Start up minimum things needed?

[Kevin Hopcroft]

Hi. Just bought a systemised aquamarine aquariums 300 litres.
Please can someone advise me of the things needed to start the process of stabilisation? I would like to do it step by step and slowly before introducing fish.
What is the order of purchase from 1st to last? Ie water, live rock, heater, lighting, skimmer etc.
Thanks

 

[chefjpaul]

#1- RODI unit

 

[melypr1985]

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

I love this guide! It gives a detailed step by step of the entire set up and cycle process.

 

[Reefing Madness]

#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.
#2-Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter) Which is really not necessary.
#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.
#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.
#5-Saltwater Test Kits. Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.
#6-Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.
#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
#8-Rubber kitchen gloves
#9-Fish net
#10-Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets
#11-Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.
#12-Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.
#13-Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.
#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.
#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
#16-Heater rated for your size tank.
#17-Saltwater Mix. Marine Salt. Instant Ocean is the cheap Salt that beginners and Advanced use alike.
#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.
#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)
#20-Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 1-2" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.
http://www.scaquariums.com/category-s/103.htm
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=aquarium+heater&_sacat=20754&_odkw=power+heads&_osacat=0
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-Sa...905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a792587d1
http://www.marcorocks.com/
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-dry-live-rock.html
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=393
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
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/4/chemistry
http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/about-corals/what-your-coral-needs/
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

 

[dbl]

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

I love this guide! It gives a detailed step by step of the entire set up and cycle process.

Was going to provide the same link...#1 to Meredith's link!

 

[reefwiser]

Kevin Welcome to R2R.
First is a Heater generally you want 300 watts one for your system. I always recommend a temperature controller separate from the heater also for safety from overheating Ranco is the brand here in the states that is generally used.. Which is a common problem with aquarium heaters. You can also buy to 15o watt heaters for your system if you want to do it that way too.
http://www.tropicalfishsite.com/what-wattage-heater-do-i-need-for-my-fish-tank-aquarium/
Lighting will depend on what you want to keep in your tank. You can use T5' fluorescents or LED lighting or MH and T5 together depends on your budget.
Water like stated above a RO/DI unit makes a difference you want to put 0 Total Dissolved solids in your tank water. You can get the water from your LFS ( local fish store) if you don't want to spend the money at the start.
Skimmer get one rated to the size of your tank and if you have a sump or not will determine the skimmer you will need. You can get by with out a skimmer to start it just makes it easier to maintain your tank once you have animals in the tank.
Live rock is important and you want to get live rock that will work with the size of your tank and give you good areas to mount corals.
I am sure you will have a lot of questions you can always ask here.
I always suggest getting a book to read up on the basic biology of saltwater tanks and the one I started out with is wonderful
http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Aquarium-Handbook-Beginner-Breeder/dp/0982026218
Martin Moe to dean of Saltwater aquariums everyone in the hobby owes a great debt to Skip for this book many hobbyist started with the book over the years and I recommend it highly for you to get off on the right foot.