Setting up the new tank

eonnightblade

New Member
I have recently purchused a new tank and would like help with setting it up ive read several of the articals here and belive i have a good start, but alot of the information on here is pretty advanced. i wanna set up this (SWA) the right way from the begining.I know you guys know what your talking about so heres my question.
I've got a forty gallon tank.
With a back filter
What should be the first things I should do?
 

fishwanabe

Member
get a second job... j/k there is a very good read in the archives that will tell you how to start. Good Luck and welcome.
Marla
 

eonnightblade

New Member
I agree that the articles in the archives are great! They've taught me alot, I didn't know but no one really gives you a set up that will work they tell you about 100 things that you can do or should do or shoulden't use or should use (which is contridictory most of the time) but as far as the setup for a properly set up tank? I just want a basic set up I cant find anywhere. Is there a diagram or anything? even pictures of a good set up are rare.
Please help or give some good links please.
 

slowburn22

Member
First off, welcome to the boards. Everyone will be happy to help you out, but you need to help us out too. If you can be more specific on what answers you are needing, and possibly post pictures of everything you have already bought, or even just a list that would be a start.
I'll try to give you some simple tips to help you out...
1. Buy an RO/DI unit to make your water. This will be a worthwhile investment and probably one of the most important purchases you will make. Dont try to use tapwater, it will just cause you problems down the road.
2. You need to decide if you want to keep corals or fish only... I'm sure you'll want to eventually buy at least some soft corals, so buy a good salt from the get go.
3. If you seriously want to get into corals, good lighting is essential.
4. If you just have a simple hang on back filter, you should probably look into getting a protein skimmer and some additional powerheads for flow. Proper flow is very essential! A sump is an option as well.
5. Get your tank set up with a sand substrate and 1-1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon. So thats 40-50 lbs in your case.
6. Allow the tank to cycle, go slow and remember - GO SLOW! Rushing the process of adding fish and corals too soon will only make your wallet mad in the long run.
Im sure I've left something out, or someone may have another opinion on the matter, but I hope this gives you a general idea anyway. Dont forget the "search" feature this site has. It is an invaluable tool - everyone started where you are right now and you will find that most of your questions have already been asked time and time again... Keep us posted!
 

eonnightblade

New Member
thank you I plan on going extremely slow from everything ive read 6 mo. is the min. before adding soft corals.
i have bought sea salt and did use an nsa r/o filter to clean the water. and all i have is the hang om fiter im making a trip to Kanas City Saturday to get live rock and sand and in the future I am planing on adding soft coral. but not for a while the tanks been runing with the filter and a max flo jet for 2 days will saturday be too soon to put in the live rock and sand?
should I just buy all the monitors for ph... ect. and wait ion the rest.
 

slowburn22

Member
You can and should add your sand and live rock at this point. That way you can start testing your water and you'll be able to tell when a good time to start adding livestock will be.
Oh, I also forgot to tell you that going ahead and buying a refractometer would be a good idea. Ditch the hydrometers... They arent nearly as accurate and will give you incorrect readings down the road.
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by slowburn22
Oh, I also forgot to tell you that going ahead and buying a refractometer would be a good idea. Ditch the hydrometers... They arent nearly as accurate and will give you incorrect readings down the road.
I don't know slowburn, my hydrometer gave me inaccurate readings right from the get-go!!

Welcome to SWF.com ENB. Post any and all questions/concerns, and most fun, post pics when you're able.
Lisa
 
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