My First Saltwater Tank

[chrishew09]

Pretty new to the forum, but I got my tank drilled, plumbed and filled this weekend and so far I'm happy. It's a AGA 36 Corner Bow, made my own stand and I bought a super nano overflow and return from www.glass-holes.com. Couldn't have been easier to drill and plumb, I recomend these guys to anyone thats looking to drill for an overflow, good quality stuff.

It's not in the pics but I have a sump a friend gave me. At the moment the system is running and I have my black moon sand as a substrate.
Haven't salted it yet right now it's just fresh water need to buy a Hydrometer and some salt this week.

Still far from complete need to by a lamp, circulator, heater, skimmer and other bits and peices.

This isn't my first tank I have had fresh water for a number of years, got tired of fresh sold everything and now I'm kicking myself for selling some items, like heater and some fill hoses.

I'll have better pics as I go.

Thanks for reading,
Chris

 

[masterswimmer]

Good luck with your new system. A word of advice, don't get a hydrometer. Get a refractometer to measure your salinity. You'll be VERY glad you did.


Russ

 

[Airborneguy]

Hey can you take a few pictures of your overflow? I like the look of it and might want something like that done to my tank very soon here.

 

[chrishew09]

Hows this? The water is cloudy right now so getting an in tank pic is hard.

 

[NYreefNoob]

hopefully the sand u got was dry sand, also i have a skimmer if ur interested

 

[chrishew09]

hopefully the sand u got was dry sand, also i have a skimmer if ur interested

Yeah it was the sand I used in my freshwater setup, don't worry I cleaned it with some really hot water for a while no chemicals.
What kind of skimmer?

 

[Airborneguy]

I really like how you did that, the new picture helped me see it clearer. I might go with something like that on mine soon.

 

[chrishew09]

I really like how you did that, the new picture helped me see it clearer. I might go with something like that on mine soon.

Thanks I think it came out well.

 

[NYreefNoob]

etss sump buddy 40, i wouldnt have used any sand from a fw set-up you never dosed any chemicals did you ? or treat anything, hate to see you start to fail
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/50082-etss-sump-buddy-40-f-s.html

 

[chrishew09]

etss sump buddy 40, i wouldnt have used any sand from a fw set-up you never dosed any chemicals did you ? or treat anything, hate to see you start to fail
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/50082-etss-sump-buddy-40-f-s.html

I had my reservations to use that sand but it's been unused in a sealed container for a few months, plus I never used chemicals in my freshwater tank it was a pretty light load and over filtered. I never like to use chemical if I can help it.

I'll have to pass on the skimmer dont think it will fit in my sump.

 

[NYreefNoob]

if that skimmer doest fit none will

 

[chrishew09]

Got it salted 2 weeks ago, and a heater in it, here are some pics of my sump.
Just ordered my light and koralia 2, and some other small things should have them early next week!!

 

[marki24]

to my knowledge I believe you are using a wet and dry and not a sump is that correct? It seems like you are taking things real slow which is very good keep it up, patience is a great successor in this hobby.

 

[nyc reefer]

Whats the difference between sump and wet/dry?

 

[marki24]

I really dont know but I believe that wet/dry have bioballs whereas sumps dont and I heard that bioballs are magnet atractors for nitrite but then again i really dont know since i dont have a sump nor wetdry

 

[chrishew09]

to my knowledge I believe you are using a wet and dry and not a sump is that correct? It seems like you are taking things real slow which is very good keep it up, patience is a great successor in this hobby.

Yeah, I'm in no rush it's a winter project of mine since it's to cold to play paintball. I've done freshwater for a number of years so I appreciate the patience need to have a successful build.
I will admit that I am getting tired of see a dark empty tank sitting in my kitchen. I really want some live stock!!
Maybe next weekend I'll get something.........:tongue1:

 

[autoponicz]

nice start....but i would change the sump....the wet/dry you have are better suited for fish only tanks or freshwater setups....(are you doing fish only or reef?)your live rock and sand will provide all the biological you need...the bioballs will just add excessive...
find a glass tank that fits in the stand...and add a few baffles..that way you can fit a skimmer in there...those filter floss will also add excess nitrates into the tank after a while unless you clean them alot...which will get tiring after a while..
consider adding a ATO...you should have bought a refractometer also and not a hydrometer....since you alreadt did...then have someone with a refractometer to calibrate it....have fun!

 

[NDY]

Welcome To MR
And Good Luck With Ur set up

 

[chrishew09]

nice start....but i would change the sump....the wet/dry you have are better suited for fish only tanks or freshwater setups....(are you doing fish only or reef?)your live rock and sand will provide all the biological you need...the bioballs will just add excessive...
find a glass tank that fits in the stand...and add a few baffles..that way you can fit a skimmer in there...those filter floss will also add excess nitrates into the tank after a while unless you clean them alot...which will get tiring after a while..
consider adding a ATO...you should have bought a refractometer also and not a hydrometer....since you alreadt did...then have someone with a refractometer to calibrate it....have fun!

I am doing fish only for a while to get the hang of everything, and slowly go to easy to manage corals. I have a 10 gallon glass tank I was paining on using for a sump but it doesn't fit under my stand and my friend gave me this wet/dry. I also have not bought a skimmer yet, that the last piece of hardware i need to get.
The thing I am most surprised about is the amount of evaporation I have with a hood, it's about a liter a day, and that's without a light yet!! My 55 freshwater tank never had that much evaporation.

 

[chrishew09]

Welcome To MR
And Good Luck With Ur set up

Thanks!