Simple questions from a beginner??

Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

I have just recently purchased a tank and I want to know some basics on getting it setup and running for a reef aquarium. I realize it takes dedication and I am ready for this and want to start it up so anxiously but I want to make sure I am starting it right as I have heard horror stories about fish and reef death. Please help me out if possible to get this tank set up and running.

mike007 · Apr 16, 2013

Let us know what equipment you have and what you may be purchasing.

Reefing Madness · Apr 16, 2013

http://znnea.rmuvx.servertrust.com/default.asp

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=power+heads&_sacat=0&_odkw=salt+water+refractometer&_osacat=0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-0-10-Salinity-Refractometer-Salt-Water-Aquarium-/251140605905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a792587d1

http://www.marcorocks.com/

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-dry-live-rock.html

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/aquarium-substrate/ps/c/3578/9805

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

http://live-plants.com/

http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/what-your-coral-needs/

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=t-5+lighting&_sacat=0

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cree+led+aquarium&_sacat=0&_odkw=t-5+lighting&_osacat=0

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/saltwater-aquarium-salt-water-mix/ps/c/3578/4685

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15473

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4749

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4145

[TD="class: xl24, width: 1761"]#1-Dry Rock, there are a few hitchhikers on Live Rock that people want to stay away from, so they opt for using Dry Rock, or Dead Rock. Macro Rock is a good place to start looking for that. Either way you go you will need a minimum of 1lb per gallon. You can use Fully Cured Live Rock, and have the tank cycled in just a few days also. Other way is to use just a couple of pounds of Live Rock and the rest Macro or Dry Rock.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#2-Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter) Which is really not necessary.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#3-Multiple Power heads (2 or 3) 10x your water volume for just a Fish Only With Live Rock, and at least 20x your water volume for a Reef Tank. So lets say your going reef, and you have a 100g tank, you would need flow in that tank at minimum of 2000gph, or 2 1000gph power heads.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#4-Protein Skimmer, rated at 2 times your water volume. Unless your tank is under 30g, in which case you can do 10% water changes a week to rid the system of detrius. But, you'll have to watch the water parameters close, if things go haywire, you'll have to do more water changes.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#5-Saltwater Test Kits. Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#6-Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#7-Aquarium vacuum. This one is iffy. Most don't use one, if you have enough flow in the tank you won’t need one[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#8-Rubber kitchen gloves[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#9-Fish net[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#10-Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#11-Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#12-Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#13-Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#14-Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water, and a barrel for storing the water.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]#15-Possibly a Quarantine Tank for your new fish. They sit in here for a few weeks to kill off parasites and bacteria, to keep it from getting in your main tank[/TD]

[TD="class: xl24"]#16-Heater rated for your size tank.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#17-Saltwater Mix. Marine Salt. Instant Ocean is the cheap Salt that beginners and Advanced use alike.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#18-Saltwater Hydrometer or even better a Refractometer, which is more accurate. There is also a Digital Meter that is way advanced if you have the cash.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#19-Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, or GFO and such)[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#20-Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 2-3" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl27"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=aquarium+heater&_sacat=20754&_odkw=power+heads&_osacat=0[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl28"] Live Rock and Live Sand: Live Saltwater Aquarium Rock and Sand [/TD]

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Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

Okay thank you all for the help. Okay so what I have is a 165 gallon tank with a bowed front glass wich is already pre drilled and has the overflow system at each end of the tank. I purchased it from someone in the neighborhood and he gave me a sump and all the things that go with it such as a slimmer and the pumps. Although I am going to purchase a new sump once I come up with the money. I just want to know what specifically would be best to get for this size tank?? If possible. Sorry I'm new to this and want to make sure I set it up correctly from the beginning and thanks for all your help.

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justgotwet · Apr 16, 2013

Research,Research,Research!!!

Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

I want to try to buy everything new. I also do have 2 circulation pumps that were given to me plus 2 heaters.

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Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

Thank for the advice I definitely have been for the past week and I plan to do more of that before I begin to set this tank up! Lol

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Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

Another question I have is once I get everything I need and have it set up how do I got about adding the water into the tank and sump without getting the water to overflow out of the sump??

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justgotwet · Apr 16, 2013

Once you fill the tank up water will run over the overflow down to the sump. when the water level drops below the overflow the water quits draining until you start up your pump in the sump to bring the water back up.

Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

Okay thank you very much, I just wanted to know about that before filling it up and getting water all over the floor in the house.

Abud89 · Apr 16, 2013

Also, how important is having the tank leveled on the floor?

Reefing Madness · Apr 16, 2013

Smart to have it level on the floor, use insulation foam under the low end.
Here is a link to how Sumps work.
Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums
Now for flow in the tank, its suggested to use 2 powerheads equaling 10x your water volume for a Fish only tank, and 20x your tank volume for a Reef tank. Get a Skimmer rated as close to twice your tank volume as possible.