Setting Up New Reef Tank Distance from Wall

saltwatergal2 · 12/01/2006, 11:56 PM

I was wondering when setting up a reef tank how far should I place the tank from the wall. What if I want to put a uv hang on sterilizer later on the back. I know they are not good for a reef tank.
Just wondering about the distance from the wall before I start filling it up with water and sand.
I would appreciate any feedback.
I appreciate everyones help.
Thanks.
Judy

boxfishpooalot · 12/01/2006, 11:58 PM

5 inches maybee? Thats ideal, but would stick out too much. So maybee 3".

sjm817 · 12/02/2006, 12:00 AM

If the tank is not Reef Ready (built in overflow with holes in the bottom of the tank, I'd have it about 6". That should leave you enough room for hang on stuff. If it is RR, 3 - 4".

JR719 · 12/02/2006, 12:05 AM

Mine is about 4" and not reef ready.

ACBlinky · 12/02/2006, 12:06 AM

My RR 90g is 3 1/2" from the wall. There's just enough room behind the tank to hang the Remora HOB skimmer and easily work with cords/power bars etc. -- I wouldn't want to keep a tank much less than 3" from the wall. I agree with sjm817, if the tank isn't RR and will have HOB equipment and/or plumbing through the back, you'll need more clearance (I'd suggest measuring the equipment/plumbing; it may need more room than you think).

supertech3 · 12/02/2006, 12:07 AM

If you have to put anything hanging on the back like a protein skimmer or other items that may need more than three inches may be what you will need to judge the distance by

Pete1399 · 12/02/2006, 12:14 AM

4-6. It is always better to have a little more than not enough!!! I did not plan on having to mount a fan on the back of my canopy to prevent the wood from warping. It was a good thing I left 5" of room on a reef ready which I could have put about 2" off the wall or I wouldn't be able to use that fan and I would still have a problem.

boxfishpooalot · 12/02/2006, 01:00 AM

I regret my other tank being 1/2" from the wall

I used a plastic backround and salt creep slides all the way down it. Make sure to leave room to clean. Actually i should have painted it first. DoH!

saltwatergal2 · 12/02/2006, 04:55 AM

Thanks so much for all of your responses.
Good advice from everyone.
This is a good forum. I was on other forum. I am happy with the quick responses at "Reef Central."
Thanks Again.
Judy

JollyGreen · 12/02/2006, 06:54 AM

I agree with 6", you definitely want some extra space in case you decide to add a hang on tank refugium, or hang on tank skimmer, or anything else. I luckily left 6" for my tank, and I needed up needing it for a skimmer.

Goodluck
JG

mcox33 · 12/02/2006, 07:31 AM

I have 6" on a reef ready and wish I had more. LOL

saltwatergal2 · 12/02/2006, 11:49 PM

Well the tank is up and running.
I left 6 inches from the wall. It was a job to set it up.
I first bought 58 gals of drinking water from Walmart. Then added the water with the salt to my new rubbermaid. Couldn't remember how much salt to put in. My refractometer wasn't working since I used it 3 years ago. I had to go and purchase a hydrometer. Come to find out I had added too much salt in the can. I proceeded to move water into the buckets add more drinking water. Then I found out one of the buckets was leaking on my wood floor. It was a mess. Needless to say I feel my age today. It is running now. So far I have 80 lbs of sand and 28 lbs of base rock. I will be ordering uncured rock in a few days.
Have a powerhead and outside aged filter running. My protein skimmer will arrive in two days. I also have a heater going.
Pretty cloudy in there right now. What a job.
I know it will be worth it when it is completed.
Has anybody else gone through all of that when setting up the tank.
Just Wondering.
Judy

supertech3 · 12/02/2006, 11:59 PM

You will enjoy it! It will probably clear by the morning. what is your plan for the rock curing?

sjm817 · 12/03/2006, 07:20 AM

Glad to see you have it up and running. Enjoy. It can be a lot of work. I tore down my 90G yesterday and moved the fish to the 180. I still have to move the corals that are in a QT tan, and a ton of other things to do. The house looks like a wreck!

saltwatergal2 · 12/03/2006, 08:06 AM

I will be ordering 45 lbs of Premium Figi uncured live rock this week. I will be cycling my tank with that rock. First when it comes in I will dip it in a bucket of salt mixture and scape very softly the outside. Then place it in the tank. I probably will be getting another 20 lbs of another rock cured after my tank has cycled. I will be getting my protein skimmer this week too.
The only question I have is do you add a light when the tank is cycling?
I have been told both ways?
First leave the light out until it cycles is finished. Another person at the fish store told me that I needed to leave the light on 2 to 4 hours per day to bring out the coraline on the rocks.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Judy

Nano Chris · 12/03/2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcox33
I have 6" on a reef ready and wish I had more. LOL

I have about that too, i have to have room behind there for my css125 (hang on sump

) and room for air circulation to let the heat escape from the canopy/sump.

12/01/2006, 11:56 PM	#1
saltwatergal2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Woodstock GA. Posts: 60	Setting Up New Reef Tank Distance from Wall I was wondering when setting up a reef tank how far should I place the tank from the wall. What if I want to put a uv hang on sterilizer later on the back. I know they are not good for a reef tank. Just wondering about the distance from the wall before I start filling it up with water and sand. I would appreciate any feedback. I appreciate everyones help. Thanks. Judy

12/01/2006, 11:58 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	5 inches maybee? Thats ideal, but would stick out too much. So maybee 3". __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/02/2006, 12:00 AM	#3
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	If the tank is not Reef Ready (built in overflow with holes in the bottom of the tank, I'd have it about 6". That should leave you enough room for hang on stuff. If it is RR, 3 - 4". __________________ - Scott

12/02/2006, 12:05 AM	#4
JR719 Tang Cop Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: OK Posts: 2,240	Mine is about 4" and not reef ready. __________________ Can't sleep, clowns will eat me. America is the most grandiose experiment the world has seen, but, I am afraid, it is not going to be a success. Sigmund Freud Current Tank Info: 300 reef, Aqua controller, Deltec calcium reactor, Reeflo 250 skimmer, Icecap bla bla bla

12/02/2006, 12:06 AM	#5
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	My RR 90g is 3 1/2" from the wall. There's just enough room behind the tank to hang the Remora HOB skimmer and easily work with cords/power bars etc. -- I wouldn't want to keep a tank much less than 3" from the wall. I agree with sjm817, if the tank isn't RR and will have HOB equipment and/or plumbing through the back, you'll need more clearance (I'd suggest measuring the equipment/plumbing; it may need more room than you think). __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

12/02/2006, 12:07 AM	#6
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	If you have to put anything hanging on the back like a protein skimmer or other items that may need more than three inches may be what you will need to judge the distance by

12/02/2006, 12:14 AM	#7
Pete1399 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Im right here Posts: 369	4-6. It is always better to have a little more than not enough!!! I did not plan on having to mount a fan on the back of my canopy to prevent the wood from warping. It was a good thing I left 5" of room on a reef ready which I could have put about 2" off the wall or I wouldn't be able to use that fan and I would still have a problem. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: 75g, CSS220 Skimmer, DIY CREE LEDs, DIY Canopy, DIY Stand, 29g sump/fuge, Tunze nanostreams

12/02/2006, 01:00 AM	#8
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	I regret my other tank being 1/2" from the wall I used a plastic backround and salt creep slides all the way down it. Make sure to leave room to clean. Actually i should have painted it first. DoH! __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/02/2006, 04:55 AM	#9
saltwatergal2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Woodstock GA. Posts: 60	Setting Up New Reef Tank Distance From Wall Thanks so much for all of your responses. Good advice from everyone. This is a good forum. I was on other forum. I am happy with the quick responses at "Reef Central." Thanks Again. Judy

12/02/2006, 06:54 AM	#10
JollyGreen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 136	I agree with 6", you definitely want some extra space in case you decide to add a hang on tank refugium, or hang on tank skimmer, or anything else. I luckily left 6" for my tank, and I needed up needing it for a skimmer. Goodluck JG

12/02/2006, 07:31 AM	#11
mcox33 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nitro, West Virginia Posts: 2,261	I have 6" on a reef ready and wish I had more. LOL __________________ Mary Current Tank Info: 90 Saltwater Reef, 2 x 400 watt MH, 4 x 65 watt PC, 1 x 24 watt 48" T-5 + 4 blue led's, Dual chamber MRC Calcium Reactor, Huge DIY Kalkwasser reactor (made by someone else) Auto Top Off and Aquatecture Plus Skimmer

12/02/2006, 11:49 PM	#12
saltwatergal2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Woodstock GA. Posts: 60	Well the tank is up and running. I left 6 inches from the wall. It was a job to set it up. I first bought 58 gals of drinking water from Walmart. Then added the water with the salt to my new rubbermaid. Couldn't remember how much salt to put in. My refractometer wasn't working since I used it 3 years ago. I had to go and purchase a hydrometer. Come to find out I had added too much salt in the can. I proceeded to move water into the buckets add more drinking water. Then I found out one of the buckets was leaking on my wood floor. It was a mess. Needless to say I feel my age today. It is running now. So far I have 80 lbs of sand and 28 lbs of base rock. I will be ordering uncured rock in a few days. Have a powerhead and outside aged filter running. My protein skimmer will arrive in two days. I also have a heater going. Pretty cloudy in there right now. What a job. I know it will be worth it when it is completed. Has anybody else gone through all of that when setting up the tank. Just Wondering. Judy

12/02/2006, 11:59 PM	#13
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	You will enjoy it! It will probably clear by the morning. what is your plan for the rock curing?

12/03/2006, 07:20 AM	#14
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Glad to see you have it up and running. Enjoy. It can be a lot of work. I tore down my 90G yesterday and moved the fish to the 180. I still have to move the corals that are in a QT tan, and a ton of other things to do. The house looks like a wreck! __________________ - Scott

12/03/2006, 08:06 AM	#15
saltwatergal2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Woodstock GA. Posts: 60	Live Uncured Live Rock Cycling In Tank. What About Light. I will be ordering 45 lbs of Premium Figi uncured live rock this week. I will be cycling my tank with that rock. First when it comes in I will dip it in a bucket of salt mixture and scape very softly the outside. Then place it in the tank. I probably will be getting another 20 lbs of another rock cured after my tank has cycled. I will be getting my protein skimmer this week too. The only question I have is do you add a light when the tank is cycling? I have been told both ways? First leave the light out until it cycles is finished. Another person at the fish store told me that I needed to leave the light on 2 to 4 hours per day to bring out the coraline on the rocks. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks. Judy