help with first saltwater tank!

blacklabel · 01/22/2009, 09:53 PM

I am finally doing it! converting my 125 to a (eventually) reef tank. I am ready to get started, I just need some help to get started. all id like to do now is just get it running and cycling.

1) my tank isnt drilled but id like to run a sump. how do i tell if the glass is tempered? can i drill it myself?

2) right now i have a couple canister filters, including an FX5, and various HOB filters. will i still run any of these once i convert it to salt?

3) what do you recommend for a protein skimmer? id like to keep it under 250. will i need anything else?

ronin_man · 01/22/2009, 10:00 PM

first of all, welcome to RC.

you might want to start with the stickys at the top of the forum first, they have alot of good info in them ( more than you can read in a few days/weeks even.)
but its a great place to start.

as for the glass, if your not sure. dont drill ! either that or take it to a glass shop and get it looked at.
but i would suggest an overflow unit instead of drilling.

as for your filters, canisters are said to be pretty bad at creating nitrates in salt tanks. and alot of people say to stay away from them all together.

and as for the skimmer, your gonna have to wait till someone a bit more knowledgable chimes in, and your probably going to get a bunch of differing opinions on them anyways.

but good luck. and all i can say is read read read !!!
and once your totally sick of reading. read some more !

enjoy !

blacklabel · 01/22/2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ronin_man
first of all, welcome to RC.

you might want to start with the stickys at the top of the forum first, they have alot of good info in them ( more than you can read in a few days/weeks even.)
but its a great place to start.

as for the glass, if your not sure. dont drill ! either that or take it to a glass shop and get it looked at.
but i would suggest an overflow unit instead of drilling.

as for your filters, canisters are said to be pretty bad at creating nitrates in salt tanks. and alot of people say to stay away from them all together.

and as for the skimmer, your gonna have to wait till someone a bit more knowledgable chimes in, and your probably going to get a bunch of differing opinions on them anyways.

but good luck. and all i can say is read read read !!!
and once your totally sick of reading. read some more !

enjoy !

thanks. ive been reading the stickies and they are great. im just so ready to go ahead and get the tank cycling! why would you recommend an overflow in stead of drilling? dont they have some risk of spilling water everywhere if the return pump goes out or something like that? and about the canister filter, i thought maybe i could use it for phosphate or something else? i plan to run a wet dry and deep sand for filtration. thanks

ronin_man · 01/22/2009, 11:36 PM

the reason i recommended that is because you dont know what type of glass you have. alot of people have used overflows for years without any problems(if you set them up right), myself included.

but if you know for sure (100%)what kind of glass you have, go ahead and drill or get it drilled.

and im not sure about the canister being used for something like that... someone might have DIYd something i dont know.
check the DIY section.

you can start your cycling while your doing research as the cycle process takes quite a while.

now get your wallet ready! this is the rough part.

Alot of people swear by R/O water in this hobby, and its a pretty good idea to use it as water is the main part of this hobby. why not use the best water you can ?

as for the salt mix you need, you are going to hear different stuff from different people, but this is also one place you dont want to cheap out, get a decent well known brand and stick with it. (Instant Ocean, Crystal Sea, Reef Cystals, Seachem) seem to be pretty popular. and you'll need a hydrometer or refractometer to test your SG.

get yourself 1-2LBS of Live Rock (LR)per gallon of water your aquarium can hold, as well as some good Livesand (LS)
and maybe a few good powerheads to get a good flow in there.
and you should be set to START your cycle at least.

and in the meen time, keep reading.(thats what im gonna go do now, it never ends... lol)

01/22/2009, 09:53 PM	#1
blacklabel Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 12	help with first saltwater tank! I am finally doing it! converting my 125 to a (eventually) reef tank. I am ready to get started, I just need some help to get started. all id like to do now is just get it running and cycling. 1) my tank isnt drilled but id like to run a sump. how do i tell if the glass is tempered? can i drill it myself? 2) right now i have a couple canister filters, including an FX5, and various HOB filters. will i still run any of these once i convert it to salt? 3) what do you recommend for a protein skimmer? id like to keep it under 250. will i need anything else?

01/22/2009, 10:00 PM	#2
ronin_man Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 181	first of all, welcome to RC. you might want to start with the stickys at the top of the forum first, they have alot of good info in them ( more than you can read in a few days/weeks even.) but its a great place to start. as for the glass, if your not sure. dont drill ! either that or take it to a glass shop and get it looked at. but i would suggest an overflow unit instead of drilling. as for your filters, canisters are said to be pretty bad at creating nitrates in salt tanks. and alot of people say to stay away from them all together. and as for the skimmer, your gonna have to wait till someone a bit more knowledgable chimes in, and your probably going to get a bunch of differing opinions on them anyways. but good luck. and all i can say is read read read !!! and once your totally sick of reading. read some more ! enjoy ! __________________ i used to think a 33gal tank was big... now my 150 seems kinda small... Current Tank Info: freshwater ray tank 180gal system, community/show pleco tank 65gal FW, community tank 33gal FW, 29gal SW biocube

01/22/2009, 11:36 PM	#4
ronin_man Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 181	the reason i recommended that is because you dont know what type of glass you have. alot of people have used overflows for years without any problems(if you set them up right), myself included. but if you know for sure (100%)what kind of glass you have, go ahead and drill or get it drilled. and im not sure about the canister being used for something like that... someone might have DIYd something i dont know. check the DIY section. you can start your cycling while your doing research as the cycle process takes quite a while. now get your wallet ready! this is the rough part. Alot of people swear by R/O water in this hobby, and its a pretty good idea to use it as water is the main part of this hobby. why not use the best water you can ? as for the salt mix you need, you are going to hear different stuff from different people, but this is also one place you dont want to cheap out, get a decent well known brand and stick with it. (Instant Ocean, Crystal Sea, Reef Cystals, Seachem) seem to be pretty popular. and you'll need a hydrometer or refractometer to test your SG. get yourself 1-2LBS of Live Rock (LR)per gallon of water your aquarium can hold, as well as some good Livesand (LS) and maybe a few good powerheads to get a good flow in there. and you should be set to START your cycle at least. and in the meen time, keep reading.(thats what im gonna go do now, it never ends... lol) __________________ i used to think a 33gal tank was big... now my 150 seems kinda small... Current Tank Info: freshwater ray tank 180gal system, community/show pleco tank 65gal FW, community tank 33gal FW, 29gal SW biocube