Saltwater newbie

[Wichbeast]

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to start gathering and setting up my first saltwater tank. I've have much experience with tropical tanks and raised Angels, Discuss, Oscars,
Gars,etc.
I haven't had a tank going in years. It's time to finally get going on a saltwater tank.
I'm taking my time and doing a lot of research. Hoping to get good info and guidance in the future.

Thanks for allowing me to join the group

Wichbeast

 

[143MPCo]

Welcome to reef2reef!!!

 

[kschweer]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[smh254]

Welcom you'll love it here

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[Tahoe61]

Welcome

 

[steelheader.262]

Welcome!!!

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Welcome to R2R! Hope that you can learn a lot from this forum

--Yuyu

 

[Harold Green]

Time to start telling us what you have in mind. Size of tank and what animals you plan on having.

 

[Ahruk]

Welcome

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

 

[Shep]

Welcome to R2R! Glad to have you

 

[Wichbeast]

Thanks for the warm welcome

 

[Wichbeast]

I purchased a 125g tank drill and stand used. The stand is to small for a good size sump so I'm almost done building one myself. It's designed to hold at least a 55 gallon tank. I've also bought blue stone to top off the stand. Ordered 3 led ramping light, 55lb light rock and already cured, more coming.120lb Fiji pink live sand, 2 Sicce Voyager 2 power heads, RO/DI buddy make water now.
Still need to pick out a skimmer and turn that 55g tank into a sump. I think that everything at this point

 

[chaoha]

Welcome

 

[Harold Green]

Sounds like a good start. I'd try to set up the 55 for a fair sized refusium in it. An ato will save you a lot of time and work keeping the tank topped up. Here's a layout from the internet that should work in a 55. I'd show you mine but it similar with the fuge on the end so I can limit the water flow through it instead of allowing the full return flow to wash out the fuge.

 

[Wichbeast]

I had the same thought. I did a quick design of what I thought could be good to do with the 55g. I didn't show where the true union ball valve would go.

 

[Wichbeast]

It's been some time since I've updated my tank and progress. So here where I'm at.

I ditched the 55 for a sump as it just to tall under the stand. I picked up a Eshopps ADV-300 sump, Reef Octopus super reef 2000 skimmer, Deepwater BLDC 7 return pump, 10g ATO, BRS dual reactor for carbon and GfO.

Then I was able purchase someone's SW corals, fish , and live rock. I added new sand and seeded with his a bit of his sand.

I am very nervous if this is the right move. I've testing everything I can everyday. After 16 days now all the corals are happy, fish are happy and I'm happy

Stats have been steady right form the start.

Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0 to barely able to read, salinity 1.025, Ph 8.2, KH 11 drops or 161-170, CAL 400,-425, temp about 78,

I had a heck of a time getting the skimmer to stay in adjustment. With this sump you really need ATO and the skimmer to be broken in I guess. Seems to be behaving now.

I ended up setting up then55 as a QT tank this weekend.

When do you think it would be safe to get a pair of clowns?

I have 2 Yellow Tangs, Valentino Puffer, Bicolor Angel, 3 green Chromis, a yellowtail damsel, a feel hermit crabs, some snails, A Rose Bubble Tip anemone, and a red fire shrimp

i

 

[kireek]

*Welcome to Reef2Reef @Wichbeast !* Your new aquarium is looking really good.With all those recent additions it would be best to wait on those clowns for now.In the meantime keep track of your parameters and watch closely for signs of stress on those corals.Also you may want to start your own build thread here https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks.52/ so that you can document all your progress along the way.