Newb Starting First Reef Aquarium

Travt2000 · Apr 9, 2014

I'm in the process of finalizing my build list for my first reef aquarium and wanted to get the forum's opinion on my equipment list...

The base, obviously, is the tank and stand and I'm looking at a 36 gallon bow front with stand from PetSmart for $225 by Aqueon.

The rest of my initial build list includes:

ReefBreeders Photon 24
Reef Octopus BH100 HOB Protein Skimmer
1 Hydor Koralla Evolution 600gph

For RO/DI, I'm looking at the BRS 4 stage value system.

I do have a question about my rock selection. I will probably buy most of my rock and sand from my LFS but I also love the look of Tonga branch rock and, if my LFS doesn't have it, may want to order some dry from BRS. Does BRS' dry Tonga branch need to by cured separately or could I just add it after or while my tank is cycling?

*SENSI* · Apr 9, 2014

have u tryed "CL" Craigslist for that overpriced tank from petsmart, u can find better deals from ppl getting out of the hobby, rule of thumb on used tanks is a 1.00 a gal depending on how old it is, i was told it didnt matter wat RO/DI unit u got as long as it was that RO/DI, i jus happened 2 come across a smoking deal off of amazon 6 stage with a 4 gal reservoir tank an all the hardware,rock i couldnt tell ya, but ive heard of a few ppl saying here or there

SeahorseKeeper · Apr 9, 2014

Travt2000 said:
I'm in the process of finalizing my build list for my first reef aquarium and wanted to get the forum's opinion on my equipment list...

The base, obviously, is the tank and stand and I'm looking at a 36 gallon bow front with stand from PetSmart for $225 by Aqueon.

The rest of my initial build list includes:

ReefBreeders Photon 24
Reef Octopus BH100 HOB Protein Skimmer
1 Hydor Koralla Evolution 600gph

For RO/DI, I'm looking at the BRS 4 stage value system.

I do have a question about my rock selection. I will probably buy most of my rock and sand from my LFS but I also love the look of Tonga branch rock and, if my LFS doesn't have it, may want to order some dry from BRS. Does BRS' dry Tonga branch need to by cured separately or could I just add it after or while my tank is cycling?

Are you set on that tank? I love the look of bow front tanks but they do have some downsides. They can be hard to keep clean due to the curved glass and photographing them can be a little difficult.

Also, I would opt to go with a tank where you can have a sump. This way the DT doesn't have to have the skimmer and heaters cluttering it up.

I like your equipment choices. You may need two power heads.

As far as the dry rock, I would rinse it real good to get the gunk out and add it when you are setting up the tank. Once the salinity is good, add the live rock and let the tank cycle.

Good luck with your journey.

Blitheran · Apr 9, 2014

search craigslist ive seen dozens of tanks ranging from 10gallons to 125 gallons for under 100$ take the time and search around time is key take things slow don't spend 225$ on a 36 that's outrageous! id be only craigslist 5-10 min a day searching around maybe you can find a smoking deal! all the luck to you

Jonsie · Apr 9, 2014

Remember! Go Slow...

salttanklife · Apr 9, 2014

+1 for Craigslist, I got my 90 gallon with a 100 lbs of lr, sump, protein skimmer, hydor circulars, 3 lights(one is a sunpod 250x2 metal halide that I seen selling new between 6 to $800), all plugs/timers, return pump, glass cleaners, and a few pieces of coral for $700. Pretty much everything I needed to get started, I even loaded the water in 2 55 gallon drums

Travt2000 · Apr 11, 2014

I've definitely been checking CL on a daily basis. The problem is that I've got some pretty tight space restrictions (apartment) and, while there are some phenomenal deals to be had, most of the equipment I'd be interested in is just too big for my space. My upper limit is about 50 gallons due that space restriction.

If space weren't a problem, there is a 75 gallon listed near my right now with stand and sump for about what the new aquarium and stand I'm looking at will cost... I'm incredibly tempted but I know that I just don't have anywhere to put it without getting rid of furniture that I need - I'm not deep enough in the hobby yet to make the decision to get rid of my TV and entertainment center and put an aquarium in its place.

@Jonsie - I'm definitely planning to go slow. While I'll probably use Dr. Tim's One and Only just to expedite the cycle, I still don't plan to stock the tank with much of anything more than inverts for at least a month after I get it in and set up. I want to get myself in a good water maintenance routine before I put any living creature in there that I might kill by doing things wrong.

Travt2000 · Apr 14, 2014

A little update: I bought my aquarium and stand today. After doing another round of CL searches I ran by PetSmart to pick up some stuff for my cats and saw that the 36 bow front I was looking for was on sale with a stand for $150 and couldn't pass it up. Did a leak test and the tank passed with flying colors so I'll be heading to my LFS tomorrow to pick up rock, sand, and salt. I'll also be seeing what they have by way of RODI units since I would prefer to support a local business than order online, if possible.

As a newb, I am confronted with another question... where do folks suggest getting containers for water from and how is it suggested to prepare and then add the water to the tank since a siphon won't lift the water higher than the source container?

prsnlty · Apr 14, 2014

Travt2000 said:
A little update: I bought my aquarium and stand today. After doing another round of CL searches I ran by PetSmart to pick up some stuff for my cats and saw that the 36 bow front I was looking for was on sale with a stand for $150 and couldn't pass it up. Did a leak test and the tank passed with flying colors so I'll be heading to my LFS tomorrow to pick up rock, sand, and salt. I'll also be seeing what they have by way of RODI units since I would prefer to support a local business than order online, if possible.

As a newb, I am confronted with another question... where do folks suggest getting containers for water from and how is it suggested to prepare and then add the water to the tank since a siphon won't lift the water higher than the source container?

Congrats on the new tank!

Here is a trick I learned about siphoning high. Get a maxi jet 1200 and some hose from home depot or lowes that will fit on the output end of the power head snugly. Place the powerhead with hose in the source water while holding it in the tank (or securely clamped to the tank) and plug it in. Problem solved! It's quicker too

This way is also faster to take water from the tank as well. I do weekly water changes on a 125g and it's a back saver.

Also while at the store you could pick up a brute or rubbermade trash can for making RO then SW in. Better yet since your tank is small you could use one of their 5g buckets. Be careful not to forget the water filling from the RO unit. I do this often I'm afraid LOL. (Getting new bathroom cabinets in the fall)

prsnlty · Apr 14, 2014

Mix your salt in the ro water container with the maxijet. Ya know, in your case, if it were me, I would buy a kitchen trash can. There is more room for mixing without having to go as big as an out door trash can. Takes up less space and gives you time in case you're a few minutes late remembering the ro water is running with more room in the can than a 5g bucket.

prsnlty · Apr 14, 2014

Mix your salt in the ro water container with the maxijet. Ya know, in your case, if it were me, I would buy a kitchen trash can. There is more room for mixing without having to go as big as an out door trash can. Takes up less space and gives you time in case you're a few minutes late remembering the ro water is running with more room in the can than a 5g bucket.

prsnlty · Apr 14, 2014

Sorry, don't know why it double posted

PatW · Apr 15, 2014

If I might throw in my 2 cents, I would suggest a 70 gallon, assuming you have the space. Oddly enough, a bigger tank is more stable and easier to run. The cost of equipment is greater but not by that much.

Travt2000 · Apr 15, 2014

I was going to do a 60 gallon but when I got everything into my new place I realized that I wouldn't have any room for anything bigger than what I got (probably could have fit a 40-50 gallon in the space but it would have been tighter than I wanted).

mrcoffee2 · Apr 16, 2014

Looks good have fun! Remember be patient

Travt2000 · Apr 19, 2014

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Rock, sand, and water are in the tank and I'll start my tank thread on the other board once I start adding livestock and coral.

Only change to the original build list is that, based on a suggestion at one of my LFS, I went with a Sicce Voyager 1 powerhead instead of the Hydor. Slightly more expensive I like the design a bit better and the lower flow doesn't bother me since I know I'll likely be adding another powerhead in the future once I figure out where my deadspots are.

No lights or skimmer yet. Lights aren't on yet because Reefbreeders is closed until the 27th of April and skimmer because everyone I've talked to locally says to leave the skimmer off for a few days after adding live bacteria anyway - saved the money for a couple days where I wouldn't have been running it anyway.

Here's a FTS with one of my (large) feline helpers observing what he thinks is where his future meals will live:

That was taken on 4/18 and by the AM of 4/19 the water was clear and 10 minutes with glass cleaner eliminated the microbubbles that were on the glass.

D_Reep1106 · Apr 19, 2014

nice so far so good!

ethridge78 · Apr 20, 2014

looking good

gemini9 · Apr 20, 2014

Welcome to the forums. Nice tank. When these people say take your time, take it slow, be patient, etc etc boy they weren't kidding. I've had my tank up for a month and I STILL don't have a clue what I'm doing. I still don't have fish and my water still isn't right. I still don't see diatoms and I still am learning new things. So... lol good luck is all I can say. It can be pretty discouraging at times believe me. I've thought about taking mine down because I seem to be at a stand still. So when they tell you to be patient, they know what they're talking about! You'll get tired of looking at rocks all the time and you'll want some fish sooooo bad. Then you'll start wondering if you're doing something wrong, but all in all I guess it really does take time. I duno. :crossedlips:

Travt2000 · Apr 21, 2014

Definitely a slow process. Dosed the tank with about a third of a big bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only and added some of my Reef Frenzy food to the tank to give the bacteria something to chew on for a few days. Saw the start of an ammonia spike on Sunday that came down a bit today with Nitrites only coming up slightly.

Ran by my LFS to have them backstop my water test (I'm new so I'm leaning on my local folks) and went home with a massive colony of green palys that all opened up within about an hour of being placed in the tank. Have that bit of rock separated from the rest of my rock since I've been told Palys can take over an aquascape if they aren't separated a bit.

Here's my build thread over on the Members Tanks forum - https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks/158044-36-gallon-first-tank-ever-off-races-slowly.html