Where to start??

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

If I wasn't buying everything at once, what would you buy 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc, to get your tank started (without fish/corals). All I have is 75 gallon display tank, light, marco rock, and empty (bare) 20 gallon sump. I really want to get the tank setup so that it can sit for a while to become beneficial and stable (yes, ive heard that can take many months and I'm fine with that). Thank you for your lists/opinions in advance!

 

[Tahoe61]

What brand is the tank?
Do you have a reliable water source?
Have you decided on a salt?
Get a decent ATO.
Did you get any sand?
Basic test kits.
Water containers.
Hose and funnel.

 

[Fish Fan]

Just a few thoughts that may help here:

When starting with dry rock and sand, some do cycle the rocks for several months, but I think most do not. An extended cycle like that can help minimize the "ugly phase" of a new tank started with dry rocks, but others suggest that your just delaying it.

If you start with good quality live rock, you can start your tank pretty much immediately without much of an initial nitrogen cycle, or an extended cycle, and largely you can avoid that ugly stage too.

If you're planning on using dry rock, you could get that going now in your tank as you're acquiring the rest of your gear. All you would need is your tank, your rocks, a heater, a small circ pump and saltwater. Some like to "black it out" by putting cardboard or similar over the glass panel to prevent ambient room light from hitting the rocks. Keep your tank lights off during this time too. You could let this run from about 1 to 3 or 6 months or even longer if you wanted to. This would be a good way to get a head start on your build even before you have all your equipment.

I hope that helps and good luck!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Start here with this!

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BryanM]

Start here with this!

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

Tons of good info in that thread.

RODI system is mandatory equipment in my mind.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

What brand is the tank?
Do you have a relia...

Unsure but I CAN drill it as it is not an AIO system.
No, i do not. Is RODI system the first thing I need to put the water in the tank and mix with salt so that it can sit for a while?
No idea on salt or sand, recommendations?
Test kit recommendations?? Ive seen one (the IOND) recently that supposedly does it all (tests/doses) but its like 1k.
Containers yes.
If you mean hose and funnel for water changes then yes.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Just a few thoughts that may help here:

When starting with dry rock and sand, some do cycle the rocks for several months, but I think most do not. An extended cycle like that can help minimize the "ugly phase" of a new tank started with dry rocks, but others suggest that your just delaying it.

If you start with good quality live rock, you can start your tank pretty much immediately without much of an initial nitrogen cycle, or an extended cycle, and largely you can avoid that ugly stage too.

If you're planning on using dry rock, you could get that going now in your tank as you're acquiring the rest of your gear. All you would need is your tank, your rocks, a heater, a small circ pump and saltwater. Some like to "black it out" by putting cardboard or similar over the glass panel to prevent ambient room light from hitting the rocks. Keep your tank lights off during this time too. You could let this run from about 1 to 3 or 6 months or even longer if you wanted to. This would be a good way to get a head start on your build even before you have all your equipment.

I hope that helps and good luck!

I already have the marco rock and yes, would very much like to avoid the ugly stage haha thats why i wouldnt care to wait many months to make sure the water is perfect.
I will get heaters/pump then! I can use the ones that i plan on using in the tank when i do decide to stock it right?
Recommendations on salt for the saltwater?
Yup that sounds exactly like what i wanted to do, thank you!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Start here with this!

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

I will look into this! Thank you!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Start here with this!

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

Tons of good info in that thread.

RODI system is mandatory equipment in my mind.

Yesss i do have my eye on one! This is mandatory to fill my tank with and then mix the salt in after correct?

 

[BryanM]

Yesss i do have my eye on one! This is mandatory to fill my tank with and then mix the salt in after correct?

If this is the initial fill then yes, you can fill with RODI and mix the salt in the display tank.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Yesss i do have my eye on one! This is mandatory to fill my tank with and then mix the salt in after correct?

If this is the initial fill then yes, you can fill with RODI and mix the salt in the display tank.

It is initial. Any recommendations of salt? And if it wasnt initial is there a different route to go?

 

[BryanM]

It is initial. Any recommendations of salt? And if it wasnt initial is there a different route to go?

If not the initial fill you need to mix in brutes or some other container, not in the tank.

Everyone has opinions on salt. I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef, but you should do your own research here, and ultimately you should choose a salt that matches your desired Alk, calc, Mag numbers that you want.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

It is initial. Any recommendations of salt? And if it wasnt initial is there a different route to go?

If not the initial fill you need to mix in brutes or some other container, not in the tank.

Everyone has opinions on salt. I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef, but you should do your own research here, and ultimately you should choose a salt that matches your desired Alk, calc, Mag numbers that you want.

What are brutes?? Wait, why would i not be able to add it directly to the tank?
Yeah of course, i love everyones opinions, thats why i post here.
Oh geez lol I have no clue of what i want my numbers to be! I thought there was like a general/average number that the tank should be at???

 

[Science/G]

Inexpensive and mixed to numbers similar to natural seawater

 

[Science/G]

What are brutes?? Wait, why would i not be able to add it directly to the tank?
Yeah of course, i love everyones opinions, thats why i post here.
Oh geez lol I have no clue of what i want my numbers to be! I thought there was like a general/average number that the tank should be at???

Plastic trash cans to premix your saltwater

 

[BryanM]

What are brutes?? Wait, why would i not be able to add it directly to the tank?
Yeah of course, i love everyones opinions, thats why i post here.
Oh geez lol I have no clue of what i want my numbers to be! I thought there was like a general/average number that the tank should be at???

You should read that guide that was posted earlier in this thread.

After the tank is set up you can’t just add salt directly to the tank, it needs to be mixed thoroughly, and should be brought up to the tanks temperature before adding.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Inexpensive and mixed to numbers similar to natural seawater

Ahhh ok! Thank you! So does changing the salt levels depend on fish/corals???

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

What are brutes?? Wait, why would i not be able to add it directly to the tank?
Yeah of course, i love everyones opinions, thats why i post here.
Oh geez lol I have no clue of what i want my numbers to be! I thought there was like a general/average number that the tank should be at???

Plastic trash cans to premix your saltwater

Ahhh yes, i do remember someone telling me that!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

You should read that guide that was posted ...

Actually, yesss i do remember now, thats why people buy the big trash cans and fill it with water and heater! I had forgot

 

[PharmrJohn]

Just a few thoughts that may help here:

When starting with dry rock and sand, some do cycle the rocks for several months, but I think most do not. An extended cycle like that can help minimize the "ugly phase" of a new tank started with dry rocks, but others suggest that your just delaying it.

If you start with good quality live rock, you can start your tank pretty much immediately without much of an initial nitrogen cycle, or an extended cycle, and largely you can avoid that ugly stage too.

If you're planning on using dry rock, you could get that going now in your tank as you're acquiring the rest of your gear. All you would need is your tank, your rocks, a heater, a small circ pump and saltwater. Some like to "black it out" by putting cardboard or similar over the glass panel to prevent ambient room light from hitting the rocks. Keep your tank lights off during this time too. You could let this run from about 1 to 3 or 6 months or even longer if you wanted to. This would be a good way to get a head start on your build even before you have all your equipment.

I hope that helps and good luck!

Lots of great advice here. And they echo my thoughts. Get your rock curing in a Brute with a heater and a powerhead. Let it cook for months. And yes, lights out x2 months AT LEAST once your tank it up and running. You can add fish during this time, just slowly. Get a list of fish that you want going with utilitarian fish in mind. Those that like algae are of major import. I'm going to set up a 203g here in the next year and 75% of my fish have both form AND function. Lots like algae, one likes aiptasia, etc. etc. My goal is to minimize or flat out avoid the ugly phase by both limiting any photosynthetic activity at the beginning while populating the tank with livestock that will keep algae et. al. at bay. If you go the utilitarian route, submit your fishnlidt for review and we'll take a look to see if there are compatability issues.