What Would You Do Differently

retiredsailor · May 8, 2015

I would like to know what some of you would do differently if you were setting up your reef today, or just a new one in general. I'm looking for those things that aren't generally thought about at the time, and the things that just make life easier. For everything.

For instance... When I set up my 75G I had two large electrical outlet things. I put them in the stand with the sump. That isn't the smartest thing due to water proximity and salt creep. I decided to buy a large, 4 feet long, power bar that I attached to the wall behind the tank. Unfortunately with the tank in the way it was quite difficult to secure. My other example is I wish I was more discerning in choosing my rocks and setting them up. They do the job but knowing what I do now I would have searched for a lot more flat rocks and possibly taken steps to really bolt them together.

I hope I have sufficiently explained what I'm looking for. I'm setting up a Red Sea Max 130D. I would really prefer to get it "right" the first time around. (yes, I know there is no true right or wrong way, there is only living or dieing)

Thanks. I hope to read some good things. Also, if this has already been done come someone kindly point me in the right direction. I will even consent to an internet beating for trying to make multiple rocks.:yield:

ian

JoeIII · May 8, 2015

Not the same question, but similar: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/re...99032-if-you-could-change-just-one-thing.html

For me, Stop and take your time. Don't be in a rush to get water into the system and certainly don't be in a rush to get livestock in there.

My first time, I knew I wanted to build a custom stand, but I filled the tank as soon as I got home and started it cycling. Then when I was ready to build the stand I needed to figure out what to do with that water, sand, and the tank. This was just the first of many things I did multiple times as I learned. Had I slowed down and taken my time I could have gotten equipment, design, and placement down (oh and rock... I bought rock twice for that tank too) before it became difficult or impossible to fix.

Additionally, as I am dealing with this one on my second system, set up your QT first, and QT EVERYTHING. I had a stable and healthy system, and thought I shouldn't need to QT a frag from reputable vendors, and now I am battling ich and had to frantically set up a QT/hospital system to treat.

ReelRednekReefer · May 8, 2015

Quarantine, Quarantine, Quarantine!! Im done taking chances! I set up a QT for less than some fish! The math just makes sense.

Most of us build a system then consider livestock. I recommended nailing down a livestock list after researching compatibility and build system to keep those inhabitants. This method can curb losses and disappointment when selecting stock after designing and starting a system.

eatbreakfast · May 8, 2015

Get a turtle instead. When I think of how much time and money I have spent, how I am truly addicted and sometimes just cant fight an impulse purchase, I often wonder how much different/better my life would be if Ijust bought a turtle instead of a fish oh so many years ago.

retiredsailor · Jul 10, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
Get a turtle instead. When I think of how much time and money I have spent, how I am truly addicted and sometimes just cant fight an impulse purchase, I often wonder how much different/better my life would be if Ijust bought a turtle instead of a fish oh so many years ago.

I would have to go back about 30 years to get that turtle!

Seriously though, planning my fish tanks gave me a great, but depressing, constant during my career in the Navy. It was great because I was able to make so many plans for tanks and stands. It gave me time to research different things and a plethora of great stores to visit (if you ever went to Animal Jungle in Virginia beach you know what I mean. And San Diego, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting three or four fish stores!).
But it was depressing because I had to move every three to four years. Knowing you can't take it with you, setting up a tank was a big decision.

Being retired now, in a house we own, and the ability to make a lengthy dedication of time... I can't possibly give up my fish. I just wish there were more stores available for me to choose from here. It's great to be able to order online, but nothing beats walking into a store and seeing a new fish for the first time. Or arriving to see what they got in the latest shipment.

I may be limited in my ability to take care of my tanks (20 years of military life took a large toll on my body) but I can't give them up.

Ian

AlexG · Jul 10, 2015

In my last setup all equipment was in the basement. I rushed a little and did not make covers for the sump. Well the fine mist from bubbles from the overflow and skimmer covered a lot of the basement in a fine layer of salt over time. The new setup being planned will use covers on all the sumps. Then any exposed wood from the floor above will be covered in plastic, and there will be an exhaust fan setup in the equipment room so I can remove the humidity before it spreads through the entire house.

Mike in CT · Jul 10, 2015

I would make my base rock, rock solid on the bottom of the tank with putty or using something mechanical to hold it together, so there is no chance of any of my rock work tumbling when I was cleaning or adding frags.

hig789 · Jul 10, 2015

I recently set up my first tank in a bout 7-8 years. I've had a 29g, 55g and a 90g. I can't tell you how much I have spent on junk equipment though those tanks. Finally with the 90g I bought some decent equipment in the first place instead of constantly not being happy with what I bought.

My new tank is a 15g AIO and I decided I was going to be patient in setting it up and buy top notch equipment the first time.

I guess it pretty much just comes down to research and patience.

GunReefer212 · Jul 13, 2015

Become a scientist first!!

retiredsailor · Jul 13, 2015

GunReefer212 said:
Become a scientist first!!

That actually was the plan! Growing up I dreamed of being a marine biologist. Unfortunately, though, I am the youngest of five from a very expensive area in NJ. When high school was ending I decided I couldn't ask my parents to get yet another mortgage to pay for my college. The would have done it, but it didn't feel right. I enlisted in the navy instead. I should have worked toward that goal while I was in but I was too lazy. Now I've been retired for 5 years and just do NOT want to face going back to school.

spartanman22 · Jul 14, 2015

I'm planning an upgrade from a 25 cube + 28 gallon frag tank to a 100 gallon system. I used this same question when designing my upgrade. I cannot agree more with the take your time comment. I think I've planned out 100 different plumbing scenarios in the past 3 months and I don't even have the tank yet!

I would also recommend developing a concrete plan/idea of what you want your tank to achieve. I wanted an SPS dominant heavily stocked reef. If you don't have a strict idea of what you want to accomplish with your tank you will likely be changing many things about your system after the fact.

Also, I've approached this upgrade with the thought process of what's the best equipment I can possibly utilize. Again, back to the no rushing thing, take your time and acquire the best/most appropriate equipment even if it takes you longer to save for it. Its much nicer to startup and not have to change anything down the road.

This time around I will be making a dedicated section seperate from the main sump area for my electrical. I currently have it all run to the exterior wall of my stand, but it's difficult to access. I want to make a side door compartment where I can access all the controllers and modules easily, and keep all the plugs away from moisture.

Lastly, dry fit everything! I like my systems equipment just as much as the tank itself. So, I will be paying extra attention to the general layout/efficiency/design of my sump area.

spartanman22 · Jul 14, 2015

GunReefer212 said:
Become a scientist first!!

Even being a scientist doesn't always make things any easier! If anything it adds to the ocd/anal retentive aspects of the hobby!

melypr1985 · Jul 14, 2015

retiredsailor said:
I would have to go back about 30 years to get that turtle!

Seriously though, planning my fish tanks gave me a great, but depressing, constant during my career in the Navy. It was great because I was able to make so many plans for tanks and stands. It gave me time to research different things and a plethora of great stores to visit (if you ever went to Animal Jungle in Virginia beach you know what I mean. And San Diego, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting three or four fish stores!).
But it was depressing because I had to move every three to four years. Knowing you can't take it with you, setting up a tank was a big decision.

Being retired now, in a house we own, and the ability to make a lengthy dedication of time... I can't possibly give up my fish. I just wish there were more stores available for me to choose from here. It's great to be able to order online, but nothing beats walking into a store and seeing a new fish for the first time. Or arriving to see what they got in the latest shipment.

I may be limited in my ability to take care of my tanks (20 years of military life took a large toll on my body) but I can't give them up.

Ian

Thank you for your service!

Oh and I learn each time I set up a new tank. This time around I fixed the issues with my last tank but created new things to learn from. This time, I learned to put more thought into the sump design. Test fit in the stand with the equipment in it and then redesign if necessary - before water goes in!

retiredsailor · Jul 14, 2015

melypr1985 said:
Thank you for your service!

You are most welcome. I was very lucky to have picked a job that I was not only good at but one I really enjoyed. Otherwise I never would have made it through 20 years.

So far the consensus seems to be:
1. Take your time.
2. Quarantine
3. Buy quality equipment
4. Quarantine
5. Make a firm but flexible plan
6. Quarantine
7. Literally think outside the box of water
8. Quarantine

One worry I have is the lack of a sump/refugium. It's an all-in-one system with everything located in the back of the tank. I'm just a little concerned whether it will be capable of handling everything.

Paul B · Jul 14, 2015

I would have built all of my reef structure on a solid base that was connected together at the bottom. This entire "undercarriage" would be connected to cables so I could raise the entire reef structure off the substrate for maintenance or to search for eggs or creatures. I think it would make it more interesting although the fish would get the horrors. If I ever empty my tank for something, I may implement this idea.

retiredsailor · Jul 14, 2015

Paul, very interesting idea. Unfortunately I don't trust my mechanical abilities to pull something like that off.

dbl · Jul 14, 2015

I would have thought about the ongoing maintenance with more detail. As an example, installing a floor drain under the display to be able to easily discharge water during water changes. Although I pump water out of the display, and don't have to use buckets, I do have to hook up a line and run it outside. Same for refilling from the mixing station. Again, it's pumped to display, no buckets, but only after running a line to display.

Yes, there would have been additional costs related to this, but considering the amount of money in this so far, it would have been nothing comparatively speaking, and life would be that much easier! So many lesson learned given this is my first tank.

beaslbob · Jul 14, 2015

1) started my old 55g with macro algae right from the start.

2) sump tested sump drain failure to insure the pump runs dry before display flood.

3) put electrical outlets above tank on wall.

4). started diy two part right from the beginning.

Rob's Reef · Jul 14, 2015

I wish I had a closed loop system to give more flow to help with dead spots... the constant turkey basting of the sand is getting old!

Also being my tank is in the wall I wish I would have somehow put an opening above it to have access to see what I was doing rather than looking down from the top view then running inside to see if i got things right... ugh