View Full Version : Paranoid about setting it up...
LOL...I'm so paranoid about setting this tank up...we didn't have time today to finish the cabinet (awards night at school...all 3 of mine got something or other...*proudmom*)...
...but we have the water! And on the way home tomorrow I'm getting the salt and the substrate...
So now how do I do this? Instructions vary greatly...
1. Fill tank with water
2. Start heater
3. Add salt when water is heated
4. Let sit overnight with filter and powerheads on
5. Add well-rinsed substrate
6. Remove water as necessary through displacment
7. Let sand settle
Is that right???
Drumachine09
06-21-2007, 04:20 AM
I mix my water in a 5 galllon bucket. Sure it takes longer, but you can heat up the water REALLY hot out of the tap so your salt disolves faster.
Oh yea, and dont trust the measurement they put on the bucket. ALWAYS start with that, and check it with a good hydrometer.
...not using tap water...hubby hauled home 40 gallons of distilled water...
...but I can still mix it in a bucket...that's not a big deal...
Drumachine09
06-21-2007, 04:26 AM
...not using tap water...hubby hauled home 40 gallons of distilled water...
...but I can still mix it in a bucket...that's not a big deal...
I thought you were going to say 40 gallons of sea water for a second, lol. At petco, you can actually buy a 5 gallon bucket of sea water for 11 dollars. Its almost worth doing it so you dont have a hassle.
...no Petco around here...and I'm quite certain no vendors of saltwater...so I'll have to do my own 'cooking'...
Can I add the liverock if the water is cloudy from the sand? Provided the SG is correct and the temp is correct?
cocoa_pleco
06-21-2007, 04:35 AM
yep. i had my LR in crap cloudy water and it was fine.
there sadly are no petcos in canada. the one i went to in seattle was pretty sweet though. if im adding water to a tank filled with fish and everything, i mix the salt in the bucket and stir and then use the hydrometer. if its a new tank with nothing live like my new 10g, i just add the salt with the water already int the tank
Drumachine09
06-21-2007, 04:41 AM
Make sure the LR you purchase is pre cured, so you dont have to cook it in a rubber maid.
kkyyllee
06-21-2007, 05:26 AM
good choice on not using ur tap water :) it always leads to problems, just mix the salt in ur tank since its empty it will save you from the hastle of buckets
...I'm hopin' it'll all come together tonight! If hubby can get the stand up and level...I'll put the tank together...
...we have the water...and I stopped and bought a HUGE bucket of salt and 40 lbs of coarse aragonite...
Know what I saw at the LFS??? PIPEFISH!!! :malelovies: I haven't come across them before...these were still little...but had wonderful Cat in the Hat colours on them...
The Jakarta live rock arrives tomorrow...I'd like to get a hold of some of it...supposed to be loaded with critters and things...
...it's coming together...but taking longer than I expected!
Hubby got the cabinet put together...I moved it into position...unpacked the tank...put the tank on the cabinet...and started putting it together...
...but I had to take a long time out to adopt out a kitten...
...so everything is in place...had no major difficulties except for the electrical cords...they don't want to stay put in all their various grooves and whatnot...
...so hopefully I can finish that tomorrow and start 'er up!
Spent another 1/2 hour fighting with cords...but I won...
...looks like I did all correctly...
...added the water...and we don't have enough to fill it...so I need to do another R/O run tomorrow...
...THEN I add salt! And heat it up...and figure out the timer for the lights...
Apparently I have the newer tank (thank goodness!) - the earlier edition had some more annoying issues...here are the components...
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/Rue_album/RSMcomponents062007.jpg
...and this is where it's going...in the basement...doesn't look as nice as having upstairs obviously...but it's in what was once a kitchen (where the stove used to go)...so I have counters and the sink handy...I have 2 other tanks down there as well...
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/Rue_album/RSM2-062007.jpg
...once I get around to painting the downstairs and finishing the myriad of little things that need doing...it'll look a little better (not much, but a little!) :c4:
...lids not on the tank in that pic...
...and the puffer tank is that brown looking because of tiny piece of driftwood and the tannins leaching...and that's after the water change!
cocoa_pleco
06-23-2007, 05:19 AM
nice cube look!
cocoa_pleco
06-23-2007, 05:20 AM
dam, Ninja post!
Yes! It looks quite nice...the pics I've seen of them up in people's living rooms are quite striking!
But I was more interested in the biology of the animals than the overall look...so the basement will do just fine...
Drumachine09
06-23-2007, 06:28 AM
It is looking great!
That is the perfect tank for corals, because it has the potental for a high stack of LR, and you can place high/low light corals higher/lower in the tank.
I forgot. Are you doing coral?
Yes...it's designed as a reef tank...proper lighting and all...and I've seen some spectacular set-up over at Reef Central...
I'm really interested in all the inverts too...so I think it will work out very well...
cocoa_pleco
06-23-2007, 03:03 PM
i wish i bought a saltwater starter kit. would have been cheaper than buying all these lights from scratch
Lady Hobbs
06-23-2007, 03:09 PM
Well cripes. It looks like I messed out on all the activity here. Your tank looks nice. Can't wait to see the finished product. Nice going, Rue!
Thanks! I got this tank instead of the 75g after all...figured it would keep me busy a lot longer, learning about all the corals and inverts...but still managable at only 34 g total capacity (29 g display).
It's what they call a 'plug-and-play'...everything is designed for a SW reef...so you don't have to buy and put together the separate components...I thought that would be ideal for a first attempt at SW...
Lady Hobbs
06-23-2007, 03:28 PM
I will not go with a saltwater. A planted tank is giving me enough headaches. If I was smart enough and had MORE money, I would love to have one, tho. I think they are awesome.
I wouldn't be surprised if a planted tank is harder to maintain than SW...
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