What else do I need?

[jdccroad]

I have a 55g container of RODI water and mix my salt water in a brute trash can when needed. With your tank you could just get 2 brutes. One full of RODI and the other for mixing salt. BRS has some nice RODI units. 75g per day should be fine for you.

 

[Squishie89]

I know people like the ones from bulkreefsupply.com (I got mine from filterdirect.com, nothing wrong with mine, just not as out there as others).
I will try and help with the water situation by explaining a bit about mine (although I may just end up confusing you more). I have an auto top off (ATO) which automatically turns on and slowly pumps in clean freshwater when the float valve drops and thus the water level has dropped. With an ATO you need a reservoir to keep the water, I have mine as a part of my sump, but you can use anything (a bucket, a pitcher, a cup). (What I do to accomplish this is I let a bucket fill with RODI and I pour it into the reservoir). For saltwater. I use a 32 gallon brute trashcan to mix my saltwater. I fill it up with RODI, heat it, pour in the salt, and let mix for 20+ hours with a powerhead. Saltwater needs to be kept moving, not sure if it needs to be heated or not, but it can't sit for too long or it goes bad, so there is no easy way to store saltwater for emergencies. But you should have a designated container for mixing saltwater. I hope this helps =X

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

You can check out my setup if you want. And as stated bigger for a first tank would be better. 55 gallons is a lucky size.

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[TonapahNorth]

Ok. I ordered an RODI. Yay. I got shipping confirmation today so I should have everything on Tuesday.

And btw, no one told me I didn't order a pump lol .... It was probably so basic that no one felt the need to remind me. Hahaha.

Any recommendations? I'm hearing flow should be around 5x38 or 190-200g per hour. And if I want to "power" things like UV sanitizer, or a have a skimmer and a reactor of any kind, I should be looking at closer to 300g/h. Thoughts on what my flow should be and/or recommend a specific high performance (but quiet) pump?

Btw, I'm reading a lot and am losing too much sleep haha.

Thanks for the input
Tona

 

[jdccroad]

If your asking about a return pump I think it comes with one. 476 GPH

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

Ok. I ordered an RODI. Yay. I got shipping confirmation today so I should have everything on Tuesday.

And btw, no one told me I didn't order a pump lol .... It was probably so basic that no one felt the need to remind me. Hahaha.

Any recommendations? I'm hearing flow should be around 5x38 or 190-200g per hour. And if I want to "power" things like UV sanitizer, or a have a skimmer and a reactor of any kind, I should be looking at closer to 300g/h. Thoughts on what my flow should be and/or recommend a specific high performance (but quiet) pump?

Btw, I'm reading a lot and am losing too much sleep haha.

Thanks for the input
Tona

Im nuvo 8 comes with a pump. You don't want a uv sterilizer, unless you're running a sump you probably should buy the im desktop skimmer. You also aren't going to need a reactor. If you get a replacment pump it can't be much better than the one it comes with due to overflow not handling it and it will tear up you corals and sand bed.

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[Fin]

Nano tanks are a lot of fun, but you did yourself a favor going with the 38. You have increased your chances for success.

I can tell you that many reefers keep supplies of pre-made RODI water and salt water on hand at all times. Makes your top offs and water changes less of a chore and if you ever need emergency water changes, you will have soat on hand. I have a 140 and keep 2 55 gallon drums (one RODI and one salt) in a closet in a spare room. You won't need that much, but a couple of covered Brut transh cans would be great, if you have room for them.

You might also look into an automatic top off system to replenish evaporated water. This makes life a lot easier and adds fresh water to your system a little at a time, as it is needed. This helps keep your salinity from having swings from excessive evaporation and adding too much fresh water at once.

My water storage...

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

Sorry didnt see the 38 change. It comes with a pump too. I still wouldn't get a uv sterilizer and as for the other things im makes skimmers and reactors and they should come with pumps too. I'd also pick up a vortech mp. And an ato and container. And an apex lite or better. Heater. Rodi. Pump for mixing salt and a container to mix it in. Cleaning equipment. I'm probably missing stuff. It's early and I'm sick lol. Hope that helps

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[TonapahNorth]

If your asking about a return pump I think it comes with one. 476 GPH

Haha .. yep, I called the vendor and they said it comes with a return pump. See? That's the noob coming out and a note to self ... when it says "Tank only," it doesn't mean "tank only." It means no light and stand.

Fin! nice set up. That's a lot of space for sure for that. Strangely enough I have about 5 of those exact barrels that I can use but that seems to be overkill for a 38g tank. Shouldn't I be planning on the ATO with an amount of pur RODI (non-salt) sufficient to replace evap water? And a separate supply of water for a 15% water change about weekly? If so, is a 5g container enough of each?

Thanks
Tona

 

[Fin]

Fin! nice set up. That's a lot of space for sure for that. Strangely enough I have about 5 of those exact barrels that I can use but that seems to be overkill for a 38g tank. Shouldn't I be planning on the ATO with an amount of pur RODI (non-salt) sufficient to replace evap water? And a separate supply of water for a 15% water change about weekly? If so, is a 5g container enough of each?

Thanks
Tona

Yes, that would be overkill for your situation, just showing an example. You can us much smaller containers for your setup. It is always nice to have enough salt water made up to do a significant water change, if the need arises and always good to have extra RODI water made in advance. Especially in your situation where you live so far away from a LFS.

Good luck and it will be fun following your progress.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Ok .. so I'm so excited today. My 38g tank came in and I set it all up doing the water test for leaks and such. It raised a few questions.

First, how many gallons does a 38g hold? This Innovative Marine all in one held 7g in the back reservoir area and 28 g in the display area for a total of 35g ... and that is literaly up to the top of the rim. I didn't think that quite looked right so i removed 2g and its just about halfway up the ribbed openings into the back reservoir. Water seems to run "over" the top of the mechanical filters which didn't seem right but in order to get over the Spinners water has to be that high, or close. Is 33g all that can fit in a 38g tank? Surely this isn't right? And how full should the tank be?

Second, the spinners I put in place and the MP-10 I got seem to move water well but, honestly, there seems to be a dead spot or two where the water isn't quite circulating. What say you? Is this bad? critical issue? Should I order another MP-10? Those things are pricey.

Third, how high over the water should the light sit? The light didn't come with an attachment mechanism. I got the Ecoxotic Panorama 24" fixture 3 x white strips and 2 x blue strips come stock. I have to make a mounting bracket to attach it to the tank or stand or hang it from the wall/ceiling somehow. I have no idea how far above the tank it should be. None of the literature really says. PAR values aside, is there any rough estimate?

Finally, any idea how long is a fair time for a water test? I plan to run the MP-10 and pump on full speed all night and see if the "stress" is ok. Should that be sufficient?

Thanks again for all ya'll's advice. I plan on setting up the RODI tomorrow and making water. Then I think I'll be ready over the weekend to get started with something.

Tonapah

 

[Squishie89]

I would use a piece of tape or a post it to mark where the water level is, so you can see tomorrow if you had a drop. But yes, overnight should be fine, I would do 24 hours just to be safe. I still can't believe I didn't leak test my 90g when I put it in =X But it was fine. Tanks never seem to really hold what they are labeled as. My 15g column only holds about 13g and that is to the brim.
I can't help too much about the light. Some people hang from the ceiling. Some attached rigging to the tank or stand to suspend the light.
About the water level, I would need to see pictures on how the tank and overflow are set up.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Ok, so I told you we were all excited - here's proof :bigsmile:

Here is the back of the tank. As good a pic as I can get. On each side is the "mechanical" filter - appear to be sponges - where the water comes out of the display area through the ribbed vents and over these filters.

Closer view of each side.
Right side Left side.

I'm thinking that the water seems to be running over the top of the sponges and not necessarily through them with the water this high. Maybe I've got too much water and it should just barely flow into the sponge?

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

The very last chamber should only be 2/3rds full if that ... I think mine is half.

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[TonapahNorth]

All looks well. Tank has been water tested. Pump and flow controls seem to be working. RODI unit was delivered this evening. The temp remains steady at 82F when the heater is set on 78F ... So I'm not sure what to do there. I moved the temp down to 75F on the heater and the tank water moved to 79.5F and held steady again. The all-in-one reactor and skimmer were delivered. The ATO was delivered. I plan to get the tank clean and dry again. Then set it all up in the next couple days to get the ball rolling.

I am buying salt and rock and sand this weekend - gonna have to drive to Indy or Cincinnati to get some. My plan is to find dry rock I like, add live sand, and salt water to begin the cycle. Any recommendations on salt? I read that Reef Crystals will probably have the best Alk/calc/mag additives for the types of corals I am expecting to have.

My next major post will likely be in a new tank start thread.

Tona

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

Could be do to house temp or a bad heater or something else warming the water like a pump or bad thermometer. I use my controllers thermometer and a cobalt neo therm heater which I highly recommend. I love that thing. A lot of people love jagers so that's another option.

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