I finally got my tank!!!
Here is what I have set-up so far,
30gal long tank w/built in black corner overflow, 2 drilled returns, black silicone and back painted black..
10-gal AGA DIY sump underneath
RioAqua 2100 for return pump
RioAqua 1400 for Powerhead (only for now...)
50# of fine grade sand, about 40# in display with 10# in sump
45lbs Un-cured Live Fiji from liveaquaria.com
So I got everything up to my new apartment, and started getting to work...
I immediately painted the back of the tank black, and then once it dried i mounted the 2 1" return bulkheads and the 1.5" overflow bulkhead..
Then I ran all my plumbing between the display and sump and connected my return pump...
Once that was all done, I went ahead and added the sand and then the live rock to the tank...
The rock that I received was pretty good... I had about 2-3 really large pieces, 2-3 medium and tons of fragments which i was kinda dissapointed about... However, there was a small coral frag on one of the rocks... Will it grow back??
Anyway, I put the sand in the tank, sloping down from the back to the front.. Then I started my aquascape... I really like it the way it is right now... But im pretty figity so it might get re-arranged...
I aimed my lockline and turned everything on....
I originally had an RioAqua 1400 pushing the returns but I quickly realized that was not enough flow... So I went and got the 2100... This is much better but I am still going to want 2 koralia 1's in the tank for more water movement...
Currently the 1400 is hanging in the display creating additional water movement.. Even though the 2100 is pushing 375 at 4 feet... That is still no where near enough water movement...
Right now I am back home for three days finishing up work, letting the cycle in my tank start... As I look back, I probably should have put a prawn or something in there to help it along, but im sure the die off will suffice... When I checked my parameters before I came home I got Ammonia: .25 and Nitrite .25... SG 1.022
I don't have my light yet (which I heard you can cycle with no light).. I have a Nova T-5 Extreme fixture with 4x39watts... 2 460nm actinic and 2 10k sumlight... and 3 lunar lights... Today I am also going to go to my LFS and get 2 koralia 1's.. primarily to replace that huge rectangular rioaqua that i have in there pushing some water around....
Any questions or comments are definetely welcome...
I want to create this thread and make it a resource for potential beginners in reef like myself...
Pics soon!
Here is what I have set-up so far,
30gal long tank w/built in black corner overflow, 2 drilled returns, black silicone and back painted black..
10-gal AGA DIY sump underneath
RioAqua 2100 for return pump
RioAqua 1400 for Powerhead (only for now...)
50# of fine grade sand, about 40# in display with 10# in sump
45lbs Un-cured Live Fiji from liveaquaria.com
So I got everything up to my new apartment, and started getting to work...
I immediately painted the back of the tank black, and then once it dried i mounted the 2 1" return bulkheads and the 1.5" overflow bulkhead..
Then I ran all my plumbing between the display and sump and connected my return pump...
Once that was all done, I went ahead and added the sand and then the live rock to the tank...
The rock that I received was pretty good... I had about 2-3 really large pieces, 2-3 medium and tons of fragments which i was kinda dissapointed about... However, there was a small coral frag on one of the rocks... Will it grow back??
Anyway, I put the sand in the tank, sloping down from the back to the front.. Then I started my aquascape... I really like it the way it is right now... But im pretty figity so it might get re-arranged...
I aimed my lockline and turned everything on....
I originally had an RioAqua 1400 pushing the returns but I quickly realized that was not enough flow... So I went and got the 2100... This is much better but I am still going to want 2 koralia 1's in the tank for more water movement...
Currently the 1400 is hanging in the display creating additional water movement.. Even though the 2100 is pushing 375 at 4 feet... That is still no where near enough water movement...
Right now I am back home for three days finishing up work, letting the cycle in my tank start... As I look back, I probably should have put a prawn or something in there to help it along, but im sure the die off will suffice... When I checked my parameters before I came home I got Ammonia: .25 and Nitrite .25... SG 1.022
I don't have my light yet (which I heard you can cycle with no light).. I have a Nova T-5 Extreme fixture with 4x39watts... 2 460nm actinic and 2 10k sumlight... and 3 lunar lights... Today I am also going to go to my LFS and get 2 koralia 1's.. primarily to replace that huge rectangular rioaqua that i have in there pushing some water around....
Any questions or comments are definetely welcome...
I want to create this thread and make it a resource for potential beginners in reef like myself...
Pics soon!