RTB71 Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Ok so I am new to the hobby and I am determined to have a reef tank. There is just no other option for me its what I want and I'm going to do it no matter what. I know I have painful lessons in front of me the kind you only experience from making mistakes and learning from them. So here is my question to all you veterans out there. If you could start over again knowing what you know now, in what order would your complete your first set up to avoid any head aches. I am going slow with my build, trying to read all the info that I can. From all the info I have read so far this seems to me to be the best order to proceed in which to give my self the greatest opportunity for success. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If I left something out feel free to add it in, if the order is wrong for you thats ok, what's your order ? 1. reef ready tank 2. stand 3. sump 4. return pump 5. skimmer 6. RODI + accessories, salt ect. 7. lighting 8. sand 9. live rock 10. patience 11. coral frags 12. power heads 13. patience 14. fish thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremoose Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I have to say the right behind having the proper equipment and doing adequate research is patience (as you said) with your cycling, especially on a salt tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingin' It Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I made some dumb mistakes, just cause I thought I could overcome the other advise....but this is what I would do if I were to do it again. I also would spend the extra money for the good stuff next go round. (just a minor adjustment to your order) 1. reef ready tank 2. Powerheads 3. stand 4. sump 5. return pump 6. skimmer 7. RODI + accessories, salt ect. 8. lighting 9. sand 10. live rock 11. patience 12. Fish 13. Patience 14. Corals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayba Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 (edited) Nvm Edited May 29, 2012 by Jayba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Auto top-up of RODI water for the sump. That was my biggest headache when my 90g was saltwater - having to carry a 3g bucket every couple of days. Also wished I had room for a big garbage can to store extra water in. I was always running out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I found out about two weeks late that my Reef tank was just over the algae hurtle... I'd already sold off most of my corals when the hair algae started to disappear. Once you start adding livestock (including LR), patience is by far the most important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTB71 Posted May 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 This is fantasic feed back many thanks all who have responded so far. I hope to read more from others as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMAX Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 If I could start all over again....Absolutly no blue clove polyps!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatpuffer Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 I got lucky with my first setup. It was low maintenance...no skimmer. It was a 40 gallon tank with mushrooms, leathers, zoanthids, even some of stony corals where growing. I had gsp puffer, damsels, and some inverts that got away from the puffers, full of mini stars. I used tap water and the biggest thing was I did not do waterchange for a long time (over a year...just topping off....NOT A GOOD PRACTICE!) I thought if everything is thriving why mess it up right?! My guilt got the best of me and I did a 25 percent change and CRASH! Should've just continued what I was doing...it WAS working. Again not a practice that I would encourage people to follow. There was a balance within that tank the worked well I think the 60 Lbs of liverock helped a lot. Next time...if it aint broken, dont try to fix it...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toytech Posted June 18, 2012 Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 The biggest thing that i would change about my setup is the depth of the tank 13 inches deep is not enough for a decent aquascape in a 50 gal (long tank). Then i was never happy and i would fuss with it and that stresses everything out . A sump would have been a life saver too . Third on the list would be a controller even a cheap reefkeeper lite is fantastic and stops heaters from frying your tank after youve worked hard to get it where you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khobbs Posted June 18, 2012 Report Share Posted June 18, 2012 If I could start over, which I will eventually, the tank would be custom from ground up. In wall 2 sides exposed 4' cube tank 2' high DIY LEDs all separately dimmable custom stand, sump, and frag tank plumbed in Algae Scrubber Skimmer rated higher then water volume separate QT/holding tank on separated system ATO system RO/DI with auto top off rigged in, Auto water change tanks Separate sump room so the sumb isnt heard nor seen unless to do maintenance I think i'm basicall describing my dream system.. lol I could go on all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uwish Posted July 31, 2013 Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 I researched every aspect of the Saltwater hobby. I wanted a FOWLR but with the possibility of having corral in the future. I went through everything about water (RO/DI), ATO, salt types and quality, sump designs and types of overflow's, what type of plumbing, return pumps, fuge or not to fuge, skimmers, LED's, sand...DSB or not and type of sand, type and kind of rock, live or dead. It seemed the list was endless. I have never heard of GFO or 'reactors' before even after 10 years of keeping planted tanks. Then, fish types and compatiblity. Yeah talk about a learning curve and it felt like I was drinking from a fire hose! So after all the research I went completely custom tank, and stand designed by me from the ground up. I took most of the best practices I could find, read lots of the horror stories and "I wish I have done.." threads and integrated them into my tank design. So far, I am very happy with my salty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porky Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 i would buy my rock dry so as i can cement it all in place exactly how i like it then start cycling. was in to much a rush to get to reef state i bought up 4 peoples established tanks for the rock lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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