New to reefs, some start up questions

[LMDAVE]

Hi everyone. First post. I have saltwater tank experience from years ago. Fish only. I decided to take the hobby back up (as if I didn't have enough other hobbies). I bought a tank set-up (38 gallon bowfront) and started getting bug for making this a reef tank after I already gather some equipment, so probably wont use everything. I spent many hours over the last week watching youtube and reading forums on the basics, so I have some good concept of beginner reef terminology and chemistry now. I am going to start out with a sumpless system. Since I enjoy woodworking I made a stand, which actually by chance has a nice base for a sump if I ever did go that route.

These are my plans for getting started for my initial cycle. If you see any major pitfall I'm doing starting out.

-Octupus HOB 1000 Skimmer (on order)
-40 lbs of FIJI dry rock from BRS on order (plan to clean and let cycle in tank with initial cycle)
-Will add about 10-15 lbs of live rock from LFS during initial cycle to help seed dry rock
-Live sand from LFS
-RODI water from LFS

I'm gathering test kits also.

I am using the heater and LED light strip supplied with the tank. light has a dual switch for normal and night light.

I know that the heater will be somewhat of an eye soar but I'm will to live with that, or is there a better option for hiding the filter?

So, I stop here for now, but these are my start up pictures. I guess I shoudl eventually do a build log.

 

[SDReefer]

Welcome to R2R!! Your setup looks pretty good. If you're not going to go with a sump, I'd recommend going with a black background so that it hides the filter. There are also some heaters that are all black in case you end up getting a new one. However, it looks like you have space for a sump underneath the tank. I'd go with one due to the really good benefits, less of an eyesore in the tank, and you can fit all the equipment in there. They're also not that expensive.

 

[LMDAVE]

Thanks. I thought about a black background. My wife and I do really like the blue. I may just move the heat a little more to the left and see how it goes. As for the sump, I haven't really gotten a grasp of the plumbing. Seems there's so many different ways. I would assume my suction and return line will go over the back, of course, since I don't have anything drilled. Guess I'll read up on that more for the future of adding one.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R

Great job on the stand and research on the system.

Get good test kits for Ca, Alk, Mg, nitrates, and phosphates. When using the dry rock, your phosphate with will run high for sometime.

Over time depending what type of system you will run, by quality lights.

When I first started my tank I used a CPR backpak 2 and the system ran great and the filter/skimmer did not break my budget before I switch to a sump.

 

[reef lover]

 

[LMDAVE]

Thanks for the advice so far. The recent Blue Planet II series on BBC got make back into this a few weeks ago, and oddly enough the newest episode last night was about coral reefs. Very cool series.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

Looks good! Does the light have 2 cords? Timers are cheap and handy for controlling lights. As for the heater when an if you replace it get a submersible one they're easier to hide, and the blue background should be black on the other side but it's been a while since I have bought any.

Welcome to R2R by the way good group of people here.