75 gallon reef tank

[Guest owl28]

I have everything I need for my tank set up except lights(I am getting Metal Halide lights from another member), salt and a test kit. I am planning to keep two 10 gallon tanks one to store salt water and the other fresh water. How do you start up this type of tank?  I had been planning to get live rock/sand to maturate the tank. How often should I be testing the tank during start up? I just aquired an R.O. unit. How do you use one of these? My R.O. unit came with a filter? I have never had an R.O. unit. I could use some help in these areas. Is it really necessary to have a wave maker machine which your power heads are plugged into? I just would like the best I can do for my tank.

 

Aaron

[Gatortailale]

Aaron,

 

The Spring meeting April 17, will cover a lot of your questions - Reefkeeping 101 presentation.  We will go over different ways to set up tank - we don't recommend one method over another; we just want to inform people of the options and let them decide.  Some things work for one person, but don't work for someone else.

 

-10 g tanks - might be sufficient - if you have them, they will work - you can also store water in salt buckets  

 

-RO unit - maybe bring to social tomorrow and someone can comment on it.  is it new or used.  If used, you may want to replace filters and ro membrane.

 

-tank water- use RO if you can produce enough in the amount of time you want to start tank.  You can use tap mixed with salt and declorinator if you want to cure rock.  Just need to remember to drain most if not all the water after rock cycle cure so that you are ro is used once you add sand and put rock in final position.  At least that is my opinion.

 

- if you get uncured rock, then I would put rock in by self and let it cycle a few weeks. once it's testing without spikes, then drain 50% or so, pull rock, add in sand if you want, then replace rock; then top off with new ro - salt water mix.  Allow to cycle another weeks or so.  When you drain the 50% you can vac. up the detritus on bottom of tank.

 

- sandstorm - I avoided a large amount by putting garbage bag on sand, poked holes, put plate on top, then poured water on plate; once full, pulled bags.  Otherwise you have to decorate the rock in brail from sand storm  tng

 

- wave maker - just add on toy - if you have the extra cash burning hole in pocket go for it.  Don't need it.  Best price, subscribe to jeff's exotic fish website letter.  seems like weekly special price is $99 for new one (Red sea)

 

Test plumbing with fresh water before you add the salt.  

 

- testing - to start, i would do daily to every other day. for first month.

 

HTH

Craig  o]

[Sph2sail]

Aaron, where are you?  Your profile says DC.  Many of us do "house visits" still...  A great way to meet the crowd and get some personal attention!

 

Attend tomorrow's social at The Reef Tank.  They are an excellent source of knowledge as well.

 

steve

[michaelg]

Personally- I would cycle with uncured or partially cured live rock, and have the sand in there from the getgo.  The dust storm will settle out quickly, and the sand will become immediately activated and provide a harbor for worms, etc that are in the rock.

 

If you can make it to the meeting next month in Kensington (not far at all outside of DC), then you may consider having Dr. Mac bring some rock for you.  TRT where the social is at also has good rock/prices.  

 

I have routinely used the bag trick with the sand.  Works wonders for keeping the duststorm down.

 

The RO unit you have should have 3 lines- usually different colors and usually different size tubes.  The biggest one is usually where water goes in.  There are several ways to hook it up to a house line- 1. tap directly into cold water pipe (don't do this if you are renting) using a saddle valve.  2. hook it up to kitchen sink- need a faucet adapter.  3. hook up to utility sink- these usually use a garden hose fitting.  The adaptors are cheap- around $5.  Buckey field and supply has them if you can't find one locally.

 

Now on the output- there are 2 hoses- one is "waste water" that is rejected by the RO membrane.  I use this water for plants and sometimes laundry.  It is dechlorinated and particle filtered.  

The other is the water that you want to keep for the tank- this comes out of the RO membrane and if you have DI feeds into this portion of the filter.  A new rubbermaid trash can us useful.  Much depends on space you have for storing extra water.

[xeon]

If I could add something... I'd put the sand in the bottom of the tank.  Then put a bowl on top of it and then take a water pump with some tubing clamped on and fill the tank... with the water going into the bowl.  I filled a tank like this recently (w/ a MAFG5) and it did not have the week long sandstorm I had when I just filled mine up.  I've heard someone say to use a plastic bag spread over the sand.  When you fill it up, the bag rises and the sand storm is minimal.

 

Until the sand gets some bio activity it will stir up pretty easy, but this kind of thing might help you initially.

[pez]

I second what Dave said.  I did my 120 that way and it was a lot better than dumping the sand in.  It can take days for your tank to clear and then you have sand all throughout your overflows and sump (if you have such things).

 

-T

[Guest owl28]

I will take your advice and use a bowl to fill up my tank. It may take a while since I am using an R.O. unit unless there is an esier way. I was planning to have two holding tanks next to the main one for water storage. Maybe I should use something bigger?

[michaelg]

You could use a couple rubbermaids and fill them up.  Then do all the filling into the tank at one time.  How far away from the tank is the RO located?

[xeon]

For water storage I have a trash can, I think its a 33 gallon or something.  My RO/DI isn't anywhere near my tank so I just fill the trash can up as needed.  I drilled a small hole in the lid to put my RO/DI output into.  I don't have any type of a shut off, so I have to cut it on and off as needed.  One of these days I'm going to put a float switch on it.

 

As far as using the water... I just take out what I need for top off daily.  I use two rubber maids for water mixing and water changes.  One of these days I'm also going to update my system w/ float switches for top offs and etc, but for now it is doable.

[flowerseller]

Consider putting a couple big rocks on the tank floor and then add the sand to just about cover them.

These first couple rocks will act as a footing for the rest of your rock formation to sit on.

This way, when a fish digs out a nifty spot to call it's own, you won't have an avalanche when a rock sitting on the sand bed shifts.

 

Chip

[Guest owl28]

My RO unit will be located about 20-25ft away from my tanks. Would it be best to keep two trash cans one for fresh water and one for salt water? Thanks for the advice about putting the large rocks in the tank before adding sand. Where is the best place to by live sand? Chances are I will have my lighting system in place by May. Then I can go buy the sand and salt.

[michaelg]

I think the REEF Tank has good sand as does Dr. Mac.  Also get a baggies of grunge from the bottom of the live rock curing vat.  Probably your best bet on live sand is to get it from club members- it doesn't take a lot of live sand to activate and seed the sandbed.  Don't waste your money on stuff sold as live sand- might be some active bacteria in it, but that's about it, and what you really need are the animals.  Bacteria will coat the sand on it's own.

[Lee Stearns]

AAron,

I'll bring a couple of bagiess of live sand and some baggies (Pod Filled) of various Macro Algea calurpas and Chaeto Macro algea to the 17 April meeting. It is always good to get some biodiversity in the sand. Other members did this for me when I first set up not very long ago- in a few short months and you will be doing the same for others.

[Guest tgallo]

were in dc are you, im in silver spring by the dc line.

[michaelg]

I'd recommend having Tony pay a visit- probably the cleanest plumbing and electrical organization I have ever seen.  BTW- Tony, while you are tank sitting for me, feel free to clean up all my wire mess  if you don't run out in horror first!

[Guest owl28]

Tony would you be able to pay me a visit? I am in upper NW DC near the intersection of Connecticut Ave and Nebraska Ave. Where in Silver Spring are you?

 

Lee it would be nice of you to bring some live sand to the meeting. I will be there but I want to let you know that my tank has not been filled yet.