New to the game

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 06:12 PM

Ok so I am new to the game here. Have done some research but still don't know probably 10% of what is out there. I picked up a tank last night off craigslist. Here is what I got.

along with a net, bucket, some chemicals, etc

Spent $200 for it all.

I have to test it all to see if it works, the guy swears it does. I plan on bleach cleaning it all to make it look spiffy.

See anything out of the ordinary? or anything I still will need? besides sand/fish/rock.

LennyD4 · 09/10/2012, 06:21 PM

Cleaning it with distilled white vinegar and hot water is much safer.

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LennyD4

Cleaning it with distilled white vinegar and hot water is much safer.

Thanks for the info. I saw both methods online. I have bleach but dont have distilled white vinegar.. I can pick it up tho.

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 06:32 PM

Oh and to add.. its a 72 gallon bow front.

chad316 · 09/10/2012, 06:33 PM

While cleaning check to see if the tank holds water...eg. leak test.

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad316

While cleaning check to see if the tank holds water...eg. leak test.

Yes I planned on doing that. Do I need to fill it all the way? Or 1/4-1/2 way good enough?

chad316 · 09/10/2012, 07:18 PM

I would say a good bit of the way...doesn't have to be saltwater obviously. Is your tank pre-drilled for a sump? Hard to tell from the first picture. Other than that, it looks like a pretty nice setup.

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 07:19 PM

No, there is no there is no holes in the tank at all

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 07:32 PM

Do i need a sump if I am going to be using the refugium? You can see it in the first and fourth pics.

jwolcott · 09/10/2012, 08:34 PM

Good starter tank, clean it good with vinegar and water, rinse it well, and jump in. This forum is great for info and advise. I didn't see a test kit and that's a must. Start slow, don't be in a hurry and have fun. Good luck

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwolcott

Good starter tank, clean it good with vinegar and water, rinse it well, and jump in. This forum is great for info and advise. I didn't see a test kit and that's a must. Start slow, don't be in a hurry and have fun. Good luck

Test kit as in testing the water correct? That will be purchased.

I can't wait to get it going. But I do think it will be a month or so before I get everything I need then probably another month to cycle before I get fishies! lol

steveo9043 · 09/10/2012, 09:20 PM

light works!

steveo9043 · 09/11/2012, 09:51 AM

I have been reading that water flow needs to be 10 x's gallons for fish only and 20 x's gallons for reef. That means I need 720GPH or 1440GPH.

Now I am new so correct me if I am wrong on terms or anything like that.

Does that flow have to come from the circulatory pump (also known as powerhead?) or can it come from that and the pump for the refugium?

power head?

pump

xmen0075 · 09/11/2012, 01:23 PM

Good Looking tank! Congrats! You should be up and running in no time!

hando562 · 09/11/2012, 01:38 PM

I think you will need to use a sump, it will hide all your equipment like heaters, return pump filtration and overall it is easier to maintain a tank with a sump plus it ads to your water volume. Buy yourself an overflow kit you will be happier in the end. Also, take it slow and research before you go into your local fish store or they will try to sell you things you don't need.

steveo9043 · 09/11/2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hando562

I think you will need to use a sump, it will hide all your equipment like heaters, return pump filtration and overall it is easier to maintain a tank with a sump plus it ads to your water volume. Buy yourself an overflow kit you will be happier in the end. Also, take it slow and research before you go into your local fish store or they will try to sell you things you don't need.

overflow kit is just how it sounds correct? A just in case situation?

I'm having a hard time finding the difference between a sump and refugium. Sump obviously allows for extra water.

But then if I do an overflow I will basically have everything i need for a sump correct? Could I get an over flow kit to a 20-30g tank underneath and then set my refugium up on the outside of the lower tank? Or would that just be pointless?

BTW I dont plan on buying anything for a few days or next week. Got a lot of work to do first and learning. When I do buy something it will be a part I need before going operational or it will be sand/rock

steveo9043 · 09/11/2012, 02:22 PM

So for an overflow I would need these......

Overflow box
http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_CS100...CR1515-vi.html

aqua lifter pump to pump the water back up.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Tom_Aquat...FIOFOA-vi.html

Obviously a tank and hoses...

If I wanted to turn that overflow into a sump I would just replace the tank with this?
http://www.petsolutions.com/C/Wet-Dr...FYUWMgodRDoAUA

09/10/2012, 06:12 PM	#1
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	New to the game Ok so I am new to the game here. Have done some research but still don't know probably 10% of what is out there. I picked up a tank last night off craigslist. Here is what I got. along with a net, bucket, some chemicals, etc Spent $200 for it all. I have to test it all to see if it works, the guy swears it does. I plan on bleach cleaning it all to make it look spiffy. See anything out of the ordinary? or anything I still will need? besides sand/fish/rock.

09/10/2012, 06:33 PM	#5
chad316 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 162	While cleaning check to see if the tank holds water...eg. leak test. __________________ Chad Current Tank Info: 65 gallon tank

09/10/2012, 07:18 PM	#7
chad316 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 162	I would say a good bit of the way...doesn't have to be saltwater obviously. Is your tank pre-drilled for a sump? Hard to tell from the first picture. Other than that, it looks like a pretty nice setup. __________________ Chad Current Tank Info: 65 gallon tank

09/11/2012, 09:51 AM	#13
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	Flow question I have been reading that water flow needs to be 10 x's gallons for fish only and 20 x's gallons for reef. That means I need 720GPH or 1440GPH. Now I am new so correct me if I am wrong on terms or anything like that. Does that flow have to come from the circulatory pump (also known as powerhead?) or can it come from that and the pump for the refugium? power head? pump

09/11/2012, 01:38 PM	#15
hando562 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: whittier, CA Posts: 31	I think you will need to use a sump, it will hide all your equipment like heaters, return pump filtration and overall it is easier to maintain a tank with a sump plus it ads to your water volume. Buy yourself an overflow kit you will be happier in the end. Also, take it slow and research before you go into your local fish store or they will try to sell you things you don't need. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef, 700 gph glass-holes overflow, mp40w, mp10w, 2 120 watt evolution LED panels, 30 gallon sump with refugium, swc 160 cone skimmer, eheim 1262 return, brs phosphate reactor.

09/10/2012, 06:21 PM	#2
LennyD4 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 633	Cleaning it with distilled white vinegar and hot water is much safer.

09/10/2012, 06:32 PM	#4
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	Oh and to add.. its a 72 gallon bow front.

09/10/2012, 07:19 PM	#8
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	No, there is no there is no holes in the tank at all

09/10/2012, 07:32 PM	#9
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	Do i need a sump if I am going to be using the refugium? You can see it in the first and fourth pics.

09/10/2012, 08:34 PM	#10
jwolcott Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakley, Ca Posts: 169	Good starter tank, clean it good with vinegar and water, rinse it well, and jump in. This forum is great for info and advise. I didn't see a test kit and that's a must. Start slow, don't be in a hurry and have fun. Good luck

09/10/2012, 09:20 PM	#12
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	light works!

09/11/2012, 01:23 PM	#14
xmen0075 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 107	Good Looking tank! Congrats! You should be up and running in no time!

09/11/2012, 02:22 PM	#17
steveo9043 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Glendale Heights Posts: 320	So for an overflow I would need these...... Overflow box http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_CS100...CR1515-vi.html aqua lifter pump to pump the water back up. http://www.marinedepot.com/Tom_Aquat...FIOFOA-vi.html Obviously a tank and hoses... If I wanted to turn that overflow into a sump I would just replace the tank with this? http://www.petsolutions.com/C/Wet-Dr...FYUWMgodRDoAUA