Startup - Beginner

[Fredrik Andersson]

Hello!
Next week I will get my first saltwater aquarium, a Aquael Reefmax 105 (28 gallons). I'm from Sweden so I hope my calculations from litre to gallons are correct

Anyway, I'm buying the package from a serious breeder and with his help I'm sure I will get a complete startup package. But trying to avvoid beginners mistake I would like to discuss my startup plan

Day 1: Get the aquarium and equipment from my supplier. Adding saltwater (based on RO water and salt for aquariums). After adding the water and adjusting the temperature I will also add the sand to the bottom. When this is done I will let the aqurium rest 24h.

Day 2 (or 3 depending if I can borrow a car): Now I will add the living stone. From this point I will let the aquarium rest and trying to adjust the water:

• temperature: 75°F - 80°F (24°C - 27°C)
• specific gravity: 1.025
• pH: 8.0 - 8.4
• ammonia: 0
• nitrite: 0
• nitrate: 20 ppm or less (especially for invertebrates)
• carbonate hardness: 7-10 dKH

I hope I can reach these results within the coming 4 weeks. In the beginning of september I will go on a 2 weeks vacation. Can I just let aquarium for this period? I wont turn on the lights during this period to prevent algaes and I wont add any fishes until after my vacation.

My biggest concern is that I bought living stone which is quite expensive and risking it die while Im on vacation.

Any feed back is highly apprecieated!

 

[PDR]

Welcome to R2R!

Your plan looks good to me but it may be easier to add the sand before the water. As long as the aquarium has some flow and is properly heated you shouldn’t have any issues with the live rock while you are on vacation.

You will either want an ato or have someone who can come by to top off the aquarium with fresh water to keep the salinity stable while you are on vacation.

Just be patient and don’t chase numbers. Make sure to start a build thread with lots of pictures!

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Thanks for the welcoming!

Really looking forward to start this project! Any advice regarding light schedule the first weeks until I leave? (during this period I will make sure not even sunlight hits the aquarium.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Welcome to R2R!!! Don't forget to start your build thread!

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks.52/

#welcometor2r

 

[Jason mack]

Welcome to R2R, sounds like your of too a good start ....happy Reefing!!!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Geebs19]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Thanks! Whats your thoughts about light schedule the first six weeks?

 

[PDR]

Thanks! Whats your thoughts about light schedule the first six weeks?

Don’t worry too much about lighting until you plan to add a cuc after the cycle. I have cycled tanks with and without lighting and IMO it doesn’t change the outcome that much.

 

[GoPitt88]

Welcome to R2R! Have fun, and remember, nothing good happens fast in this hobby. In other words.....go slow and have patience! [emoji16]

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Great! Then I dont turn on the lights until I get back from my trip and hopefully also can add my cleaning crew (This Will be 6 weeks after I started the project)

One more question, after I added the live rocks. Do I need to do anything else then measure the water values?

I got a great guide which explains What I can do to opimize the startup

 

[hwntunda]

Plan sounds good and welcome to r2r!

 

[Fudsey]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

 

[dimidragos]

Hello Fredrik and welcome. I like to see more people from Scandinavia here. I live in Norway but i'm not norwegian native. I just start my 500l tank and i find alot of god infomation here, i'm sure that you are in the right place to get more knowledge. What kind of live rocks did you get?? I'm beginer but what i can advice you is to add Bacteria to the tank, in daily routine if you can and in same time to add a very small amount of Ammonia Solution 35% or ammonia chloride. The ammonia will feed your bacteria and will show you the potential of your tank to process ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate.

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Double post

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Hello Dimidragos!
Wow a 500l tank must be quite impressive! Do you have a build thread?
I haven't bought the live rock yet, hopefully I will buy it next weekend. (Got a busy vacation schedule) Thanks for the advice regarding bacteria and ammonia, will look into it!

With this great response I will definitely start a build thread

 

[dimidragos]

If you didn't buy the stones my opinion is to think good about what you will buy. I believe that it's a very important decision when you start a SW tank. You must be carefully because adding live stone from other people tanks can ruin or make your work harder after some times. I chose to buy for safety reason Real Reef Rock ( http://realreefrock.com/ ) and until now i'm happy but i can't say that was the best solution or advice you to do same. That because this hand made rocks don't have same porosity (it's my opinion!) like the rocks you find in the ocean and because they are heavy and expensive. The good point is that this rocks will not emanates phosphates and no chance for hitchhikers. About porosity, it's not a big deal but you can be sure that will be tough to think about overstocking your tank and also to supply with good amount of high porosity media in your sump. Here it's my problem because i have a very small sump compare with my tank size and more or less i don't have place for other. After if you chose to buy live or dry sand i don't think it's a big challenge of course live it's better i believe and a bit safe speaking about silicate.
In the end of the week i will start to drive from Ålesund to Stockholm ( check the fast route on Goggle Map) and if you are in my way i can stop to give you for free some ammonia solution. Was imposible to find in norway and i order in Ebay. Still much left and i don't need because first fish it's on the tank

 

[dimidragos]

i don'd have a build thread but i will do one soon ...

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Thanks booth for the advices and ammonia offer. Unfortunately I live in Gothenburg its a bit to far

When Im buying my live rock I will take i discussion with the seller and hopefully he can give me some good advices.

Anyone who knows a step-by-step guide about introducing live rock to a new aquarium?

 

[Fredrik Andersson]

Here is my brand new Build thread

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-first-saltwater-tank.429920/