Setting up a new reef - method?

[Anonymous]

If you were to setup a new reef today what steps would you take?

LR
Would you get cured LR from a LFS?
Would you get uncured LR from a LFS?
Would you get LR from an online supplier?
Would you get dry rock from an online supplier?

Depending on which rock you purchased how would you get it ready?
Through the rock in the tank and let it cure for 2 months?
Through the rock in a tub and cure it for 2 months or more?
Use the cooking (dark tub) method for 6 months?

Once decided would you use sand?
if so,
Something like natures ocean/caribsea live sand (I know its not live)?
Play sand and hope its clean?

I am still debating on a 28G tank or a 75G tank but leaning towards the 28G for less maintenance.

 

[Ben1]

I just ordered a 45lbs box of figi from marine depot. I plan to let it sit for a month in my new tank before I start thinking about moving stuff over. Depending on how it all test out at the 1 month point.

I am still undecided on wether I am using sand again or not. I like the ease of BB and RDSB, like in my fuge. When I add sand I still perfer a mix of oolite and sp. seafloor grade sand.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd use cured from local LFS if they had a nice selection. You can put it straight in the tank and start stocking really soon. The amount of rock needed for a 28G would likely fit in a 5G bucket, so you could transport it home in water. Then there would be no die-off at all.

 

[Anonymous]

If you need LOTS of rock and got better prices online, I would go with that. If I only needed a little, I'd go to the LFS and pick out the pieces you want. Every time I've moved things or started a new tank, I didn't wait very long before adding stuff, maybe a couple days. The cured LR shouldn't have any die off (or very little), so I don't see the point of waiting for months.

As for sand...I have started liking shallow sand beds. I don't like the ultra-fine sand....I prefer the more course stuff so blowing isn't a problem for me. Beyond that, not sure what else to do.

As for your size thoughts....I really like my nano, especially if you're not looking for big sps or large lps.

 

[camaroracer214]

here's what i'd do:
-hand pick rock from lfs...but only the great looking stuff
-no sand anywhere in the system...use starboard bottom and lots of flow!!!
-use zeovit to cycle the tank (i'm using full blown zeo on my current tank and works amazingly well)

 

[Anonymous]

I would use a few cherry pieces of FR from the LFS, the rest would be dry from a different LFS that sells nice 'lace rock'.

I'd put the rook right in the tank, and as Dan said - since the LR is cured, the cycle should be minimal (assuming the dry rock is clean).


I would also go w/ BB (sand coated star board maybe) or a very thin layer of sand. I'd just by the 'live' sand for that size tank.