des0620
Community Member
Hey Everyone,
This is going to be my first thread and first ever salt water tank! I have had an 29 gallon fresh water tank for about 3 years now and have wanted the salt water fish every time I go into the LFS but have been stuck to fresh water.
So about a month ago Im searching the marketplace and BAM! A 60 gallon cube for 60 bucks. Great price so I scooped it up. I knew about the other stuff needed but didnt really think it through. Just told my wife I saw a cheap tank and Im going to go pick it up. She was just excited as I was to get a saltwater tank so I was glad I didnt have to convince her.
After picking up the tank I made the frame for the stand that weekend. I made it similar to my 29 gallon tank same height because they will be in the same room. This one will be skinned and will have a door. Took me about 3 weeks to finish the stand. There are still a few spots that need to be touched up with paint before putting the tank in its home.
While I was building the stand I have been trying to figure out sump and plumbing so that when the stand is ready the plumbing will be done also. I was going to go with blue pvc but no one will ever see the plumbing but me so I just got the good unions and ball valves. I wasted a good gate valve but 40 bucks for one valve is too rich for me lol.
I got a wide 20 gallon tank and on ebay got an sump baffle kit. The kit came out pretty good at least I think it did. Went on the BRS website and looked at some skimmers I think I would put in here and there were about 7 to 8 inch wide so I made the sump area 9 inches wide. It still has a section for the refugium I plan to run.
I have been doing a lot of research and I think I will end up running a reactor for Carbon and GFO, I have ran carbon on the fresh water for a few years and love the clarity it gives. I think Im going to run a UV sterilzer also so. Still whipping up the plans but need to figure out a manifold system with 3 outputs. I hope I have room for another pump in the sump somewhere.
I got a Jebao wifi return rated around 1000 gph, I got a 500w hygger titanium heater and temp controller. It fits a 5 gallon bucket for a ATO resivoir but I think Im going to use this other container I use to use for dog food because it has a lid and I cant seem to throw it away. I already cleaned it with citric acid as well as the tank because when I got it, it wasnt the cleanest but I didn a decent job and im sure I can clean it more when there has been water in it again. I also bought a aliexpress A8 Pro 2 Max light. Its on the ways says I should have it in 2 weeks but who knows just ordered it. I was going to buy a used radion G5 x15 Blue for 300- $400 but the fake one is a g6 x30 clone and only 275 so its on the way. Prob over kill for my 2x2x2 cube but thats what I was going for I might get a single AI blade to get some more blue in the evenings but Im sure this will be a good start. I plan to get the Jebao wave makers also with the cable on the outside for the cleaner look. I have about 80 pounds of fiji pink sand and 50lbs of dry rock. I have started to shape the rocks in what I think will look cool but we will see how it ends up.
I did a dry fit of the PVC here recently and just need to glue it all up. Only few things that need to be done now are:
*getting enough water to fill the tank
*put the tank where it needs to go
* glue the pvc joints
* put the sand and rock into the tank so I can glue the rest of the rocks
* mix my salt, I got the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt hope this is good for a beginner
* cycle the tank - I have the Dr Tim's Ammonia and One and only Bacteria
Things I need soon:
*ATO system
*need to cut a holes to run controllers and vent cabinet and also paint those holes.
* wave makers
* leak detector
* back up heater
Wish list:
* Hydros Controller with all the goodies.
Im new to this so any tips you guys can give I need to hear it! Watch youtube religously trying to get all the knowledge needed for this hobby but there is just so much to learn.
I heard the first year is pretty rocky so I hope you guys can help me along the way!
As we get going I will update you guys on stocking ideas and what type of coral Im thinking about going with!
Photo dump:
This is going to be my first thread and first ever salt water tank! I have had an 29 gallon fresh water tank for about 3 years now and have wanted the salt water fish every time I go into the LFS but have been stuck to fresh water.
So about a month ago Im searching the marketplace and BAM! A 60 gallon cube for 60 bucks. Great price so I scooped it up. I knew about the other stuff needed but didnt really think it through. Just told my wife I saw a cheap tank and Im going to go pick it up. She was just excited as I was to get a saltwater tank so I was glad I didnt have to convince her.
After picking up the tank I made the frame for the stand that weekend. I made it similar to my 29 gallon tank same height because they will be in the same room. This one will be skinned and will have a door. Took me about 3 weeks to finish the stand. There are still a few spots that need to be touched up with paint before putting the tank in its home.
While I was building the stand I have been trying to figure out sump and plumbing so that when the stand is ready the plumbing will be done also. I was going to go with blue pvc but no one will ever see the plumbing but me so I just got the good unions and ball valves. I wasted a good gate valve but 40 bucks for one valve is too rich for me lol.
I got a wide 20 gallon tank and on ebay got an sump baffle kit. The kit came out pretty good at least I think it did. Went on the BRS website and looked at some skimmers I think I would put in here and there were about 7 to 8 inch wide so I made the sump area 9 inches wide. It still has a section for the refugium I plan to run.
I have been doing a lot of research and I think I will end up running a reactor for Carbon and GFO, I have ran carbon on the fresh water for a few years and love the clarity it gives. I think Im going to run a UV sterilzer also so. Still whipping up the plans but need to figure out a manifold system with 3 outputs. I hope I have room for another pump in the sump somewhere.
I got a Jebao wifi return rated around 1000 gph, I got a 500w hygger titanium heater and temp controller. It fits a 5 gallon bucket for a ATO resivoir but I think Im going to use this other container I use to use for dog food because it has a lid and I cant seem to throw it away. I already cleaned it with citric acid as well as the tank because when I got it, it wasnt the cleanest but I didn a decent job and im sure I can clean it more when there has been water in it again. I also bought a aliexpress A8 Pro 2 Max light. Its on the ways says I should have it in 2 weeks but who knows just ordered it. I was going to buy a used radion G5 x15 Blue for 300- $400 but the fake one is a g6 x30 clone and only 275 so its on the way. Prob over kill for my 2x2x2 cube but thats what I was going for I might get a single AI blade to get some more blue in the evenings but Im sure this will be a good start. I plan to get the Jebao wave makers also with the cable on the outside for the cleaner look. I have about 80 pounds of fiji pink sand and 50lbs of dry rock. I have started to shape the rocks in what I think will look cool but we will see how it ends up.
I did a dry fit of the PVC here recently and just need to glue it all up. Only few things that need to be done now are:
*getting enough water to fill the tank
*put the tank where it needs to go
* glue the pvc joints
* put the sand and rock into the tank so I can glue the rest of the rocks
* mix my salt, I got the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt hope this is good for a beginner
* cycle the tank - I have the Dr Tim's Ammonia and One and only Bacteria
Things I need soon:
*ATO system
*need to cut a holes to run controllers and vent cabinet and also paint those holes.
* wave makers
* leak detector
* back up heater
Wish list:
* Hydros Controller with all the goodies.
Im new to this so any tips you guys can give I need to hear it! Watch youtube religously trying to get all the knowledge needed for this hobby but there is just so much to learn.
I heard the first year is pretty rocky so I hope you guys can help me along the way!
As we get going I will update you guys on stocking ideas and what type of coral Im thinking about going with!
Photo dump:
