks for the comments

 

[Art2249]

Get out while you still can!!!! Just kidding. My advice is to use cash as much as you can. What your wife don't know won't hurt her!

 

[JohnnyTJ09]

I would get lights and power heads from either AquaIllumination or EcoTech.

 

[Rscott]

I would get lights and power heads from either AquaIllumination or EcoTech.

I’m thinking maybe 3 x15 pros or 2 x30 pros
Not sure

I know AI is good also

I’m also curious to hear the reviews of the new Red Sea lights when they hit the ground

 

[Billldg]

I would suggest getting more rock than you think u need, as we have all learned the hard way, we never have enough rock to build the aquascape that we envisioned in our head. I used Caribsea live rock because I didnt want to have to worry about pest. I also used Caribsea live sand special grade and love it. Your on your way to having an AWESOME tank, CONGRATS!!!

Also, it's very hard to do, but don't rush the build and stocking of the tank.

It may be hard to get an honest opinion of red sea lights because they r new. I have a Aquatic life hybrid system with 2 Ecotech xr15 g4 pros and its coloring up my sps nicely with plenty of par to spare.

 

[Rscott]

I would suggest getting more rock than you think u need, as we have all learned the hard way, we never have enough rock to build the aquascape that we envisioned in our head. I used Caribsea live rock because I didnt want to have to worry about pest. I also used Caribsea live sand special grade and love it. Your on your way to having an AWESOME tank, CONGRATS!!!

Also, it's very hard to do, but don't rush the build and stocking of the tank.

It may be hard to get an honest opinion of red sea lights because they r new. I have a Aquatic life hybrid system with 2 Ecotech xr15 g4 pros and its coloring up my sps nicely with plenty of par to spare.

Thanks!

I got 80 pounds of Carib sea special blend also!

I’m glad you like it i wasnt sure what to pick for sand.

 

[RJinPV]

I had a good lead on live rock, its sitting at a LFS in a tub with a skimmer and pump just running.
I was concerned about pests so I didn’t spring for it yet.

Are pests a concern with a new tank and live rock?
Thanks for the comments

Beautiful tank! I used live rock from a LFS and the pests that came with it were asteria starfish, bristle worms and stomatela. The last two aren't really pests because they consume detritus. The only one that bugged me were the starfish A Harlequin shrimp finished them off. Skunk cleaner shrimp finished off the stomatella (that was not planned, just an outcome of adding the shrimp). The worms have never gotten out of hand and I rarely see one. Some may say I got off easy. My tank cycled very quickly though.

For circulating pumps I have a gyre, AI Nero 5 and a Tunze. The AI Nero5 is the only one I absolutely cannot hear. They are dead quiet. Check on the tank glass thickness first if you consider them. They don't do well with thick glass

Is the plumbing for a drain? A source for new salt water? I hope both, because then the water changes would be super easy and lighten up one of the most annoying parts of the hobby. Seems like you're off to a great start.

 

[raylinds]

Congrats on a great score! Live rock will get the cycle started faster and you will have nice looking coralline right away, but it can be a crap shoot as far as hitchhikers. Some can be beneficial, but most are pests. Whether the pests are a major hassle or a minor issue is impossible to tell. In my last reef, the live rock contained something that killed my Flame Angel, perhaps a Mantis Shrimp, so I am planning on going with dry rock for my new build. With a little time and patience it will get to the same place but without any surprises. But many people have been very successful with live rock.

BTW, make sure you read The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef in this forum and watch Bulk Reef Supply's 52 Weeks of Reefing videos.

 

[Rscott]

Congrats on a great score! Live rock will get the cycle started faster and you will have nice looking coralline right away, but it can be a crap shoot as far as hitchhikers. Some can be beneficial, but most are pests. Whether the pests are a major hassle or a minor issue is impossible to tell. In my last reef, the live rock contained something that killed my Flame Angel, perhaps a Mantis Shrimp, so I am planning on going with dry rock for my new build. With a little time and patience it will get to the same place but without any surprises. But many people have been very successful with live rock.

BTW, make sure you read The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef in this forum and watch Bulk Reef Supply's 52 Weeks of Reefing videos.

Thanks
Definitely been watching the brs 52 week 160
Kinda over whelmed

Right now I’m considering building a manifold before the water goes in. I don’t want to do it later after it’s full and I suspect I’m going to want atleast GFO and carbon

The chemistry part is a bit overwhelming

 

[NY_Sea]

Welcome to the club!!! Great choice for a first tank. It will save you from wanting to upgrade in 6 months.
Lol. Regarding chemistry. Invest in the Hanna checkers. Especially the alkalinity one but the calcium and phosphate are good to have also. Quick and easy and you won’t mind testing. After you gather the rest of your equipment I recommend trying to get your hands on a TUNZE ATO. Made my life a lot easier.

I cycled my tank with a raw jumbo shrimp. Set it all up and get it running. Just Threw in the shrimp And waited it out.

Best of luck getting up and running

 

[Rscott]

Welcome to the club!!! Great choice for a first tank. It will save you from wanting to upgrade in 6 months.
Lol. Regarding chemistry. Invest in the Hanna checkers. Especially the alkalinity one but the calcium and phosphate are good to have also. Quick and easy and you won’t mind testing. After you gather the rest of your equipment I recommend trying to get your hands on a TUNZE ATO. Made my life a lot easier.

I cycled my tank with a raw jumbo shrimp. Set it all up and get it running. Just Threw in the shrimp And waited it out.

Best of luck getting up and running

Thank you!
What good bacteria did you add to eat the ammonia?

The only thing I will have is some
Live sand and rock but I can’t decide on what kind of rock to get.

It’s something that is hard to change.
I like the lighter color rock like the reef saver but I am concerned with algae growth on new light colored dry rock but like the price better

I am considering a gfo tractor to help with algae
Does that make sense on a new tank or will it not help with the ugly stage?

Thanks

 

[Rscott]

Started my aqua scape this weekend

Decided on Carib Sea life rock

Bought a bunch of really nice “shapes “ as they are called

More rock on order

Looking at about 80 pounds
Will post some more pics as I learn more

 

[RJinPV]

Keep the pics coming. Did anyone suggest you make this a build thread? I think you get recognition for it. Someone here knows how to do that.

 

[BeejReef]

Fantastic! That's a beautiful tank. Great size too. Really suits that room and is a great first tank size, from what I understand.
Glad you found a good deal! Give yourself an inch or two from that wall for cords and a broom handle to fish out stuff that falls back there

 

[Rscott]

Keep the pics coming. Did anyone suggest you make this a build thread? I think you get recognition for it. Someone here knows how to do that.

Awesome! I wanted to do a build
Thread. I didn’t know there was a specific place for it. I wanted to do that so you all could
Follow along

 

[Retro Reefer]

Great looking set up! Definitely start a build thread.

 

[RJinPV]

Awesome! I wanted to do a build
Thread. I didn’t know there was a specific place for it. I wanted to do that so you all could
Follow along

Check these threads out:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tips-to-make-your-build-thread-get-noticed.247496/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/build-thread.575324/