Getting Started

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

hi so im getting started today!!! YEY all the plumbing is done and i can wait.

ive gotta do a power out scenario today and want to know if this is right?
im gonna fill the tank to the top and let it overflow into the sump until the sump is at the right depth that i want it to be at then get the pump working in motiona and see how it goes, is this right?

now a couple of last minute things. when adding water do i add freshwater from a bucket which i dechlorinate first or is it ok to add the water straight in and then dechlorinate it after its in the tank?

and also regarding salt. ive got my big bag of salt here and just wondering do i just put the whole package into the tank and sit it in the bag on the bottom and let the salt dessolve and remove the packaging later?

thanks

 

[BigC]

You really should be using RO water. Either purchase it from you LFS or purchase a small unit and make your own.
Regards
BigC

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

RO??? huh?

 

[seffieuk]

Reverse Osmosis: You can buy a really simple to install under the sink unit for approx. £50/70

http/www.ro-man.com/shop/index.php/cPath/22_88

My sister and I got lucky, we got a couple from our lfs which were on sale for £50. They just screw in to your existing cold water pipe, easy peasy.



I understand from the experts on here that if you are going the Lr but no corals you can fill your tank with declorinated tap water, but if you are going the coral route then you must have RO water. If you go the tap water route you are likely to have big problems with algae etc because of the excess nutrients (I am a newbie, so please wait for one of our great experts to pop up). Have just started the salty route myself but am a bit further on than you. You can read my sisters and mines thread in the nano section. I would really recommend that you read BigC's thread and many of the excellent journels and Pinned threads.

Seffie x

 

[kj23502]

IMO, It's a good idea to plan out the tank a bit before you put water and then fish in it. Then you'll know some of what to expect and how to deal w/some issues and you won't flounder around as bad. I'm new to this too and have been reading a ton.

 

[SkiFletch]

Do remember that when you turn the return pump on, some water will displace from the sump into the main tank. So have a spare few gallons ready in case you miscalculate... and don't forget towels

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

well first big screw up, got 20kg of live rock and 2 buckets of water into the tank and forgot i hadnt put styrofoam sheet underneith the tank. is this necessary? or will i be fine without it?

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

well i guess itll be fine till i get foam tommorrow to lay underneith it. i am wondering not much of the live rock is submerged, will it be ok?

 

[chesterscot]

get the foam under your tank as soon as you can m8 it could save alot of heart ache and wet furniture
regards scot

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

as i said ill have to get it tommorrow as its 9pm here, itll be fine with 2 buckets of water and 20kg of live rock dispersed around it right? and theres nothing to damage the live rock by only having it partyly submerged?

 

[Musho3210]

I wouldnt lift or do any thing with the tank when its got a bit of water in it, and especially with rock in it. It can cause extra pressure on smaller areas and crack the glass there, or it could put extra pressure on the seams, or it could slide all the rock onto one side and crack or shatter the glass.

If the bottom pane is tempered, dont worry about the styrofoam, if its not tempered, then empty the tank and put styrofoam under it.

 

[andywg]

ive gotta do a power out scenario today and want to know if this is right?
im gonna fill the tank to the top and let it overflow into the sump until the sump is at the right depth that i want it to be at then get the pump working in motiona and see how it goes, is this right?

No.

1) Keep the pump off.

2) Fill the display tank until it just starts to overflow into the sump.

3) Stop filling the display tank.

4) Start filling the sump.

5) Fill the sump until it is full.


You now have the largest amount of water your system can safely hold. Doing it like this means there is never a risk of a flood when you have a power out.

Also, when doing a first fill you are fine just using tap water (I always do no matter what the tank will be used as, I just drain and refill with RO if ti will be a reef).

Leaving live rock to dry will cause it to dry out and the life on it to die. If the worst comes to the worst put the LR in a bucket of water.

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

qwll it was a day half submerged in water. would this have killed it all? isnt live rock mostly dead anyway? and if most of the life on it has died wont it grow back after i start cycling? isnt live rock just dead coral etc with bacteria growing on it?

i think the bottom probably is tempered, wouldnt it have to be to have a wier hole in the bottom??? i heard u could only drill tempered glass!

by the way i just filled the tank up with freshwater till the water reached over the top of the live rock in my tank all sittin on the bottom. is it ok to keep them in freshwater? im not putting the salt in till its ready to begin cycling!

theres 4 slits under the bottom plus the 2 sides and 2 front supports the tank sits on so i think theres enough support there!

 

[SkiFletch]

The presence of a hole indicates nothing about the glass being tempered or not. You CANNOT drill tempered glass, it will shatter. But you can drill non-tempered glass, THEN temper it...

General rule of thumb, if the tank is made in the US, it will have a tempered bottom, if made in Europe, it will have a non-tempered bottom. I say again, this is a general rule of thumb, but is mostly accurate

 

[humpy_the_humphead_wrasse]

well the tank is made in australia by my LFS in the shed up the road from his shop. its freakin massive and theres sheets left right and center everywhere in there! he makes all the tanks for his shop. must make a killing so not sure, i will find out tommorrow mornin, if he says its tempered ill ask his advice on foam if not then ill get it and drain everything and bucket the rock and put the foam under it!