ok here is my story I started with my saltwater a year ago I got a a setup of craiglist which I overpaid I thought the guy knew about saltwater at the time and I took his word on everything.I dont even know if my liverocks are live i have about 75lbs I did water changes with out rodi for must of the year. Ok now I have a setup which I will start this weeken I finally got my rodi and my driiled tank tomorrow I will be getting a sump and i will be getting 75lbs of cured LR. I have a nova t5 4x54 and coralife skimmer.where and how do I start?
here I go starting all over
- Thread starter louoner
- Start date
Putting the entire system together is usually a good place to start (plumbing etc.etc.etc.) ... lol ... in the sense that nothing is cluttered and you can work in and around the sump very easily ... you don't want a leak somewhere you can't get to.
Just don't rush the initial set up ... so many mistakes are made by people in the beginning that they end up paying for. FW Test the tank first ... make sure it doesn't leak.
RO/DI only ... don't be impatient and try to use tap to get the tank filled up ... again a common mistake I have seen around here and many other places.
When you get all that finished ... and it comes time to aquascaping the tank ... put the rocks in FIRST ... You don't want sand to be shifting and cause a rock slide on you. Another common mistake to those that rush things.
louoner, let's begin with putting an end to the beating up of oneself.
Many, if not all began our reefing experience as naive as you were. Everyone has made mistakes, some small, some huge. As long as we learn from our mistakes, and move on to better ways I feel we are a head of the game. So with that said.
If you have had your rocks for a year in a running saltwater tank I am pretty certain that it is live rock.
Where to start you ask:
I would start with the vessels (food grade Rubbermaid Brute come to mind) that will hold the ro/di water that you will be filling your new tank with. This way when you are done with setting up the tank you water will be waiting, instead of you waiting for the water.
Second I would give serious thought as to where to permanently place the tank!! Moving it later will be a PITA!
Third, would come the plumbing.
Fourth, the wiring of all the equipment that will be used to run the system. Where will all the wires be plugged, and how to keep them nice & tidy.
Fifth, think of where your ATO will be located. Highly recommend an ATO....
Six, Fill tank, and check for leaks!
Seven, if you can have a buddy to work with that would be great. Some times a buddy will see what we miss.
Eight, go slow you'll have better results!!!!
Other advice given prior to me is great, so follow them!
Many, if not all began our reefing experience as naive as you were. Everyone has made mistakes, some small, some huge. As long as we learn from our mistakes, and move on to better ways I feel we are a head of the game. So with that said.If you have had your rocks for a year in a running saltwater tank I am pretty certain that it is live rock.
Where to start you ask:
I would start with the vessels (food grade Rubbermaid Brute come to mind) that will hold the ro/di water that you will be filling your new tank with. This way when you are done with setting up the tank you water will be waiting, instead of you waiting for the water.
Second I would give serious thought as to where to permanently place the tank!! Moving it later will be a PITA!
Third, would come the plumbing.
Fourth, the wiring of all the equipment that will be used to run the system. Where will all the wires be plugged, and how to keep them nice & tidy.
Fifth, think of where your ATO will be located. Highly recommend an ATO....
Six, Fill tank, and check for leaks!
Seven, if you can have a buddy to work with that would be great. Some times a buddy will see what we miss.
Eight, go slow you'll have better results!!!!
Other advice given prior to me is great, so follow them!
So you used tap water on the original 75 pounds of rock you have? That would cause them to absorb all of the nasties in tap water and good for you that you aren't going to use them!
When you get the new cured live rock, do your best to keep it warm, and submerged from the time you pick it up until you put it in your tank. If it will be more than a couple of hours you will also want to add a powerhead so there is oxygen in there as well.
Do you have a refractometer, test kits, a bulkhead (since it was just drilled)?
What size is the tank?
You may be in the market for a better skimmer...
I didn't catch where you live before I started my reply, but I would suggested seeing if you can find a reefer local to you that might want to come by and help with the set up (plumbing..and answering as thousand other questions). Many here are happy to work for pizza & beer
Sorry, but my rocks were in tap water for something like 6 years before I switched to ro/di, and I don't have any hair algea in my tank as of 3 years ago when I switched....
The only hair algae in my system, (and it is very small amount is in my overflow boxes out of site which I happen to like that it is there because it acts as an algae scrubber of sorts.
My fowlr also has lr that stewed in tap water for the same amount of years before switching to ro/di, and it also does not have any hair algea what so ever..
The only hair algae in my system, (and it is very small amount is in my overflow boxes out of site which I happen to like that it is there because it acts as an algae scrubber of sorts.
My fowlr also has lr that stewed in tap water for the same amount of years before switching to ro/di, and it also does not have any hair algea what so ever..
OzoneParkGuy
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Ozone Park
All excellent advice.... I'll need your address and best time to swing by to give you a hand. See ya Sat... Chow!
- Location
- Staten Island
Great advice, take your time and do it right the first time. Good luck!
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