Getting Started

Awesome!

Listen, whatever you do, get at least one Mandarin Dragonet!! Please!! For me!! :)

Best of luck, my friend. Best of luck. Congrats on finally obtaining your dream tank! Always remind yourself that it is a labor of love.
 
DSR, Owl, WaywardSon, rsanz: Thanks a lot! I just want to get through the initial set up without any catastrophic leaks/disasters! The sump should be delivered later this afternoon and surely will take pics when I get back home.

Rsanz: The mandrain dragonet is truly a magnificent fish, and plan to get one if the situation/stocking permits. I have read that they perhaps do slightly better in a more established tank that has ready source of small crustaceans as a food source. Different sources say different things, we'll see. I do want that fish though!!!

-Prashanth
 
Thanks Arturo. I just got home, the sump is not elaborate. It has two drains, one large filter sock, and a filter sponge/ bubble trap? just before the last section before the external pump to the returns on the tank. The things that will live in there will be skimmer, heaters and carbon media. Dont know/think it is large enough for refugium with the other equipment. Dimensions are 36X12.5X14. Total volume 26 gallons or so. I am sure this will violate some general rules regarding a particular "ratio" to sump volume to main tank volume, but, too late to change things around - biggest error in planning might have been too short of a stand, but wanted the tank to be able to be viewed from a seated position. Here are the pics. The stand pipes came in too

- Prashanth

Tank1 003.JPG Tank1 002.JPG Tank1 001.JPG
 
Can't wait to watch the progression...a lot of people will be living their dream through you. :)
 
looks great so far ,
i am newbie in SW myself , but i think u may need to find a place for a phosphate reactor maybe ( or maybe there s some media u can put in the sump , i donno ) but make sure to ask the pro guys here bout the filteration system setup , and what u need for a 180g tank , it can save u a tons of time and money ;)
it becomes one of my favorite threads :popcorn:
 
Starstruk - Thank you for the very nice compliment.

Owl - I had not yet thought of phosphate reactor. Conceptually I have been thinking of stocking relatively lightly - I say relative beacause I am a big fish fan and hope to show some restraint when the tank is initally set up - and plan for soft corals, zoonathids, maybe LPS..still not sure. Light feedings initially to limit input of Phos into the system and skimming to export some PHos out as well. I'll see how things go after a month or so. ONe thing I regret again, is perhaps not having a refugium?- I have read that macroalgae is a good way to manage levels of phosphorous, and other excess nutrients from water. The phosphate reactors seem like simple contraptions, and will probably end up needing to get it. Sheesh - every day , I feel like there is something else I need to get!
 
goalieman, you and me both! We'll see what happens tomorrow, if things go well :dance:, and if they don't.... I will :cry:, and my wife won't be able to tell who the real baby in the house is. To answer your question, the tank was manufactured by Tenecor, took about seven weeks to deliver after placing the order.

- Prashanth
 
every day , I feel like there is something else I need to get!
Click to expand...
yup , that s why i started to plan for a future 40 or 55g SW ( wanna get rid of both 20g SW and 55g FW , too much work ) from now for next 3 or more months ! to prevent any possible mistake ..
and same here bout the refugium ,i made my sump myself , and now i wish i made a bigger one and have room for a refuguim ... but what we can do ? that s the hardway to learn ...
 
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