Hello, newbie here

[bmwmedic]

Hi,

I just want to say hello, I was advised to check out Manhattan Reefs but the very nice gentleman who sold me his old tank and supplies. I have never kept a saltwater tank before but I'm willing to learn. I've had tropical freshwater tanks for about 6 years now and always dreamed of a saltwater tank.

I bought a 125 gallon tank, stand, canopy, 2-250w 14k metal halide lights, 2-T5 HO 54w actinic blue lights, various equipment I have no idea what they are yet. I'm researching everything atm. For now, the tank is in my house and now I'm scared I managed to find some names on some of the parts but I have no idea how to set them up, none of them came with hoses. If anyone has a ton of patience and is willing to help I can describe what I've figured out so far and then figure out what to do next. I know I have to clean out the tank since I don't know the person I bought it from or what might have been in the tank (disease, etc). I've read a ton of things ... vinegar/water, bleach/water, hot water, etc. What's best ?

Then I know I have to leak test it. Since it's a 6' long x 18" wide x 22" high all glass aquarium and in my dining room, it's going to be difficult.

I live in the NE corner of PA, but since I am in the middle of nowhere here, the guy I bought it from said Manhattan Reefs would be my best bet since Philly is several hours (on a good day) and the city is much closer.

I plan on using Live Rock to cycle the tank, I've heard conflicting things, about putting the Live Sand he gave me in first, then the rock, or just putting the Rock in alone and cycling it that way. I know I'm a little ahead of myself but what's the best way ? He recommended Instant Ocean Salt, so I purchased a bucket of that and an Instant Ocean hydrometer. I don't plan on any fish or invertebrates or corals for 3+ months until I figure out all of this ... no sense in torturing anyone but myself :smile: What test kits do I need at a minimum ? I know pH, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate & phosphorus ... do I need copper, calcium and what else ?

Can you think of anything else I need to start off with so I can purchase them over a little while and not break the bank the first week

Thanks for your patience and help in advance. I am so excited I don't want to ruin it by messing up and getting frustrated and turning it into a really giant freshwater display :Yikes:

Bonnie

 

[Dj Orion]

Welcome to MR!!

 

[KathyC]

Welcome to MR Bonnie

Pics..you're going to need to post some pics so we can help you identify some of these items you have. Plus they almost a requirement around here

Not going to attempt to answer all of your questions right now, but will say toss the hydrometer and buy a refractometer..you're going to need that to start off.
Test Kits..Ammonia, nitrate, nitrate, Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium..just to start off. The first 3 can be Aquarium Pharmaceuticals liquid kits..No test strips!!...the other 3 need to be good quality kits..Salifert, Lamotte.

One question for now..the live sand..is it in a bag or did he give it to you in a pail? Is the rock in water now?
..sorry,,that was 2 questions :spin:

 

[FREEZE]

Hi Bonnie. Good luck with your new tank - read as much as you can and take it slow. I'd clean my tank with hot water only, but vinegar is also effective to clean stuff up that is covered with coraline algae - just rinse it off really good. You ought to invest in an RODI up front to filter your water before mixing with salt. Your test kit list looks good but I think you mean Phosphate, not phosphorous. You dont need a copper test kit up front either. If your live rock needs to be "cured", it is best to cycle it without anything else in tank (like live sand). I've used Hydrometers myself, but they are not the most reliable tool - you should look into getting a refractometer. And last, I'm not sure if you have a protein skimmer yet, but in this hobby that is critical for good filtration. Hope that helps.

 

[bmwmedic]

One question for now..the live sand..is it in a bag or did he give it to you in a pail? Is the rock in water now?
..sorry,,that was 2 questions :spin:


The Live Sand was in 2 large buckets, filled almost to the top, with just about 1/2 inch of water visible on top.

I haven't purchased the rock yet. I want to get the tank cleaned up and test it for leaks and buy anything I might be missing.

As for pics ... that I can do, give me a little bit as I had to move my computer system to make room for the tank

 

[KathyC]

That live sand won't be live for very long unless it has more water in it, is heated (to room temp..has a tendency to get cold when just sitting in a bucket), and has some type of air going into it. Otherwise all the bacteria in it will die.
You'll either have to put it into something larger (room to add more water) and I would suggest a regular aquarium air pump & air stone instead of a power head as that would clog up in no time.
If the sand has been sitting for awhile, it may well already have a lot of dead bacteria in it and in that case, you would want to rinse it really well before using it.

Yes, the tank can be cleaned using vinegar & hot water. That stuff is great for melting old coralline algea. If you have dead green algae in the tank, use bleach (one part bleach to 9 parts water). Aquarium salt (or Kosher salt can also be used but be careful not to scratch the glass. ) Rinse very well and let the tank air dry until you can't smell either vinegar or bleach (if you use bleach)

 

[latino277]

I have a few different thoughts on this...

1) Hot water is a no no... Most (older)Hot water heater are made of little other then Copper... which can (in theroy) be absorbed by the silicon seems.... May be a little far fetched but not worth the possible head ache. I would use cold water and vinigar. fill a spay bottle with vinigar and use this to spray anything that is crusted on the glass. Let is sit for 5 - 10 min then scrap it off with a plastic card (Old credit cards work well). continue until everything is off the glass... then use just cold water to clean up the slop.

2) If your going to use that sand... It has to be cleaned very very well... you have no clue how this guy maintained his sand bed and it may be loaded with nasties. Personally, I would just use new sand.

As far as you equipment - Pix Please... there is a good welth of knowledge and good people here willing to help out. Good luck.

 

[KathyC]

Not to pick this apart Latino..and thanks for your thoughtful reply..but cold water and vinegar are nowhere near as helpful in cleaning as hot water & vinegar.
I would think any copper pipes would not have the chance to leech very much into the water as it runs through it.
I've been cooking with this water for years, putting my kids in tubs of it for baths (well, when they were little..lol) and have cleaned any fish tank I've every owned (oh sooo many) with it and none of us are glowing in the dark.

I agree with you on the sand after thinking about it..if it's been sitting more than a few days, either wash it thoroughly or just toss it & replace it.

 

[georgelc86]

Bonnie welcome and best of luck with your new tank.

I have a question. I noticed some members speaking of vinegar to get old coraline algae off glass. Any difference in the vinegar used? There are a few types out there.​

 

[KathyC]

distilled white vinegar

Unless you're eating a salad

 

[georgelc86]

Cool tanks Kathy. And this would be suffeicent for coraline thats been dried out for a year correct?

 

[autoponicz]

welcome bonnie....
i would just rinse out the used sand and restart it through the cycle....it will be live sand again anyways.....

im residing in NE phlly too....been here for maybe 2 years only..

i found this big LFS in bristol called the hidden reef...its like a supermarket..
they have some decent stuff there....some of thier prices can compete with online sites!....if its time for you to purchase LR.....you can check this forum for members selling thier LR ...if not...the hidden reef sells fiji LR for 2.89lb! in huge bins that you pick out yourself....its pretty cool.....
but with that size tank....i would try marcorocks.com and order a box of dead rock and seed it with some LR..that way you can save some $$

but good luck with evrything....keep us updated....oh and pics please!

 

[bmwmedic]

Thanks for the info everyone ! I took some pics today and hubby is going to run internet to my computer tommorow so I can post them (atm I borrowed *stole* my daughter's laptop just so I can read & research)

As for the *live* sand, I have no idea how long it's been in the buckets. I was thinking of just tossing it unless there's a safe way to clean it and let the live rock seed it.

 

[latino277]

That's fine Kathy.... that may just be me being anal.....

but i really think the sand should just be tosted...

white vinigar should be the only thing used...

 

[rookie07]

Welcome Bonnie.
Just buy new sand(It saves you everything except $), the previous owner could have had bad things in it, it will have had die off, just buy new sand.

For LR, I agree with the above statement about macrorocks.com, I havent used them, but ive heard great things, and it really allows you to "aquascape", giving you a better looking tank(which, if I'm correct, is one of the reasons of having a tank). You can pick and choose pieces that you want, and they fit well together. Then, add 1 or 2 pieces of "real" LR to seed the tank, maybe even use Live Sand(Im not sure if the LS will die off b/c of the macrorocks.com "rocks", and the inevitable cycle, ask somebody else about that)

Also, I like to use the real ocean water, Im not sure what companies sell it, DRFostersmith.com does see link below: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4685+16766&pcatid=16766 (although the salenity is alittle high, I add RO/DI water.) FYI I have a 34 Gl, so, you might not want to use this b/c it gets expensive-But could help if you used alittle.
I found a much better price from a local vendor, I would bet LFS in bristol called the hidden reef sells it.

Then, I believe you can set up(aquascape) the rocks, add the sand, add the saltwater and let the tank cycle.

But before you do that, I think you need to decide if you want a reef tank, or an all fish tank. IS YOUR TANK REEF READY?
This will help you decide how to plan your aquascaping. Do you want big arches, tunnels, caves, lots of small hiding places.....etc...


Oh, and yes, get an refractometer-They are great, easy to use, and very, very accurate(hydrometers suck) $40-$100 depending on type, I paid $40 for mine.

And finally, You need an RO/DI....I bought mine from http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm . They are very nice, very helpful, and will always be there for you to answer any questions(I placed an internet order last week for filter pads, they checked their records to find what I needed and, even refunded me for the stuff I didnt need!!!!!! Honesty is hard to find in this hobby, or life for that matter) Also, they sell cheap plastic gloves/sleeves which come in handy when you have to stick you hand in the tank(about 2x a week for me)
You need alot of other supplies/equipment, but Im just addressing the questions you asked.

best of luck

 

[h20 freak]

Well since you seem patient here are a few ways to save $$$

toss that sand,it's not worth the risk,buy mostly "dead"sand,"seed"that with like 20-40 lbs of live sand(they come in bags at most fish/pet stores but I don't know what to recommend).Buy uncured rock(lb per gallon is a good way to measure but there are variables to how beneficial a piece is such as how porous it is)as it "cures"(this is essentially when the things that are on it that aren't suited for aquarium life die)your tank will cycle with this.Regular filters(mechanical/canister) used in freshwater aren't used in reefs as often(at least not in the same way)especially bio-media as they are nitrate factories and no nitrates in SW is a good way to go.

PLAN PLAN PLAN

Plan on how your going to setup your sump/refugium, plan how you want your rock to look and plan on what your going to use the tank for.A reef may seem to hard to start so if you don't want it to be one, then you start the tank "reef ready"essentially with the necessary flow/filtration, reef safe inhabitants(clowns,tangs,peaceful damsels,basslets,etc.).This way if you ever decide to make the switch,it will be as easy as buying some coral.I also recommend soft corals because stony corals are just harder and more expensive to keep,look into them later on if you do want them.

Get a good skimmer if you don't have one already.

An RO unit is practically a MUST IMO

Your lights are fine for a reef,just replace the bulbs if the are old.

Lots of flow,I think its something like 10 gph of flow for every gallon but I would do more,in your case around 2000 gph,pumps that have this build/shape/look are very good and efficient http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+15955&pcatid=15955

READ ALOT, you say your in the middle of no where(like me =( ) so then you probably have time to sit down and read a book,and on these forums. For starters,the stickys at the top of the different forums here have alot of info and articles with even more.

once you have your tank all setup and cycled I would start adding a cleanup crew and hardy fish like clowns(no more then a pair) or chromis(at least 3,5 is a better # and they are cheap and quite cute.)

and yes I like parentheses:tongue1:

 

[latino277]

Start here:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/8799-beginners-please-read.html
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/23046-new-reefkeeping.html

 

[NDY]

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Is Much Closer To U Is In PA Also

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Welcome to MR

 

[bmwmedic]

Yay ! Hubby loaned me a flash drive to be able to load the pics of the equipment. I put it in the My Gallery page. If you guys can help me figure out what it all is, where it all goes and what hoses, etc I need to buy. I tried to lable them by what I think they are :shocked:

I plan on making this a reef tank. Let me know what else you need to know. I can try to figure it out or post a pic so you can describe it to me. And thanks TONS for all the info ! You guys & gals are awesome !!