New setup

[Monsterboy12]

I have an empty 20 and I want to turn it into a sw tank....equipment I have is.

1x Penguin 250
1x 200 watt heater
1x 30lb. bag of sand
25lbs. of base rock
and 1x 50 gallon bag of salt mix.


Can I set it up now?

I dont plan on having any type of corals or anything.

What else should I get?


Thanks,
-Kevin:clap:

[Germanman]

make sure u use reef crystals for salt because it is most like the ocean and make sure u dont impulse buy and research. get proper test kits, live rock, and replace the bio media in the penguin with live rock rubble.

[i_limantara]

make sure u use reef crystals for salt because it is most like the ocean and make sure u dont impulse buy and research. get proper test kits, live rock, and replace the bio media in the penguin with live rock rubble.

germanman.... can you post a picture of reef crystal??

[Germanman]

germanman.... can you post a picture of reef crystal?? you bet! here u go. here is a link and pic
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4856&cm_mmc=LiveAquaria_DFS_Links-_-Fish_Supplies-_-LiveAquaria_Gen_Page-_-Salt_Mixes&ref=3969&subref=AA&N=2004+113009

[BIGgourami]

yeah it's a brand, he kind of made it sound like just one big crystal that you put in your tank. LOL but i think that instant ocean will do just fine.
also a really good thing to invest in is a good protien skimmer.
what i would dois put about 15 lbs of the baserock in and add about 10lbs of live rock from your lfs. just to let the bacteria grow instead of having to buy all live rock. (as LR is your primary source of filtration in SW)
and make sure to not overstock your tank.

[Reefscape]

yeah it's a brand, he kind of made it sound like just one big crystal that you put in your tank. LOL but i think that instant ocean will do just fine.
also a really good thing to invest in is a good protien skimmer.
what i would dois put about 15 lbs of the baserock in and add about 10lbs of live rock from your lfs. just to let the bacteria grow instead of having to buy all live rock. (as LR is your primary source of filtration in SW)
and make sure to not overstock your tank.

Reef Crystals is a far better salt to use than instant ocean for the main fact that you will find with IO salt that there is usally a lot of buffering that is needed. Reef Cystals has extra trace elements incorporated in the salt and is valuable in maintaing a good pH along with aragonite sand..

If you use a higher quantity of base rock over live rock, it can take up to a year for that base rock to become properly live and provide you with the filtration it needs. I always suggest at least 60% live to 40% base rock.

Niko