New tank startup

[kparton]

Hello,

I wanted to get some ideas on my strategy for setting up my new tank, I'm thinking about doing it a little bit differently than last time.

I have a 50G tank with 2 175W 10000K MH pendants that I will hang. I have 96W PC ballasts as well, but currently no way to put them over the tank.

I bought 100lbs of Southdown sand, but I don't know how much of it to use int he tank. i was planning to seed it with 20lbs of live sand from my LFS. I plan on using 80lbs of live rock as well. Has anyone here had luck with ordering live rock online, if so, with whom?

Finally, here's what I want to do. I have an RO/DI unit that I need to set up. i'd like to mix up about 35G of saltwater out of my RO/DI unit. Then I would put this in the tnak and add the Southdown sand. I would then start the heater to get the water up to the right temp and start testing pH to make sure I have it buffered well before the introduction of liverock and sand. I would then add live sand and live rock, removing water as necessary if it overflowed. From here it would be a regular cycle.

The only problem I see is that this would mean I had to set up my rock work from the surface of the sand instead of the bottom, so no rock would be covered extensively with sand. i could dig some rock down into the sand when i put it in. Has anyone ever had a problem with their rock restong on some sand instead of on the bottom of the tank?

 

[Panagiotakis]

Hi.Personally i would lay the sand down first.Then immerge 4 inch pvc pipe through the sand until it rests against the bottom glass panel.
The pvc pipe should be high enough to just stick out from the sand and then sit the rocks on the piping.This will let you have better water flow around the rock and surrounding area.If your fish stock decide to dig there is also no fear of rocks moving or colapsing.Thats my 2cents.

 

[vwelter]

I just got 150 lbs of Prime cured Fiji rock from Aquariumarts.com in So. Cal. He takes your order in advance, and you usually have to wait a few weeks. He goes to pick out the pieces himself, and cures them for several weeks. All of my rock was in great shape...large interesting pieces...several with coral colonies that are growing already.

 

[aquarist=broke]

is that a mass of shells right there, or is it a massive snail/hermit crab orgy?

 

[LA-Lawman]

Hi,
here is how i usually do it... I have had diggers that knock over everything...

I would use all of the sand. When i set my tanks up. I put the rock in first. I arrange it the way i want and place the big heavy stable pieces on the bottom. then I use that foam, spray sealant stuff to stick them together. the stuff dries in minutes and then it is water safe. it will not leach into the water. or you could use the reef apoxy. Then I build the rest of my aquascaping. Leaving the top to move around as necessary.

After i get my rock in. i fill the tank. I then usually cycle the tnak with rock only. I usually get uncured rock. I would then add my sand. I bury some of the detritus in the sand so the critters have some grub

I like the PVC idea though..... besides it will make your DSB thicker.

HTH

 

[kparton]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I'll try the PVC pipe idea. Is there any type of priming I should do to the pipe, for instance, to get the ink off that they use for marking?