NEWBIE 95g SET UP

Ok, Im VERY new to all of this, I have been reading and reading for many weeks now as I have been off work sick for about 6 weeks!!!

I have always wanted a SW tank, so i bought a used tank locally. I am hoping to set up a reef tank.

I have a number of concerns, that i would appreciate anyones 0.2c on

The set up i have right now is a 95g with a megaflow 3, and a euro-reef skimmer.
I have a eheim 1262 pump and a 300w heater in the megaflow

I just have the glass tops for the aquarium

Im planing on getting some T5HO's 6X54w not sure which yet
Im also going to get about 100lbs live rock
get live sand activator from indo-pacific
i will also use seachem "stability"

I have 160lbs of caribsea aragonite that im planing to use to set up the live sand bed

Ok so here are the concerns.

1. I have access at work to ro/di water at work (im a science geek)
, but im not quite sure how to lug the 90 gallons home. Can i simply use tap water treated with "PRIME" and then use the RO/DI water from work for top ups and water changes or will i be introducing nasties into the tank?

2. Whichever i decide to use (water) can i add the sand to my tank, and add "fresh" water and then add the and adjust to the correct SD. or do i need to mix and then add? (im not quite sure how to do that)

3. as far as the lights go i wanted something i could simply put on top of the glass, are the lights with the "legs" suitable to sit on top of the glass?

4. Is this a good way to cycle the tank? add sand, water and "stability" add "live sand activator" from indo-pacific). Switch on pumps and skimmer.
add live rock, switch on lights. monitor ammonia and nitrites. when the level out add, say cocktail shrimp and see if the tank has cycled?


Grateful for any help.

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef and your new hobby! First of all with the water. It would be a bad idea to try to mix the salt after putting in the sand. For the initial setup I wouldnt worry about trying to use RO water. Simply fill the tank with tap water, and dont worry about nitrates being introduced. Thats what you WANT since it's what will trigger the cycle. Then add the conditioner, and mix the salt (maybe a dumb question, but do you have a SG meter or refractometer?). THEN add your sand. The best way to do that is put the whole bag in, then cut it open slowly under the water on the bottom. This will help to reduce how much it clouds up your tank, atleast that has been my experience. I would get rid of the glass. Personally to me it just hampers how much light finally gets into the tank in the end. The lights with legs are fine. Since you know you want corals, it's a good idea to invest in the best lights you can right off the bat, so you wont be upgrading all the time later on. The cocktail shrimp really wont be necessary. The LR and live sand will be all you need for the cycle. It will take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to completely cycle. If you're like me, that is a VERY trying time because I am just NOT that patient. But take it from me, you would have more fun gambling the money you lose on fish away at the casino then go through the frustration and heartache of your livestock dying every week because the cycle has not completed. I think I have addressed each concern.....let us know any other questions you have and good luck!!

 

thanks for your input. Yes I have an SG meter. SO aiming for SG 1.024 to 1.026. So the time line is ok. Add water, add "prime" add salt, add sand,. cycle till cloudiness subsides. Then add the "indo-pacific" products. add live rock and lights. Do you think lights on or off whilst cycling rock? To be honest i wasnt planning on getting fish into it for 3 months at the very least. Durring the cycling time do you do weekly 10% water changes? Top off daily?
thanks again for your help

 

The lights should be on a few hours a day to help with some of the beneficial algae growth, mainly coraline algae (purple). But if they are on too much you will have a lot of the ugly algae as well. No matter what you do you will absolutely have an algae bloom, as all new tanks do. But it subsides and you dont want it to stay. When you add your livestock is when you want to start timing your lights for a full dawn to dusk effect. Small weekly water changes would be fine, but you could get away with 25% monthly also. Yes you want to top off your water as necessary. You probably wont have to do that daily. But once the level drops an inch or so is when I top mine off.

 

thanks

 

k9BOLX, Welcome to 3 reef.

Just a suggestion on the lighting. I have have a 90gal and just added the 8 bulb TEK T5-HO hood and I am very pleased. My suggestion for you is go with the 8 buld for the simple reason you indicated that you want to set up a Reef tank. The 8 bulb will give your 95gal the right amont of light to stock anything coral you desire (i.e clam/lps/sps). If price is what you have in mind look at a retro kit and you will be surprised at what can be done. I think with a retro kit you might be able to go up to 10 bulbs in a 95 canopy.

Good luck and remember to "GO SLOW LET IT GROW". Great quote Matt Rogers.

 

OK, my 2 cents
Rinse the sand, rinse the sand, rinse the sand, and then rinse the sand. Unless you want to wait 3 weeks for it to clear up while going through numerous filters.

I agree with Mr Joe about the lighting 100%. You will be happy with them.

I would start out with ro/di unless your tap water is very low in TDS. Especially if you want to go reef. FOWLR is a different story. I had a very trying time, trying to keep the algae outbreaks to a mininum until I went to 100% RO/DI. It wasn't fun and made me want to quit a couple of times.

Jim

 

I am planing on adding the Aragonite Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand. Still rinse rinse rinse rinse rinse?

 

Every sand I have encountered that has not been rinsed is cloudy tank central. One of these days I will be proven wrong But, probably not with aquarium sand

Do a simple test. When you get your sand, grab a five gallon bucket and fill it up 1/3 of the way with your sand. Put it in your sink and fill it 2/3 of the way up with water. Scoop the sand up into the water and mix it around real good. If you have no silt then there's no need to rinse. Enjoy!!

Jim

 

Ill give it a go diver, thanks. Berlin Joe: I have been looking at the tek lights, they do seem like the best choice. Again, do these come with legs? my water level is about 1 inch from the glass