very new. Help please

[tim_12]

Originally Posted by Lennon
My question is..I heard that you need to add the Rock first before the sand. I think it was something about having total support and preventing any toppling of rocks later on.
The reason the rock work becomes unstable is from burrowing inverts and fish making the sand under the rock unstable. If you add your sand first just push your rock down through the sand until it touches the bottom of the tank. Then you'll have nothing to worry about. I recommend adding the sand first. It just makes everything easier.

 

[kablamo]

Originally Posted by nizmike
You can put down the sand first. Just make sure that you push the rock into the sand a bit so that they touch the glass on the bottom of the tank. What you want to avoid is the rock sitting completely on top of the sand, because the sand can get shifted around by the fish and cause rocks to move and potentially fall.
Mike
exactly

 

[llmoe]

Where can I get a sump with a skimmer.
Where is the best place for live rock?
I went to my local fish store. Of coarse they tried to sell me everything. Told me not to
use sand. What was funny is they didn't have any in stock either. lol
The sump with skimmer and pump with almost 1000.00. Is that right or do I think that is very high. I know I am going to invest a lot into this but I did't think that much on the pumps.

 

[lennon]

That sounds VEry high considering you can make your own for really cheap too. I am new to this and I think I am going to make my own sump somehow out of a 20 gallon tank and since I will be using LR and LS..they told me I only need a refugium and sump...so that saves alot.
What exactly are you getting for the $1000...brands and sizes?
Hope to help you get a better deal.
Look into the classifieds here and sometimes you can find some great things. And you also get recommendations on LR etc...

 

[tthemadd1]

Personally I will recommend one thing.....
<<<<<<<<DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR LOCAL FISH STORE OWNER>>>>
Your LFS local fish store will recommend things you do not need. Seriously you will find yourself with a hole in your pocket and dead stuff in water..
PLEASE PLEASE Research, like you are doing, before you add anything to your system You will find that you are balancing a very fragile ecosystem and anything you add will throw off the balance. It is important to test your water on a regular basis. Also, this whole thing about not curing live rock in your main tank is IMO crazy. While you start you will not want to buy any animals for at least a month. Let the tank cycle and when your Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates are all at 0.0 that is the time to start adding fish/inverts/corals slowly. Like one a week for the first few weeks. This is true for fish more than corals/inverts. As they create waste they will throw off the balance between poison(ammonia/nitrites) and bacteria that eat them.
Good luck with the tank it looks great ... and welcome to the boards.... :joy: :joy:

 

[tthemadd1]

for the skimmer sump/fuge check out auction site. Alot cheaper. I got a thirty gallon fuge with a great custom skimmer return pump overflow for under $300.00....

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by tthemadd1
for the skimmer sump/fuge check out auction site. Alot cheaper. I got a thirty gallon fuge with a great custom skimmer return pump overflow for under $300.00....

What did you search? sumps? keywords please..I tried and came up with nothing..
Although I may make myself..it may be worth checking out.
thanks

 

[tthemadd1]

Refugium

 

[kablamo]

refugium, reef, sump, oceanic, lots of stuff, acrylic, i can't think of anymore keywords, oh yeah, by the way, we aren't allowed to link to or talk about other sites here on SWF.com, thats why we say auction site instead of ----. Oops, ---- turns into this: "----" HAHAHAHA!

 

[llmoe]

Oh believe me I don't listen to pets store much at all. I use to be into reptiles years ago and learned a lot about pet stores.
I am just priceing around and looking at things. I won't buy anything until I am sure
it is going to do the job. I was told that your can make your own sump for very cheap.
I just can't get of hold of the guy. Waiting to hear back from him.
I know I need. Live or dead Sand. Live rock. a sump, a skimmer and I am fixing up a Q-Tank now.
What is a Ro/SIOr whatever that was Unit. What does it do. Can I make my own water out of the tap. Or Am I better off to start buying 5 gal jugs of it.

 

[symon]

OK so if you weren't confused before, LOL are ya now!
I am faily new to salt water tanks, i read everything i could get my hands on, taled to everyone, picked thiers brains and finally said the heck with it!
Salt setups are alot like buying a car, there are truly 100's of approaches that work well!
Few things that are constant, Be patience, let your tank cycle properly, and it is a good idea to quarrentine anything you wish to put in your tank!
when i started my tank I did not have the lighting to keep LR , since then i have upgraded somewhat, I have added my LR right to my main tank , i have not the room to setup a quarrentine tank! I think it's risky , but man it's cool to see all the neat stuff growing , I have 2 brittle starfish that came with my LR and some very interesting growth ( hope not deadly ) so far i have been lucky!
Your getting alot of good info from these folks, just remember , Take your time, it will be rewarded!