New guy on the reef

Crimsonvice · Oct 12, 2015

Hello all! My name is Brandon. I am another new comer. I just cashed out of the sport bike world, and looking to get into salt water tanks. I am totally new to everything. I have been doing a lot of reading and poking around. I recently acquired a 60 gallon tank off of Craigslist. Score! Now I am just trying not to jump in so fast, that I cant keep my head above water. Feel free to pass along any input or suggestions.

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

Well I'm fairly new to this too but the best advice I can give you is DO NOT RUSH!! You want to hurry and stock your tank but in the long run it will cost you much more money trying to fix things because you didn't just have patience.

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

Was the tank dry or did you purchase it stocked?

Crimsonvice · Oct 12, 2015

mandylv23 said:
Was the tank dry or did you purchase it stocked?

It is dry. It came with a bunch of fresh water and salt water supplies. However, most of them look to be from the 90's. So I am pretty much gonna start fresh and get all new stuff.

Crimsonvice · Oct 12, 2015

...slowly that is. I don't have the budget to get it all at once.

4FordFamily · Oct 12, 2015

Welcome home! You'll love it here!

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

Did it come with and rock? If it did you can rinse it really well in hot water, then soak it for 24 hours in saltwater to clean/cure it of any bacteria and debris. I would also clean the tank and filter really well with vinegar and water. You can Eve fill it with this mixture and run it for a full days to purge the system. Then rinse it really well or run for a few more days with clean water.

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

I would then just start my cycle by adding live sand and live rock with RODI water(filtered water) mixed with salt or salt water can be purchased from your LFS (local fish store) for $1/gallon.

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

While your tank cycles I wouldn't add any fish as this can be a big stress on them

steelheader.262 · Oct 12, 2015

Welcome!!!

Crimsonvice · Oct 12, 2015

mandylv23 said:
Did it come with and rock? If it did you can rinse it really well in hot water, then soak it for 24 hours in saltwater to clean/cure it of any bacteria and debris. I would also clean the tank and filter really well with vinegar and water. You can Eve fill it with this mixture and run it for a full days to purge the system. Then rinse it really well or run for a few more days with clean water.

Ok thanks for the tip. It did not come with any rock. At this time I am looking to get it drilled and run plumbing for a sump, maybe 15 gal(stand wont accomidate much more in the storage area). Then protein skimmer and lighting. Thinking of going with T5's, but my LFS is recommending I go with Halide because of the dimensions of my tank (30x18x24). Then I will stock it. That seems like a ways off though.

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

You can buy bottled nitrifying bacteria to help speed up the cycle and get things stabilized faster. There are a few brands you can choose from if that's the route you would like to go. Here's a pic of my baby

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1444704474.860116.jpg

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

I have T5's and I'm very satisfied with those, I have LED on my 40 gallon. It's a matter of preference and budget

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

Crimsonvice said:
Ok thanks for the tip. It did not come with any rock. At this time I am looking to get it drilled and run plumbing for a sump, maybe 15 gal(stand wont accomidate much more in the storage area). Then protein skimmer and lighting. Thinking of going with T5's, but my LFS is recommending I go with Halide because of the dimensions of my tank (30x18x24). Then I will stock it. That seems like a ways off though.

As for the protein skimmer, that's something you won't need until you add fish. In my opinion I would get it going and while its cycling I would save money for protein skimmer.

Crimsonvice · Oct 12, 2015

mandylv23 said:
As for the protein skimmer, that's something you won't need until you add fish. In my opinion I would get it going and while its cycling I would save money for protein skimmer.

Sounds good. Thanks!

mandylv23 · Oct 12, 2015

No problem, if you have any more questions let me know and if I can't help you I can refer you to someone who does

Pete polyp · Oct 12, 2015

Yeah, let's take it one step at a time. Let's get it drilled and ready to get wet. Spend some time looking around at threads here so you can learn many things as your setting up. And welcome to r2r!