New Saltwater Adventure

[Gabriel Garcia]

Hello everybody.... I have been browsing through the forums for the last week or so and soaking in all the vast information out there. I have had freshwater aquariums before and am almost ready to make my jump in to saltwater. I have been wanting to "get my feet wet" pun intended for some time now. I just happened across a tank 60g Marineland tank for a great price and couldn't pass it up. I went to my LFS and they were extremely helpful in giving me a list of equipment to get my tank started. I am currently building a house which wont be done for another few weeks so I am taking advantage of that time frame to research and plan my build. I'd love to get the input positive and negative from the members of this forum. Thank you in advance for you help and advice.

Currently I have
Tank 60g
Stand (Considering building custom stand)
Aquatop 200 watt submersible heater

Setup recommended by LFS
Aquatop CF400-UV Canister Filter
60 pounds of live sand
40 - 60 pounds of dry rock
I don't remember the brand but they did recommend an LED lighting system Ill update it when I go back to the LFS

I know most members here would recommend a sump. I am doing research in to possibly using one I have not ruled it out, but I know I would (at least as of right now) be more comfortable using the canister. I am not sure if the tank I got can be drilled, I would suspect that it can't based on the deal I got on it. LFS advice is to setup tank with Live sand (comes with bacteria packets(if that is what its called)) and dry rock. Mix salt water in buckets and add to tank until full and salt level is right. Then run the tank for about 2-3 days until its clear then add two to three fish to start cycle. A friend of mine who uses the same LFS and setup his tank using their live sand and rock did this and his tank is cycling great. Please once again I want to hear your opinions. Now they did say it would be about three months or so before I should start introducing any corals.

Equipment that I am considering after reading the forums.
SUNSUN 800 gph Submersible Circulation Wave Maker (1 maybe 2)
An RO system please recommend I don't think with a 60g tank I will need a huge one but big enough I don't have to run to LFS for water changes.
Digital thermometer
Possibly a protein skimmer (LFS didn't recommend this. I have mainly read about people running these in their sumps. Can you run one in open tank?)

I attached a picture of the tank taken at the store. I am in the Army and where I have some disposable income, enough to get in to this hobby I do not want to break the bank ether. Thank you for your help and consideration and I look forward to hearing your advice. I plan to keep this thread up to date or create a build thread to document my progress and of course share my adventure with other enthusiasts!!!

 

[Dtackett]

don't get the canister, a sump is easier and more reliable. canisters tend to become nitrate factories unless you do a ton of maintenance. ive seen successful tanks ran off of canisters and when I ask what their maintenance is, it tends to be taking down the canister and doing a full cleaning once or twice a week. that's insane. with a sump your biggest issue will be how you do your overflows and returns. once you've got the plumbing done and setup how you want it, sumps are easy and reliable.

 

[Dtackett]

as for the protein skimmer, you can run a hob such as a reef octopus. but if you go with a sump I recommend the SCA-301 skimmer. its 95 bucks shipped and does amazing. ive used one for almost a year now with no issues. I also recommend a couple rw8 wavemakers instead of the sun sun.

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

Thank you Dtackett I will talk to my LFS about a pump and if my tank can be drilled. Also how much maintenance the canister will require.

 

[Tahoe61]

Canisters become a depository for detritus. One of the primary goals in keeping SW is to export nutrients out of the system. Canisters do work and some SW hobbyist think very highly of them, but they do not do the best job of exporting nutrients out of the system. Once a week to every two weeks for cleaning the filtration media.

 

[steelheader.262]

Welcome to R2R!!!

Good luck with the build.

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

OK, I know the sump is the best way to go and most people in this forum prefer them. I did some research and if I cant drill the tank the I will need to do an overflow to get a sump going. I want to have minimal possibility of water spillage. Currently the plan is to place the tank in the formal living room which is carpet as long as I can get it level. I'd prefer to put it on the hardwood, but can't really think of a spot that's not high traffic and optimizes viewing time. For a 60g tank how big of a sump is needed. I would be building my own to save some money. Gonna try and make a trip to the lfs today and discuss sump options. Any opinions on how the lfs advices to start my tank cycle. Also any recommendations on a RO for a 60g tank.

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

Welcome to R2R!!!

Good luck with the build.

Thank you!!! Just in the planning stages now. Going to be about a month or so before my vision begins

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

LEDs recommended by LFS is the Orbit Marine LED 48-60 inch. I have read mixed reviews about these lights some say its great others say its not powerful enough for corals. If anyone has any experience with these I would love to have your opinions.

 

[Devon93274]

I would let your live sand and rock cycle a month before adding fish. Personal oppinion so you don't waste money.

 

[reynaldoramon]

LEDs recommended by LFS is the Orbit Marine LED 48-60 inch. I have read mixed reviews about these lights some say its great others say its not powerful enough for corals. If anyone has any experience with these I would love to have your opinions.

It depends on type of coral. I have it. I can grow softies and lps just fine, and with great color. Sps and clams definitely out of the question. I am in the planning stages of upgrading to a 55 gal from 29 gallon. I'm planning on getting Current Orbit Marine Pro LEDs this time around. Has more color spectrum and much higher par levels. Price jump is significant to the Pro version. Check out prices for most your equipment on amazon. That's what I do.

 

[DannyB]

OK, I know the sump is the best way to go and most people in this forum prefer them. I did some research and if I cant drill the tank the I will need to do an overflow to get a sump going. I want to have minimal possibility of water spillage. Currently the plan is to place the tank in the formal living room which is carpet as long as I can get it level. I'd prefer to put it on the hardwood, but can't really think of a spot that's not high traffic and optimizes viewing time. For a 60g tank how big of a sump is needed. I would be building my own to save some money. Gonna try and make a trip to the lfs today and discuss sump options. Any opinions on how the lfs advices to start my tank cycle. Also any recommendations on a RO for a 60g tank.

You will want a sump that will fit in the stand. If that is only 20g then that is better than nothing but you want as large as will fit with any equipment you might want ie skimmer, reactors, in the future. I am all for building your own sump. One of the easiest ways to save money in this hobby is DIY.

I very much dislike your LFS's thoughts on cycling. You do not have to put an animal through that kind of experience for your tank to cycle. I would do dry rock and dry sand and buy some cycling bacteria to get the ball rolling and ghost feed until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. The ghost feeding will add the same nutrients a fish would without hurting fish in the process. Also what would you do with the cycle starting fish once it is done? That is a whole new set of problems.

As far as RO I would go to spectrapure's website and look for a refurbished 5 stage unit. IMO they are the best in the business and I am not alone in that opinion.

LEDs recommended by LFS is the Orbit Marine LED 48-60 inch. I have read mixed reviews about these lights some say its great others say its not powerful enough for corals. If anyone has any experience with these I would love to have your opinions.

If you are planning on keeping corals, I would not get this light. I would save up and get the light you will want when you go full blown crazy for corals. You will save money in the long run this way because you won't have to buy more than one light fixture. I have done a lot of research on LED lighting and I can probably help you find something you would be happy with. If you want some suggestions, just PM me.

 

[reynaldoramon]

You will want a sump that will fit in the stand. If that is only 20g then that is better than nothing but you want as large as will fit with any equipment you might want ie skimmer, reactors, in the future. I am all for building your own sump. One of the easiest ways to save money in this hobby is DIY.

I very much dislike your LFS's thoughts on cycling. You do not have to put an animal through that kind of experience for your tank to cycle. I would do dry rock and dry sand and buy some cycling bacteria to get the ball rolling and ghost feed until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. The ghost feeding will add the same nutrients a fish would without hurting fish in the process. Also what would you do with the cycle starting fish once it is done? That is a whole new set of problems.

As far as RO I would go to spectrapure's website and look for a refurbished 5 stage unit. IMO they are the best in the business and I am not alone in that opinion.



If you are planning on keeping corals, I would not get this light. I would save up and get the light you will want when you go full blown crazy for corals. You will save money in the long run this way because you won't have to buy more than one light fixture. I have done a lot of research on LED lighting and I can probably help you find something you would be happy with. If you want some suggestions, just PM me.

Danny.. Shoot me a pm on led recs... Currently researching for 48 long 55 gallon.
Just curious as to what others think.

 

[njtiger aquariums]

Welcome to the hobby. I been. Doing this just over a year and have learned there 1,000s of ways to do something and at least one person will tell you that your doing it wrong.

Now I have a 36g tank with a canister, fluval 306, filter and tank is doing well. Now my 54g tank is drilled and I have a sump with that tank. I will admit the sump is the better route to go but as long as you keep up on your maintance you can get away with a canister filter.

Now I had the Orbit on my 54g and I only had Zoas at that time. During this time my zoas opened a little but didn't do much more than that. After some time I switch to Kessils and love them but they are pricy. The Orbit is a good light for starting out but also might want to think down the road. It silly to buy lighting twice if you know what I mean. I was lucky enough to move my Orbit to my 36g tank (which just had a junk light on it before)

 

[ziora]

I am new to this hobby and following this thread to help sort out the same questions I have. Thanks for the updates Gabriel! I look forward to seeing your progress. Also noticed I am in the same town. Are we allowed to mention specific stores here?

 

[Cameron]

LEDs recommended by LFS is the Orbit Marine LED 48-60 inch. I have read mixed reviews about these lights some say its great others say its not powerful enough for corals. If anyone has any experience with these I would love to have your opinions.

I have one of these lights on my 20 gallon tank. I have the 36" fixture and my tank is a 36x10x12. I currently have 3 small zoa colonies, as well as a duncan and a bubble tip anemone in mine. Maybe it's because my tank is only 12" deep, but everything in my tank is doing really well under this light. The zoas are always open when the light is on, and the anemone looks really happy. I've even noticed that the zoas have grown extra polyps since I bought them, and the duncan is starting to grow three to four additional heads. I don't have any plans on adding any SPS, mostly because of their other requirements, but I'm confident enough in the light that I wouldn't really hesitate to add other LPS corals.

 

[Cameron]

Having said that, I think it's also important to note that when I go to a bigger tank, I won't be purchasing the same light fixture. It's not because I'm not happy with it, but on the next tank, which will be much larger, I'd like to have the ability to add anything and everything. I also want a bit more control over the lighting.

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

I am new to this hobby and following this thread to help sort out the same questions I have. Thanks for the updates Gabriel! I look forward to seeing your progress. Also noticed I am in the same town. Are we allowed to mention specific stores here?

I am not sure if of the rules on mentioning stores in specific, but feel free to pm me. It will be nice to know someone in the same area who is just starting off just like me.

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

I appreciate all the advice I am getting. I went back to the LFS and they run the majority of their tanks using the same canister they recommended to me. They gave me a maintenance schedule for it and its not that demanding. Plus with the UV light its not as bad as some canisters that don't have that feature. I will start off my tank using the canister, but I will continue to research sumps and keep my eye open for deals. If I want to change over at a later date then I will. As for the LED looks like i'm shopping again. That is something that I want to buy once and be done with. I don't want to be limited on what i can have in my tank because of the lighting. Suggestions are welcome thank you guys very much!

 

[ziora]

I am not sure if of the rules on mentioning stores in specific, but feel free to pm me. It will be nice to know someone in the same area who is just starting off just like me.

Thanks Gabriel. Looking forward to the equipment you decide on. I'm overwhelmed with all the choices and may get one that's prebuilt.