New Tank Build

snap32

snap32

Member
Ok guys i finnally got my tank!!! It has been sitting for quite some time and needs a little work but it was free. here are the measurments 61'' L 33'' H 12'' W.
The tank use to be a fresh water tank, so i have a lot of cleaning to do before i move it in my house. I will be redoing all the plumbing and making my sump this weekend. Now here are a couple of questions i have.. As you can see the tank has lava rocks in the backround, they are very pourious and make the tank very unique. But would this be a problem in a future reef tank?


 
barchtruong

barchtruong

Member
I would like to offer you a valuable suggestion here. Are you ready?
Let's leave that giant tank in the garage and take time to take those background rock apart. At the same time, go in this forum and start doing alot and alot of reading how to start a saltwater fish tank. And when you stick around for about a good 3weeks worth of reading on what is Salinity, PH, RO/DI, flows, heater, acceptable temp., liverock, sandbed, amount of water change per week, brown algae, hair algae and on and on. Then start out with a 25 or 35 g fish only tank first to have a feel of how to run a saltwater tank, then when you get a good hang of it, then read alot and alot about how to run a sump for a big tank, then you can begin to put that big tank to a good use.
I started out with 55g reef/fish mixed, and I handled it great cuz I had 20yrs experience in freshwater and alot of reading about saltwater. It's been 2 yrs now, I feel comfortable to think about upgrading to 180g.
 
snap32

snap32

Member
Originally Posted by barchtruong
http:///forum/post/2799983
I would like to offer you a valuable suggestion here. Are you ready?
Let's leave that giant tank in the garage and take time to take those background rock apart. At the same time, go in this forum and start doing alot and alot of reading how to start a saltwater fish tank. And when you stick around for about a good 3weeks worth of reading on what is Salinity, PH, RO/DI, flows, heater, acceptable temp., liverock, sandbed, amount of water change per week, brown algae, hair algae and on and on. Then start out with a 25 or 35 g fish only tank first to have a feel of how to run a saltwater tank, then when you get a good hang of it, then read alot and alot about how to run a sump for a big tank, then you can begin to put that big tank to a good use.
I started out with 55g reef/fish mixed, and I handled it great cuz I had 20yrs experience in freshwater and alot of reading about saltwater. It's been 2 yrs now, I feel comfortable to think about upgrading to 180g.

Yes i agree with you, but i think i can handle this tank. Ive been reading in this forum for a good 6 months now. Tonight i just got done removing all the rocks. Over the weekend i will be painting the back of the tank black. I still have a long way to go before i set it up inside. I still have to sand down the wood and restain it all. I will take pictures after the weekend and keep you guys posted
 
keebler

keebler

Member
YEAH! NEW TANK BUILD!!! This is probably the best thing a newb can do, post a tank build thread. People love these and always wanna get their opinion in here. Cool people do reef btw. That's right, I said it. With the exception of Sep's awesome aggressive tanks of course. Anyway, lava rocks are bad, they leach heavy metals and even though they are porous, they still don't do a very good job with benefitial bacteria, reefkeeperz had a lot of good info on that not that long ago. Start out clean. If you like the tank with a rocky background, check out Maxalmon's thread in reef tanks, it is called foamback101 or something. Great stuff. I love it and regret not doing it to my tank. Seems easy, looks great, and he claims he isn't an artist. Also lovin' your desire for a sump, I do like the suggestion about waiting, but honestly I think you can handle this tank from scratch to reef so long as you don't jump into it and go too fast. Ask away anything you wanna know I'm sure someone has the answer for it. Oh, one last thing. Good luck and remember local fish stores are businesses and aren't there to help you, they are there to make money.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Wow, that's definitely a unique tank you got yourself there! I'm glad you're getting rid of the lava. You can do something very similar, though.....go find maxalmon's posts in the reef section for foam-backing the tank! You can imbed live rock and tufa rock into the foam and use that as a backing.
12 inches isn't much to work with width-wise, is it? Good luck!
 
snap32

snap32

Member
Thanks keebler for the advice. The tank is definetly an odd tank. It has been in my girlfriends family for years and they really want to see it up and running again. I told them i would do all the work and keep up with it as long as they paid all the expenses. So i get a monthly allowance to put towards the rebuilding of this tank. This is why i havent gone and just bought a new tank. So this month is just gonna be the rebuild of the tank. Next month i might have it ready to move into the house. If anyone has any ideas they would like to see me try, then post away.
 
bpro32

bpro32

Member
Originally Posted by Snap32
http:///forum/post/2801076
Thanks keebler for the advice. The tank is definetly an odd tank. It has been in my girlfriends family for years and they really want to see it up and running again. I told them i would do all the work and keep up with it as long as they paid all the expenses. So i get a monthly allowance to put towards the rebuilding of this tank. This is why i havent gone and just bought a new tank. So this month is just gonna be the rebuild of the tank. Next month i might have it ready to move into the house. If anyone has any ideas they would like to see me try, then post away.

IMO there is nothing more beautiful than a volitan lionfish. They look so fierce yet so tranquil. It may not work in your tank since it is only 12" wide, but maybe a dwarf zebra lionfish...
I like lionfish
 
bpro32

bpro32

Member
Oh btw... You are so lucky to have this opportunity. Set up and maintain a tank and not pay for it. I would absolutely love to be able to do this. Good luck with it and just have a ton of fun
 
keebler

keebler

Member
Originally Posted by bpro32
http:///forum/post/2801086
IMO there is nothing more beautiful than a volitan lionfish. They look so fierce yet so tranquil. It may not work in your tank since it is only 12" wide, but maybe a dwarf zebra lionfish...
I like lionfish

If I went aggressive I too would get a lionfish, but since they said reef earlier, that can't be done. Heck, you have time if you wanna change your mind.
 
bpro32

bpro32

Member
I have yet to try a reef but may be starting one up in a 24g aquapod. There is so much more involved with reefs including a higher cost becasue of the lights. From what I hear they are great as long as you keep up on the water changes and keep the water pristine quality.p
I will concede and agree with everybody else and say go with a reef. It will be a lot of fun. lol
 
grue

grue

Member
Saw that but you know how lazy some people are.

But when it is all in your face and all ya gotta do is press a button........
Grue
 
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