JB's Reef Tank

[jb61264]

OK...have finished up the piping for the return flow from the sump/refugium...here are some pictures:









and just because of the proud papa syndrome I'm having about building all of this stuff right now...here is the first baffle in my sump/refugium:

[reeffreak]

Very nice and clean.
When are you getting wet?

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by reeffreak

Very nice and clean.
When are you getting wet?

Not soon enough sump/refugium will be finished up this evening and then it will needs to cure for 48 hours...I'm sitting here with the NFL playoffs on TV while doing this...don't know how much better of a lazy Sunday afternoon you could ask for

I'm debating whether or not to get a bigger pump than what I have right now...a Hagen AquaClear 802 (rated at 400 gph)...but this will be a little less because it has just under 3' of head to push up to my tank...the LifeReef prefilter box is rated up to 700 gph so I'm wondering if I need to increase the sump pump.

I'm hoping to get wet by next weekend.

My 36" Nova Extreme Light system is supposed to be here on Tuesday...I think I'll get wet on Thursday or Friday...make sure everything runs good and if it does I'll be making a call to my LFS to order a box of Live Rock on Sunday (which would arrive on Tuesday).

Am I forgetting anything on the "startup checklist"?

[reeffreak]

Sounds like you itching to get wet.IMO,all you need is really about 5x turnover so the pump you have will be fine.Use powerheads for flow and not the return from the sump.Do you have all the testing equipment-test kits,heaters,hydrometer or refractometer-you know stuff like that?

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by reeffreak

Do you have all the testing equipment-test kits,heaters,hydrometer or refractometer-you know stuff like that?

Ahh...that I do not...thank you, I will be picking that up this week as well. I have a specific gravity device from when I did saltwater loooooong ago...but definately need the other test kit/equipment.

Is there a "checklist" reference of these types of bare necessities for reefkeepers somewhere?

[reeffreak]

I'm not sure if there's a list here or not.You will need....

Test kit-for ammonia,nitrite,nitrate and pH.There are several master kits that include all four test and some with more like calcium and akalinity.If it doesn't include akalinity/calcium then you will eventually need them too.

Thermometer-I prefer the little digital ones then those stick on types.

Heaters-Its better to have two smaller heaters than one large one.Thats just in case one sticks and it won't overheat the tank.

Hydrometer or refractometers-I would replace your old one.Its been sitting around for a long time and could be inaccurate.I recommend a refractometer over a hydrometer.They are more accurate.

Powerheads/circulation pumps-these will provide the flow.You can go as low as $15 each for Maxi-Jets or $40 for Koralias.There are some that cost even more.Better to have two than one.

I'm sure there maybe more misc. stuff like fishnet etc.Check Dr. Fosters and Smith.com.Even with shipping it is usually much cheaper than the LFS.

[jb61264]

After much planning/research and lots of work...my sump/refugium is completed...here are some pics for anybody interested...can't wait to actually watch flow through this





I plan to have a 2-3 inch sandbed in the middle compartment with caulerpa...I will be cutting some light diffuser material to sit on top of the tank from where the second baffle (the one that goes to the top of the tank) sits to the left side so I can sit a light on top.

I love the way my skimmer sits perfectly in the corner lip/ridge of the tank...didn't plan that one, more of "design by accident"

[LionFish]

nice professional look.

What are your livestock plans,

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by LionFish

nice professional look.
What are your livestock plans,

Wow...thanks for the compliment

Livestock...well, I want this to eventually be a coral stocked tank so I will probably only have 4-5 smaller fish at the most. I plan to order my first box of live rock (45lbs) next Sunday (it will arrive on Tuesday at my LFS) and will be decent looking but will serve as more of the foundation base rock...then after the tank cycles, I want to buy another 35 - 40 lbs of super nice rock...after things stabilize, I think my first fish will be a lawnmower blenny (or some other species of blenny that likes to eat algae off the rocks...not that I'll have any )

After that...I'll probably just look for some nice pieces of easier coral (mushrooms, yellow colonial polyps, greenstar polyps) and then maybe a coral beauty, mandarin...will most likely be asking for more recommendations from the group here

[LionFish]

Lawnmower, Coral beauty, Firefish,Diamond goby, peperment shrimp.