Scared first timer

**SaltwaterCowgirl** · 11-02-2012, 08:33 PM

Hello everyone! I am brand new to this "excitement" and am hoping to learn lots from y'all. I have been reading through some old threads but I'm not great at piecing together information, or inferring so please don't get angry for me asking the same things that have been asked before.

I am looking for someone who can basically give me step-by-step instructions on how to set up my new addition, and get it going strong. Here is the information I can give you based on the extreme little I know.

It's 55 gallons.

The canopy has a 660 icecap 3 light ballast with 3 t12vho lights.

There. That's all I can tell you guys about it.

EEK!!

**glarior** · 11-02-2012, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by SaltwaterCowgirl

Hello everyone! I am brand new to this "excitement" and am hoping to learn lots from y'all. I have been reading through some old threads but I'm not great at piecing together information, or inferring so please don't get angry for me asking the same things that have been asked before.

I am looking for someone who can basically give me step-by-step instructions on how to set up my new addition, and get it going strong. Here is the information I can give you based on the extreme little I know.

It's 55 gallons.

The canopy has a 660 icecap 3 light ballast with 3 t12vho lights.

There. That's all I can tell you guys about it.

EEK!!

What is your goal for the tank? What kind of fish are you wanting? From there we can always help and point in the right direction. Welcome to AC

**Cliff** · 11-02-2012, 10:09 PM

I would suggest reading throught the below article from our salt water blog here on the forum

http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.co...ne-aquarium-2/

You should be off to a good start if you read through that and the links posted within the article.

There are also a lot of other stuff on our blog that you might find helpful. Reading through some of the tank journals in the SW section here could also help a little

The more your research before setting up you tank, the better your set-up will be. Trust me, it's not all that hard to do

As already stated, make sure you know what type of set-up you want and what you want to keep before you set-up the tank.

**SaltwaterCowgirl** · 11-02-2012, 10:45 PM

I will get to reading! Thanks. Here are a few questions that I have right now.

I just talked to the guy that I am buying the aquarium from and this is what I know. Everything he is telling me sounds like gibberish, so can someone explain what he is saying, and how to fix it?

1. It will need a pump for the internal overflow/sump it comes with.
2. It is not a drilled tank.

**Cliff** · 11-02-2012, 11:07 PM

Are you sure he did not say "external" overflow

That would make more sense if the tank was not drilled. Some hang on back external overflows used for tanks that are not drilled can have a pump in them. There are pros and cons of using that type of drain. The below might help

http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.co...e-sump-basics/

http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.co...umbing-basics/

If you want to use a sump, you might want to get it drilled before setting it up

**SaltwaterCowgirl** · 11-02-2012, 11:19 PM

Yes, he said internal, I went back and checked the text message. He was texting it to me while driving :( so maybe he just mistyped? So that leaves me with the question, if it is an external hanging type as you mentioned, will it also work with the holes drilled, or an I looking at having to buy a whole new sump set up?

I'm gonna type out what my brain is saying and you can tell me how wrong it is.

Step 1. Buy Aquarium at least 55 gallons. CHECK
Step 2. Drill holes in aquarium for sump.
Step 3. Install sump, and protein skimmer.
Step 4 -...... NO CLUE

I just know that y'all are thinking "Good lord woman, you are making this so much harder than it has to be." My apologies if I am grating on nerves.

**Cliff** · 11-02-2012, 11:27 PM

You are worrying too much right now IMO

Yes you should get the tank drilled assuming it is not make of tempered glass.

But first read the links I posted and you'll be well on your way.

**SaltwaterCowgirl** · 11-02-2012, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff

You are worrying too much right now IMO

It's funny that you say that, everyone that knows me calls me Mom. Even my own Mother. LOL I am the worry-wart mother hen of my group.

Consider this a military salute and Sir Yes Sir. I will get to reading sir

**hec_h3c7ik** · 11-08-2012, 01:26 PM

Hello everyone,

As this is my first post, I have been in this hobby for 20 years and mostly Fish Only tanks with Live Rock.

If this is your first Saltwater Tank, I would suggest that you go for a Fish Only tank as it is the easiest to start with.

I would not drill the tank unless you already have the tools necessary to do it. You can seriously damage the tank with a simple mistake and you are already getting everything that you need to feed the sump. All you need is the return pump from the sump to the tank.

With a sump, you need to check to see if it was made for a reef tank refugium or wet/dry to hold Bio Balls. Depending on this, you then can decide how to handle your biological and mechanical filtration.

I think the lighting will be an issue for a saltwater tank. I am not sure if the ballast can handle it, but I would try for at least T5 bulbs mixing bright white with Actinic Blue. The problem with t12 is that they promote the growth of bad algae and it will be a pain to keep cleaning.

Lastly, depending on your budget, a protein skimmer will be important. If its not in the budget, then adding as much live rock to the tank/sump (or BioBalls) will be needed to maintain the breakdown of waste. You will also have to limit how many fish you add to the tank without it.