First SW tank, First PIC

dstall · 07/27/2006, 02:29 PM

Very excited to start my first SW tank, years in the planning regarding taking the leap. This is after one week and all is well so far. Open for thoughts or suggestions regarding LR set up and what should go into tank next??

Andrew · 07/27/2006, 02:32 PM

To Reef Central

Looks great for a first tank.

newreefbishop · 07/27/2006, 02:34 PM

looks good so far....lets see the gutz (filtration setup)

dstall · 07/27/2006, 02:42 PM

Here are my guts

Kurt03 · 07/27/2006, 02:47 PM

keep the filter sock as clean as you can, is that a corallife light strip? carefull with it they have caused several fires. What kind of skimmer is that? Are you planing on have a refugium? looking good, i like how your rock is

JGoslee · 07/27/2006, 02:48 PM

Looking good! I like your rockwork.

dstall · 07/27/2006, 02:53 PM

Pro Clear skimmer. Yes i did read about the corallife light strip and was very concerned!! I guess I could take back to LFS, do you have recommendations on others? Regarding the refugium, not sure if i'm ready to bite that off yet as everything is a little over whelming at this time. Constantly reading/researching....

ANy thoughts regarding what should go in next??

msduncan · 07/27/2006, 03:20 PM

WHAT???

Can someone tell me about the Coralife lighting and the fires? the LFS sold me an expensive Coralife dual strip and said nothing of fires! I've had it long enough so that they wouldn't take it back now.

Am I going to burn my house down?

dstall · 07/27/2006, 03:31 PM

Not sure what thread i read it in but some individuals have had problems and one actaully had a fire in their home from the strip.

pooh1989 · 07/27/2006, 03:35 PM

Well I was just getting ready to buy one for when I go on vacation, but guess I won't know.

Is there one that you can suggest?

superman1013 · 07/27/2006, 04:13 PM

Here is the link...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...Coralife+timer

AquaReeferMan · 07/27/2006, 04:57 PM

You tank looks great. Very nice for you first set-up. Just remember patience in the number one rule. As for the coralife timer, thank god I was home when this happened or I wouldnt have a home. I heard a loud cracking and turned around to see my one outlet from the timer was all black and smoking. I would reccomend anyone using one or is thinking about using one reconsider.

Shooter7 · 07/27/2006, 05:12 PM

Looks great. Congrats on the new setup. A thought I'd toss out there is that I'm thinking that you're probably going to end up wanting more flow in there than those couple of MJ's and the return pump are going to provide. I'd suggest a couple of Seio 1100's, or perhaps tunze if you can afford them.

msduncan · 07/27/2006, 05:15 PM

Ok so it sounds like it's the Coralife power center that is the culpret and not the actual lighting fixture.

In that case (since I also am using one of the power centers) what do you guys recommend as an alternative to cycling my lights and moon lights?

Should I just do it manually which is kind of a pain in the butt, or is there a quality product out there that won't burn my house down?

SeaSwag · 07/27/2006, 05:27 PM

dstall GREAT setup! I only see one problem and that is the Deep Six Hydrometer, chuck that thing in the trash and get a refractometer. I just got mine from Drsfostersmith.com for $39.99 and it works great. After using it for the first time I fould out that my deep six hydrometer was off by 4 points!! and it was confirmed by my LFS that it was off 4 points.

dstall · 07/27/2006, 07:18 PM

I really appreciate everyone's input especially regarding the problems with the corallife power strip. Just not worth the risk so its going back to the LFS.

AngeloM3 · 07/27/2006, 07:25 PM

one major thing to consider...........

seeing that your skimmer is in a sump without baffles...... the water level in the entire sump will fluctuate due to evaporation. so the water level around the skimmer will be reducing... then increasing (with your top-off) you will constantly have to adjust the water level in the skimmer to get skimmate. it has to do with some sort of physics.

the best thing to do to make it so you dont have to keep adjusting your skimmer....... put some baffles in so one chamber has a constant water level

dstall · 07/27/2006, 07:32 PM

OK. Here comes the stupid questions... What are baffles?

AngeloM3 · 07/27/2006, 07:40 PM

there like dividers that go in the sump...........

check out this link: http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/f/sump_f.html

so the way that sump works is the left and right chamber get water from the tank.......... so the left and right chambers water level will stay constant......... the middle section is the return section.... so that is the section that will fluctuate.

you dont NEED 3 chambers...... if you dont want a refugium you would just need 2 chambers

the way the flow goes though the chambers in regular sumps are:
skimmer --> refugium --> return
or
return <-- refugium <-- skimmer

depending what side of the tank your drain is.........
so if you dont want a refugium you just need:
skimmer --> return
or
return <-- skimmer

2639 · 07/27/2006, 07:40 PM

I LOVE the rockwork! I wouldn't change a thing. I would clean your filter sock every other day at a minimum so your nitrates don't build up ( after the cycle, of course ). I agree with AngeloM3 about the baffles ( good catch ! )

Baffles are partitions. Check out the great articles about sumps. You'll learn PLENTY about baffles LOL

dstall · 07/27/2006, 07:47 PM

Thank. I will research the baffles. Actually the sock was just cleaned..............

As long as my water reading are good what do you recommend i start putting in the tank?

2639 · 07/27/2006, 08:00 PM

Personally, I wait at LEAST 30 days before putting anything in after beginning the cycle. That just ensures me that all parameters have stabilized, all water has soaked into the sand and rocks so the water levels are predictable and that gives me plenty of time to see what leaks and what adjustments are to be made so that I can keep my hands out of the water as much as possible when my livestock gets in.

AngeloM3 · 07/27/2006, 08:18 PM

yup....... wait 30days

now i want you to keep this in the back of your head.....

every new tank goes through "new tank syndrom"... which is getting blooms of algae...... they last maybe about 2months...... DON'T WORRY.... its completly fine!

what to do is...... when it gets really thick and back..... scrape it off the rocks and glass...... and then get in there with a turkey baster to suck up the algae or a net to scoop it out

once it goes through the algae bloom for about 2 months... everything will stabalize and you'll get a nice looking tank

07/27/2006, 02:29 PM	#1
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	First SW tank, First PIC Very excited to start my first SW tank, years in the planning regarding taking the leap. This is after one week and all is well so far. Open for thoughts or suggestions regarding LR set up and what should go into tank next??

07/27/2006, 02:34 PM	#3
newreefbishop Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,787	looks good so far....lets see the gutz (filtration setup) __________________ Its not just a hobby, it's a lifestyle!!!! The 65 is gone the 110 is in, click the red house for the 110. *Updated Current Tank Info: 110 gal R/R AGA with 40 gallon DIY fuge/sump, 2 AI Sol Blue LED modules, RKL system, Vortech Powerheads, Softies, LPS and SPS. Fox Face, Coral Beauty, Goby, a mated pair of Midnight Black Photon Clowns, BTA, Sebae and small critters everywhere

07/27/2006, 02:42 PM	#4
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	Filtering system Here are my guts

07/27/2006, 02:48 PM	#6
JGoslee Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,216	Looking good! I like your rockwork. __________________ Click on my red house to see my Zoanthid dominated tank.

07/27/2006, 03:35 PM	#10
pooh1989 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Small Town, ND Posts: 199	Well I was just getting ready to buy one for when I go on vacation, but guess I won't know. Is there one that you can suggest? __________________ Freedom Isn't Free! Land of the Free, Because of the Brave! Current Tank Info: 46 gallon reef tank with 2 maroon clowns, 2 firefish, lawnmower blenny and a yellow clown goby and 35 gallon hex FOWLR with 3 blue/green chromis and a fuzzy dwarf lion fish

07/27/2006, 02:32 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	*To Reef Central* Looks great for a first tank.

07/27/2006, 02:47 PM	#5
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	keep the filter sock as clean as you can, is that a corallife light strip? carefull with it they have caused several fires. What kind of skimmer is that? Are you planing on have a refugium? looking good, i like how your rock is

07/27/2006, 02:53 PM	#7
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	Pro Clear skimmer. Yes i did read about the corallife light strip and was very concerned!! I guess I could take back to LFS, do you have recommendations on others? Regarding the refugium, not sure if i'm ready to bite that off yet as everything is a little over whelming at this time. Constantly reading/researching.... ANy thoughts regarding what should go in next??

07/27/2006, 03:20 PM	#8
msduncan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 164	WHAT??? Can someone tell me about the Coralife lighting and the fires? the LFS sold me an expensive Coralife dual strip and said nothing of fires! I've had it long enough so that they wouldn't take it back now. Am I going to burn my house down?

07/27/2006, 03:31 PM	#9
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	Not sure what thread i read it in but some individuals have had problems and one actaully had a fire in their home from the strip.

07/27/2006, 04:13 PM	#11
superman1013 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 172	Here is the link... http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...Coralife+timer __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon, 250W Hamilton MH, CPR BAK-PAK 2R+ Skimmer, ~90 lbs LR and LS.

07/27/2006, 04:57 PM	#12
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	You tank looks great. Very nice for you first set-up. Just remember patience in the number one rule. As for the coralife timer, thank god I was home when this happened or I wouldnt have a home. I heard a loud cracking and turned around to see my one outlet from the timer was all black and smoking. I would reccomend anyone using one or is thinking about using one reconsider. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/27/2006, 05:12 PM	#13
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	Looks great. Congrats on the new setup. A thought I'd toss out there is that I'm thinking that you're probably going to end up wanting more flow in there than those couple of MJ's and the return pump are going to provide. I'd suggest a couple of Seio 1100's, or perhaps tunze if you can afford them. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

07/27/2006, 05:15 PM	#14
msduncan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 164	Ok so it sounds like it's the Coralife power center that is the culpret and not the actual lighting fixture. In that case (since I also am using one of the power centers) what do you guys recommend as an alternative to cycling my lights and moon lights? Should I just do it manually which is kind of a pain in the butt, or is there a quality product out there that won't burn my house down?

07/27/2006, 05:27 PM	#15
SeaSwag Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 54	dstall GREAT setup! I only see one problem and that is the Deep Six Hydrometer, chuck that thing in the trash and get a refractometer. I just got mine from Drsfostersmith.com for $39.99 and it works great. After using it for the first time I fould out that my deep six hydrometer was off by 4 points!! and it was confirmed by my LFS that it was off 4 points.

07/27/2006, 07:18 PM	#16
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	I really appreciate everyone's input especially regarding the problems with the corallife power strip. Just not worth the risk so its going back to the LFS.

07/27/2006, 07:25 PM	#17
AngeloM3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,016	one major thing to consider........... seeing that your skimmer is in a sump without baffles...... the water level in the entire sump will fluctuate due to evaporation. so the water level around the skimmer will be reducing... then increasing (with your top-off) you will constantly have to adjust the water level in the skimmer to get skimmate. it has to do with some sort of physics. the best thing to do to make it so you dont have to keep adjusting your skimmer....... put some baffles in so one chamber has a constant water level __________________ "I'm sick of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where their going and catch up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg R.I.P

07/27/2006, 07:32 PM	#18
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	OK. Here comes the stupid questions... What are baffles?

07/27/2006, 07:40 PM	#19
AngeloM3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,016	there like dividers that go in the sump........... check out this link: http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/f/sump_f.html so the way that sump works is the left and right chamber get water from the tank.......... so the left and right chambers water level will stay constant......... the middle section is the return section.... so that is the section that will fluctuate. you dont NEED 3 chambers...... if you dont want a refugium you would just need 2 chambers the way the flow goes though the chambers in regular sumps are: skimmer --> refugium --> return or return <-- refugium <-- skimmer depending what side of the tank your drain is......... so if you dont want a refugium you just need: skimmer --> return or return <-- skimmer __________________ "I'm sick of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where their going and catch up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg R.I.P

07/27/2006, 07:40 PM	#20
2639 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 650	I LOVE the rockwork! I wouldn't change a thing. I would clean your filter sock every other day at a minimum so your nitrates don't build up ( after the cycle, of course ). I agree with AngeloM3 about the baffles ( good catch ! ) Baffles are partitions. Check out the great articles about sumps. You'll learn PLENTY about baffles LOL

07/27/2006, 07:47 PM	#21
dstall Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 320	Thank. I will research the baffles. Actually the sock was just cleaned.............. As long as my water reading are good what do you recommend i start putting in the tank?

07/27/2006, 08:00 PM	#22
2639 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 650	Personally, I wait at LEAST 30 days before putting anything in after beginning the cycle. That just ensures me that all parameters have stabilized, all water has soaked into the sand and rocks so the water levels are predictable and that gives me plenty of time to see what leaks and what adjustments are to be made so that I can keep my hands out of the water as much as possible when my livestock gets in.

07/27/2006, 08:18 PM	#23
AngeloM3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,016	yup....... wait 30days now i want you to keep this in the back of your head..... every new tank goes through "new tank syndrom"... which is getting blooms of algae...... they last maybe about 2months...... DON'T WORRY.... its completly fine! what to do is...... when it gets really thick and back..... scrape it off the rocks and glass...... and then get in there with a turkey baster to suck up the algae or a net to scoop it out once it goes through the algae bloom for about 2 months... everything will stabalize and you'll get a nice looking tank __________________ "I'm sick of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where their going and catch up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg R.I.P