Newbie needing tips and advice

Tidal Gardens
Jump to Last
F

fluvalevo13.5

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
22
Reaction score
30
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm setting up my 1st saltwater tank and trying to gather all materials needed.. so far, I have the following:
-Fluval Evo 13.5 gal kit( includes pump, filtration, 50w heater, mini protein skimmer, lights)

I'm planning to buy sand and rocks next week and needing advice as confused on so many products in the market
1. How much lbs of sand for 13.5 gal set up? What type of sand? I dont know the diff with aragonite sand, live sand, etc... Preferably I want to use white color..

2. How much lbs of rocks I need? Dry rock or live rock?

3. What type of test kit I need? I've seen salt water test kit and reef master test kit... Do I need both?

4. To make up my salt h20, what should I use? I've seen brands like instant ocean, fluval sea, and topfin saltwater concentrate... Topfin liquid saltwater concentrate fits my budget, any comment about this?
IMG_20181019_092715.jpeg
IMG_20181019_092920.jpeg
IMG_20181019_091944.jpeg
IMG_20181019_091828.jpeg
IMG_20181018_200347.jpeg
 
Deltec
!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

1. How much lbs of sand for 13.5 gal set up? What type of sand? I dont know the diff with aragonite sand, live sand, etc... Preferably I want to use white color..

At least from 5-10 lbs depending on how many inch you want of sand . Arangonite sand will be good, that's what I use. Live sand have the anaerobic bacteria, dry sand not.

2. How much lbs of rocks I need? Dry rock or live rock?

10 lbs is the ideal. Dry rock take more time to cure but is pest free. Life rocks is better but can come with some undesirable pest.

3. What type of test kit I need? I've seen salt water test kit and reef master test kit... Do I need both?

I will recommend Salifert, more accurate than API
 
Last edited:
spyder813 said:
!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

1. How much lbs of sand for 13.5 gal set up? What type of sand? I dont know the diff with aragonite sand, live sand, etc... Preferably I want to use white color..

At least from 5-10 lbs depending on how many inch you want of sand . Arangonite sand will be good, that's what I use. Live sand have the anaerobic bacteria, dry sand not.

2. How much lbs of rocks I need? Dry rock or live rock?

10 lbs is the ideal. Dry rock take more time to cure but is pest safe. Life rocks is better but can come with some undesirable pest.

3. What type of test kit I need? I've seen salt water test kit and reef master test kit... Do I need both?

I will recommend Salifert, more accurate than API
Click to expand...
Thanks so much
 
Chewy.com
Welcome to R2R!!!

@spyder813 gave you very solid advise, the only difference for me would be name brands and such as we all have our own taste. You can go to carib seas website or bulk reef supplies website and look at the different type of sand, how it acts and looks in the water and how its affected by flow, they also have a calculator for tank size and depth of sand bed. I don't use reef Crystal's salt, but it is a good salt mix and a lot of reefers use it with success. I like red sea test kits. I would buy 20 lbs of rock, depending on type, because u never know how your aquascape will turn out until u do it, and I would rather have a little to much to get the look I want than not have enough and settle on a look I couldn't obtain because I didnt have enough rock.

Good Luck on the build!!!
 
Billldg said:
Welcome to R2R!!!

@spyder813 gave you very solid advise, the only difference for me would be name brands and such as we all have our own taste. You can go to carib seas website or bulk reef supplies website and look at the different type of sand, how it acts and looks in the water and how its affected by flow, they also have a calculator for tank size and depth of sand bed. I don't use reef Crystal's salt, but it is a good salt mix and a lot of reefers use it with success. I like red sea test kits. I would buy 20 lbs of rock, depending on type, because u never know how your aquascape will turn out until u do it, and I would rather have a little to much to get the look I want than not have enough and settle on a look I couldn't obtain because I didnt have enough rock.

Good Luck on the build!!!
Click to expand...
Well said...thanks
 
You got some solid advice from @spyder813 and @Billldg. I have nothing to add other than think about the fish your planning to introduce. Some seem to do better with sand a little on the fine side vs. a course. Goby and pistol shrimp in your future? Just something to think about.
 
fluvalevo13.5 said:
Spyder813: - can I do something like 5lbs of dry rock mix with 5 lbs of live rock?
Click to expand...
Yes, you can do that. As a matter of fact, on my new build upgrade, a 75g in wall, I will get the existing rock on my 40g and balance the amount of rock with dry rocks. If you want to get life rock, I recommend KP aquatics. I got 10 lbs of live rock and was awesome. I have a on a 10g tank that I don't use and is very clean and covered on coralline algae, no pest yet.
 
Deltec
hdsoftail1065 said:
You got some solid advice from @spyder813 and @Billldg. I have nothing to add other than think about the fish your planning to introduce. Some seem to do better with sand a little on the fine side vs. a course. Goby and pistol shrimp in your future? Just something to think about.
Click to expand...
Copy ..I will read on that..thanks
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
spyder813 said:
Yes, you can do that. As a matter of fact, on my new build upgrade, a 75g in wall, I will get the existing rock on my 40g and balance the amount of rock with dry rocks. If you want to get life rock, I recommend KP aquatics. I got 10 lbs of live rock and was awesome. I have a on a 10g tank that I don't use and is very clean and covered on coralline algae, no pest yet.
Click to expand...
[emoji108] thanks
 
Pete Horwath said:
Welcome to R2R!!! On the rock front i always mix live rock with dry rock. Best deal i have seen on dry rock is Amazon. They have a seller who does 40 lbs for about $40 shipped! The stuff is very very dusty but if you wash it a few times it works great.
Click to expand...
That sounds to be a good deal..il keep an eye on amazon
 
Avast
+1 on the dry rock from Amazon. I got 80lbs of it and it was a great deal! Also just a tip if you are buying things at Petsmart or Petco always check their online price first. I have noticed that they will have the same item online for much cheaper and is full price in the store. I was at Petco yesterday and saved over 20$ on 4 items because every item I got was cheaper at petco.com
 
giphy.gif


Welcome to R2R! :)

I agree with @spyder813. If you need to save money starting out, you could just get a ammonia test kit and a RedSea Nitrite/Nitrate test kit. If you are using dry rock and a fishless cycle, I only used the Nitrite/Nitrate test kit. I dosed ammonia per the manufacturers instructions and only test Nitrite. Once my nitrite peaked and went to 0 ppm, I dosed again and 24 hours later I checked my nitrite. It was less than 0.005, so I took a sample to my LFS and asked them to test for ammonia. They charge $2 per test. Ammonia was 0 ppm. I now use that test kit for weekly Nitrate testing.
 
The 52-week internet series of videos found at BRS (Bulk Reef Supply Supply) should prove both interesting and informative; it will take you through the hobby from the ground floor, up. Have fun!
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Jet Sled said:
+1 on the dry rock from Amazon. I got 80lbs of it and it was a great deal! Also just a tip if you are buying things at Petsmart or Petco always check their online price first. I have noticed that they will have the same item online for much cheaper and is full price in the store. I was at Petco yesterday and saved over 20$ on 4 items because every item I got was cheaper at petco.com
Click to expand...
[emoji108] thanks
 
IslandLifeReef said:
giphy.gif


Welcome to R2R! :)

I agree with @spyder813. If you need to save money starting out, you could just get a ammonia test kit and a RedSea Nitrite/Nitrate test kit. If you are using dry rock and a fishless cycle, I only used the Nitrite/Nitrate test kit. I dosed ammonia per the manufacturers instructions and only test Nitrite. Once my nitrite peaked and went to 0 ppm, I dosed again and 24 hours later I checked my nitrite. It was less than 0.005, so I took a sample to my LFS and asked them to test for ammonia. They charge $2 per test. Ammonia was 0 ppm. I now use that test kit for weekly Nitrate testing.
Click to expand...
[emoji108]
 
Tidal Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Nutramar Foods
World Wide Corals
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
Top Shelf Aquatics
Chewy.com
Tidal Gardens
Deltec
TCK Corals
New Posts
Back
Top