New to Reef- substrate question.

[BoatDR67]

I have a 125 tall. At the moment I'm running 2 canister filters, no substrate. Have 4 fish small starters, few frags. This weekend I'm getting a sump and Protein skimmer. I want to put substrate in, I purchased some Carib Sea Ocean Direct online. I was thinking since new sump, its like a new tank. I was told not to use the Carib stuff but use dry crushed. Because of it being a established tank, so I have that as well. I'm getting like 20 frags coming in a week.

So my question is this. If I reuse 50 % of the water. No other Bio starter type stuff. Should I use the Carib wet or the dry?

Any advise would be appreciated very much.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[ndrwater]

There is a lot going on here. Much of it against the grain of the normal convention.
Adding substrate CAN be done with water and livestock in the tank, but it needs to be done with care.. the sand needs to be super rinsed and ready to go.
If adding a sump, great, but whatever you do, don't remove the canisters yet. You need to get some biological activity going in the new sand and apparently relatively new tank.
The skimmer isn't going to hinder anything.
If I were to choose which sand to use, it'd be the wet, but the issue there is it'll still need to be rinsed thoroughly since there is livestock in the tank.. this would need to be done with salt water which seems to me a waste.
Now on top of that, the statement that you have 20 something frags coming sounds like probable disaster to me..
My suggestion would be this..
Get someone to hold your current livestock for you.
Then restart the tank. Add the sand (either type now, just rinsed) and as much water as you can save from the old setup. Add whatever rock you have as well as the sump and skimmer. I personally would leave the skimmer off for the next couple steps
Get things running, to temp and then add some bacteria in a bottle..test regularly and follow the instructions for whatever bacteria you use to the letter.
I would also suggest telling whomever you are getting the corals from to hold them for a while.. at least until the tank is cycled fully.
As for the livestock you hopefully had saved somewhere for you, add it back after you are sure the tank is cycled...
Not hear to beat you up about things, but there are things that need to happen in a certain order.. You seem to have gotten the cart well ahead of the horse..

 

[BoatDR67]

There is a lot going on here. Much of it against the grain of the normal convention.
Adding substrate CAN be done with water and livestock in the tank, but it needs to be done with care.. the sand needs to be super rinsed and ready to go.
If adding a sump, great, but whatever you do, don't remove the canisters yet. You need to get some biological activity going in the new sand and apparently relatively new tank.
The skimmer isn't going to hinder anything.
If I were to choose which sand to use, it'd be the wet, but the issue there is it'll still need to be rinsed thoroughly since there is livestock in the tank.. this would need to be done with salt water which seems to me a waste.
Now on top of that, the statement that you have 20 something frags coming sounds like probable disaster to me..
My suggestion would be this..
Get someone to hold your current livestock for you.
Then restart the tank. Add the sand (either type now, just rinsed) and as much water as you can save from the old setup. Add whatever rock you have as well as the sump and skimmer. I personally would leave the skimmer off for the next couple steps
Get things running, to temp and then add some bacteria in a bottle..test regularly and follow the instructions for whatever bacteria you use to the letter.
I would also suggest telling whomever you are getting the corals from to hold them for a while.. at least until the tank is cycled fully.
As for the livestock you hopefully had saved somewhere for you, add it back after you are sure the tank is cycled...
Not hear to beat you up about things, but there are things that need to happen in a certain order.. You seem to have gotten the cart well ahead of the horse..

Yes i did put cart in front. I'm doing complete tear down. Tank has been running for a year where it sits. Never any problems. Only started doing the coral thing month ago, but have had freshwater for over 40 yrs and 15 in just saltwater fish. I knew it would be better to have very well established system. Just more work for me. I was thinking of doing some extra bio starter as well, but draining the tank all the way down. I might even start with all new water. Wasn't going to turn Protein skimmer on for little while its just going to be there ready when time is needed. I will be testing water a lot. LOL Hey but hobbies are all about time.
thanks for the advice, knew I was going to get beat up some.

 

[ndrwater]

thanks for the advice, knew I was going to get beat up some.

Glad you aren't offended best if luck and definitely post up pix!!
I just gutted my 240 and 120, so I know how much work it can be.. both tanks thriving though..
If interested, look at my "build" thread titled "Time for a Re-Boot"
You might find a tip or two to get things done with a minimum of headache.