Glb's 40g upgrade!

glb · Dec 7, 2016

NanaReefer said:
Soon you'll be ready for some......

Welcome to the 40B club!! Mine is now 2+ years old. Just a kiddy pool still [emoji38]

Oh I'm still a little ways away from coral. It will be fowlr until I can buy lights

glb · Dec 7, 2016

I plan on filling the tank with RODI then mixing the salt in (no rocks or sand yet). Then I'll place the dry rocks (will plan placement outside the tank). I'll add some live rock from my other tank to seed the dry rock. Finally I'll 'pour' the aragonite sand (also not live) out of the bag which will be lying on the bottom of the tank. I learned this trick a few years back, and it makes for much less of a sandstorm. Then I'll start the cycle with pure ammonia and Dr. Tim's bacteria. I know it will be awhile before a dry rock tank cycles, but want to do things right. Any feedback is welcome!

NanaReefer · Dec 7, 2016

Don't forget about displacement [emoji6]

glb · Dec 7, 2016

NanaReefer said:
Don't forget about displacement [emoji6]

I won't. I'm going to keep close track of how much water goes in so I'll know exactly for dosing, etc.

NanaReefer · Dec 7, 2016

Wouldn't it be easier the other way around? Add rock/sand then measure out total volume?

glb · Dec 8, 2016

NanaReefer said:
Wouldn't it be easier the other way around? Add rock/sand then measure out total volume?

It would be if I wasn't mixing the salt in the tank. I don't want to do that with the rocks/sand, even tho they're dry. Plus, wouldn't the sand fly everywhere when I added the water? I'm open to suggestions as I've never cycled with dry rock.

NanaReefer · Dec 8, 2016

Why mix the salt in the tank?

Maddlesrain · Dec 8, 2016

NanaReefer said:
[emoji38]

This meme made me snort. Too funny Lol

Also, to the OP, nice build!!

BlueDevil · Dec 8, 2016

Good to see that you have resumed your build! I too am curious about your order of doing things. Here's what I did in my tank. Create rock structure and add to the tank. Then fill up the sand. Fill it up with water and let it run! I did add filter socks to my overflow standpipes. Sure it created a sandstorm but it wasn't too bad at all and cleared up in 2 days. Assuming you use a hose to fill the tank up (instead of buckets), you should be able to avoid the waterfall effect that you would get with buckets, or water falling from the return line down to the floor of the tank. The other thing you can do is put a dinner plate on the sand and direct the water from the hose so it hits the plate as opposed to the sand. This will help prevent kicking up a lot of the sand.

I too am curious why you are adding salt to the tank instead of making the saltwater outside the tank. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters a whole lot on the first fill.

glb · Dec 26, 2016

BlueDevil said:
Good to see that you have resumed your build! I too am curious about your order of doing things. Here's what I did in my tank. Create rock structure and add to the tank. Then fill up the sand. Fill it up with water and let it run! I did add filter socks to my overflow standpipes. Sure it created a sandstorm but it wasn't too bad at all and cleared up in 2 days. Assuming you use a hose to fill the tank up (instead of buckets), you should be able to avoid the waterfall effect that you would get with buckets, or water falling from the return line down to the floor of the tank. The other thing you can do is put a dinner plate on the sand and direct the water from the hose so it hits the plate as opposed to the sand. This will help prevent kicking up a lot of the sand.

I too am curious why you are adding salt to the tank instead of making the saltwater outside the tank. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters a whole lot on the first fill.

I just thought it would be easier but I see your point. I can mix up saltwater for every 5g I make then pour it in. I don't have enough water storage to make it all at once then mix in the salt. So if 5g at a time seems like a good plan, that's what I'll do. I should be able to make all the water in a day.

glb · Dec 26, 2016

Here's my plan for rockwork. Tell me what you think! Plus, what's the best thing for attaching them to each other? I've heard epoxy but isn't that really smelly? I'd rather use something that isnt.

Mpierce · Jan 19, 2017

And? Its running?

glb · Feb 11, 2017

Finally! Sand and rocks in the tank. Will start to fill it tomorrow.

glb · Feb 18, 2017

Finally!!

glb · Feb 20, 2017

Filled! 45g total for tank and sump with rock and equipment displacement. I'm so glad I measured exactly at the beginning. Dosing will be much more exact. Once the sand settles, the pumps go on and the cycle begins!!!

glb · Feb 26, 2017

Day 5 of the cycle. Ammonia is 2ppm, Nitrites 0ppm and Nitrates 2ppm. I used Dr. Tim's One and Only. I've started up the skimmer and gfo reactor. The original return pump I bought was too powerful, so I've ordered a Quiet One 1200 to replace it. Right now the tank is noisy, but should quiet down once the new pump comes in. I'm so excited to finally have it up and running! I'm on a 3-year plan to get a controller and the right lights. It will be fowlr for now. Wish me luck!