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cinnamongirl

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I have everything ready to go (at least in my head) but I'm unsure of which order to get things going. I'm starting from scratch, no established sand/water is available.

Equipment: 75g tank, MH/VHO, AquaC Remora Pro skimmer, cansiter filter, 2 MaxiJet 900 (no sump or refugium)

1. First goes the salt water, with all equipment running checking parameters
2. Then add live rock (I need to purchase it pre-cured)
3. Let the tank cycle several weeks
4. Add substrate

I want a 4" sandbed at least, but how do I add the sand with the water in there already? Should the substrate go in the same time as my rocks? Or after? If I turn off all the equipment while the sand settles, will that mess up my cycle and hurt the critters in the rocks??

I need to order all the live rock and at least part of the sand online, so I need to time it right.

Any comments/suggestions would be helpful.

Goal: few reef-friendly fish, mostly corals (easier ones to start), cleaners, etc.

_______
Vickie
 
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Anonymous

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You seem to have your timing right, but be certain you understand the difference between cycling and curing. If it is your intention to purchase cured rock, getting it online isn't the way to do it, as further shipping will cause another cure process to begin. There's nothing wrong with that, but I want to be sure you understand what will happen.

(Be sure to have sponges to cover the intakes of those powerheads!)

If you intend to cycle, I'm assuming you plan to do it fishless (with a bit of raw shrimp), and that only need take as long as it takes for the ammonia and nitrite to reach their peaks then zero out.

If you plan on this system being a reef, then I would be careful with the canister filter, and consider instead dedicating about a third of the tank volume to act as a refugium.

You can add the sand at any time, but know that a couple of things are going to happen..
1: If you go to the trouble of ordering live sand (honestly, I wouldn't if you're going to let it cycle for a few weeks - save your money), then know that you will experience a bit of die off.
2: It will be a little while before the sand settles down if it's really fine-grained.
3: Do NOT set the live rock on top of the sand, place the rock as you want it, then add the sand. Otherwise, when you add creatures and get some that dig, they could cause a catastrophic collapse of the rock structure.

So, adding the sand after the rock is fine, turn off the filters or you'll just clog them.

When you've only added the water, you only need to perform your first testing of pH and salinity. If you're worried that your source water may have excess nutrients, then go ahead and test for all that can be tested for; phosphorous, nitrite and 'trate. The other parameters are moot until you begin the cycling process.
 

cinnamongirl

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Why do I need to be careful about the canister filter? That was my original plan, but I've heard that a canister filter with a DSB causes problems. Is that true?

I understand the difference between cycling and curing... I guess I was hoping that the rock I purchased did not need to be cured at all. I guess that is too much to hope for.

I don't know the first thing about setting up a refugium or a sump, for that matter. I skipped over those sections once I thought I didn't need one. My 75g AllGlass tank is not drilled, either.

I guess back to the books for me, eh?
 
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Anonymous

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The rock will have die-off becaue of how it's shipped. This can't be gotten past.

The canister filter isn't the most convenient method of filtration, it will require very regular, and somewhat frequent maintenance. That's the "care-full" bit. With or without a DSB this is the case. As for problems, for some folks, yes, for some folks no. A lot depends on so many variables that it becomes a bit of a guessing game.

Do a search on "hang-on-tank" refugiums. It's a brilliant solution to a common problem, and if you can afford it and have the space, I really think it's worth some consideration.

Back to the books? ALWAYS! :)
 

cdeakle

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I would ditch the cannister filter also. If you have a good amount of LR and a really good skimmer, such as AquaC, you have all the mechanical and biological filtration you need.

You can however use the cannister filter on those infrequent occasions that you may want to run carbon. Since you don't plan on having a sump the cannister gives you an easy option...
 

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