If you were starting over..

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Unless you're a bodybuilder I think 6" is enough to reach in with your arm. I was thinking more like a foot of working space though.

Worst case scenario, and I get super swoll, I'll recruite the wife

 

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

Just a fun question. I ordered a new tank, and im trying to get every "shoulda/coulda" from last time taken care of. If you were setting up a new tank, what would you do differently? What would you do before you ever put a drop of water in that you didnt do last time? What would you take into consideration that you previously overlooked?

Setting my tank farther back from the wall!!! So much salt creep-

 

[Freenow54]

Just a fun question. I ordered a new tank, and im trying to get every "shoulda/coulda" from last time taken care of. If you were setting up a new tank, what would you do differently? What would you do before you ever put a drop of water in that you didnt do last time? What would you take into consideration that you previously overlooked?

I made my own sump ( with lots of help from uncommon sense ) and made the center section my main maintenance area. I also siliconed

plex around it to stop salt creep . I intend to do a minimalist approach with small fish for low impact on nutrient removal , and focus on aquascape for Coral . Trying to select better lighting which for me is difficult

 

[t5Nitro]

I would want gravity fed drain from tank (or sump) and gravity fed fill from new saltwater reservoir with some valves. Easy on/off of the valve and you're done. This is even better than the pump plumbed RODI and SW reservoir plan.

 

[danreef55]

Yea, i'm planning a mixing station downstairs, my reeflo Hammerhead will be a oversized waterchange pump so I never have to lift another bucket for a simple in and out water change. Only if im pulling things that need a bucket.

 

[cloak]

woops...

I'm all thumbs today....

 

[NeedAReef]

plumbing and power. quick disconnects, check valves, etc. a better way to get water out then a stinking siphon and saltwater in your mouth lol.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

M

Setting my tank farther back from the wall!!! So much salt creep-

Yea, my current setup is too close in a bunch of ways lol. I hope 6" off the wall is enough

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I made my own sump ( with lots of help from uncommon sense ) and made the center section my main maintenance area. I also siliconed

plex around it to stop salt creep . I intend to do a minimalist approach with small fish for low impact on nutrient removal , and focus on aquascape for Coral . Trying to select better lighting which for me is difficult

Awesome job! I like the splash guard idea!

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I would want gravity fed drain from tank (or sump) and gravity fed fill from new saltwater reservoir with some valves. Easy on/off of the valve and you're done. This is even better than the pump plumbed RODI and SW reservoir plan.

I have free reign to drill holes if I want(as im the one who fixes it later lol) and i'm considering a manifold that I can plumb into my drain. I have a python siphon now, but not having to pull it out unless i'm cleaning stuff would be nice. I fully intend to plumb my refill into the sump

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Yea, I need to do something along this line eventually. I figure, i'm gonna brace the floor for the tank, I ought to frame my bracing in to protect from little fingers, and put a mixing station inside it.

 

[danreef55]

Yea, I need to do something along this line eventually. I figure, i'm gonna brace the floor for the tank, I ought to frame my bracing in to protect from little fingers, and put a mixing station inside it.

here this might help

Post in thread 'Mixing station plumbing pictorial'

Apr 12, 2025

The plumbing to create a mixing station can be confusing. A fellow member asked me to explain my set up, so I created this pictorial. I hope you find it useful.

NOTE: MIXING FRESH IS ONLY THERE BECAUSE IT IS TO BE USED WHEN 55 GALLONS OF SALT ISNT ENOUGH FOR AN URGENT NEED.

Thank you for this pictorial. Putting mine together now. What kind of valve is used for the export of water to sump?

• NashReef

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

plumbing and power. quick disconnects, check valves, etc. a better way to get water out then a stinking siphon and saltwater in your mouth lol.

Yea, I have a feeling my tanks going to sit empty for quite awhile before i'm satisfied. That said, my issue is, a lot of the stuff I want to use, is currently in use, so setup and cord management might be a pain..

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

here this might help

Post in thread 'Mixing station plumbing pictorial'

Apr 12, 2025

The plumbing to create a mixing station can be confusing. A fellow member asked me to explain my set up, so I created this pictorial. I hope you find it useful.

NOTE: MIXING FRESH IS ONLY THERE BECAUSE IT IS TO BE USED WHEN 55 GALLONS OF SALT ISNT ENOUGH FOR AN URGENT NEED.

Thank you for this pictorial. Putting mine together now. What kind of valve is used for the export of water to sump?

• NashReef

Thats awesome! Do you mix, then let salt water sit stagnant after that or do you leave the pump running constantly? Do you head water before sending to sump?

 

[danreef55]

Thats awesome! Do you mix, then let salt water sit stagnant after that or do you leave the pump running constantly? Do you head water before sending to sump?

i believe that depends on which salt you are using. There are threads that discuss how long you should store salt water.
Personally I use Nyos salt which dissolves extremely rapidly so I dont mix up a full batch unless I am doing a large water change

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

i believe that depends on which salt you are using. There are threads that discuss how long you should store salt water.
Personally I use Nyos salt which dissolves extremely rapidly so I dont mix up a full batch unless I am doing a large water change

Oh snap, so you just pump in 15 gallons, add the salt, then let it mix, then pump all of it into the tank? Thats awesome!

 

[danreef55]

Oh snap, so you just pump in 15 gallons, add the salt, then let it mix, then pump all of it into the tank? Thats awesome!

Bring the water to tank temp prior to adding salt. A suggestion....
use a measuring cup and determine the quantity required to reach various gallon mixes.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Bring the water to tank temp prior to adding salt. A suggestion....
use a measuring cup and determine the quantity required to reach various gallon mixes.

Yup, i'm sold on this now haha.

 

[KrisReef]

“Starting over.”
A Reefing tale in one run on sentence.
By KrisReef

I would start searching for a generous, rich young partner who loves the hobby and wants to travel the worlds reefs to find the best coral to bring back and grow together in the mansion with the built-in indoor ocean that is maintained by the house keeping engineering staff.

Dream on.

 

[Natman2]

I live in SW FL and have had to start over half a dozen times due to power outages from tropical storms. Every reef tank has an expiration date and it's not plainly displayed on a sticker like a box of eggs. I suspect by the time we get good at it we will be to old to do it.