Help with new saltwater setup

onefish2fish

just the carbon in a media reactor works great. i also run one with phosban.

Pasfur

You will need much more carbon that what comes in the Whisper packets. Personally, I buy the bags of carbon that is sold for the Aqua Clear filters,and i just throw the bag in the back of a Whisper, or in my sump. It works well to keep the water clear.

In situations where carbon is used without a protein skimmer, you would want forced water flow through the carbon, rather than the casual contact you get with the method I use.

OF2F makes the best suggestion, which is a media reactor.

onefish2fish

i personally get 5 gallon buckets of it. we actually get black trash bags full of carbon but divide it up into buckets among my club.

the method of using a media bag or pantyhose for carbon works, but keep in mind water will follow the path with least resistance. having it pumped into a chamber full of carbon is most effective, as the water has no option around it. a media reactor runs about $30 and if your DIY capable ive seen some DIY versions.

NC Frank

I am DIY capable but I won't do a DIY project if it is only going to save me a few bucks. :) Work + a 5 month old make it hard to find time for DIY so they have to be worth it.

Can you recommend a decent media reactor?

NC Frank

I have the following equipment so far:

46 gallon bow, stand, lid
Coralife Aqualight High Output 36 inch T5 Fixture - 39 watt 10k, 39 watt actinic
3 Koralia 2 power heads
1 250w Stealth heater
1 API Master Salt Water test kit
1 API Master Reef Test Kit
1 RHS-10ATC Portable Salinity Refractometer
1 Deep Six salinity meter
1 Super Skimmer 65 needle wheel

I will be purchasing a whisper or aquaclear hang on filter for just activated carbon filtering.

What do I still need (other than sand, live rock, salt mix and patience) to make this work?

The goal is soft corals with a small number of "community fish" centered around a pair of false percs, a diamond or watchman goby (or both if possible) and one undetermined center piece fish that can live comfortably in a 46 gallon. Eventually after the tank is well established (upwards of 6 months problem free) I would like to add a rose anemone for the clowns if possible (and if I can do it with minimal risk to the soft corals I am looking at buying).

How much live sand do I need for a 4" bed in a 46 bow? Is keeping the sand bed less than 1" an option. I am leaning towards listening to Pasfur and going with the 4" bed.

If I bought 40 pounds of base rock from Marco rocks should I get one of his package deals that include 40 pounds Bahamas aragonite sand? (I am shooting for 75 pounds of rock and certainly more than 40 pounds of sand unless I stay at a 1" bed - just trying to save money). If anybody is motivated enough to tell me exactly what to order from Marco rocks (combo of sand, base and live rock) I would be willing to defer to their experience. Is the same from Marco "live" sand or will I have to seed it somehow?

Pasfur

I would go ahead and order one of the packages from Marco rocks. 40 Pound box Key Largo Rock, <br>40 Pounds Bahamas Aragonite Sand<BR>pay shipping on rock only - KL40-40 This one looks nice, with 40 pounds of Key Largo Rock and 40 pounds of sand. I would probably order an additional 40 pounds of sand to reach a full 4'' depth. You may have a little sand left over, but this will still be your least expensive option.

You have no reason to purchase live sand, provided you seed the tank with at least 10-15 pounds of experienced live rock. A handfull of rubble from the bottom of the live rock vat at your LFS will proved helpful to seed diversity into the sand bed. Usually the LFS will let you take a couple scoops of this rubble for free, and you just bury it into the back of your sand bed. This is a trick i've used for years and will really help to kick start the sand.

Maybe I missed it, but it doesn't look like you've made a decision yet on which alkalinity and calcium supplement to use. I personally use Kent Marine Super Buffer DKH and Kent Marine liquid calcium chloride. There are a number of nice 2 part additives on the market as well.

NC Frank

Thanks again. I was looking at the same 40+40 package and I added another 40 pounds of the sand for barely over $150.00 shipped.

This sand is safe for sand sifters and fish like a diamond goby. correct?

I was planning on using kent products for supplements. I actually already have the Super Buffer DKH. :)

I am going to lean heavily on you and some others when it comes to setup and cycling and when to start adding supplements, inverts, soft corals and eventually fish.

I will be out of the country for 2.5 weeks in December and will have a friend come over to top off with RO water (he is actually going to come over daily to feed my Discus and angels). Assuming everything gets here my target setup will be next weekend. Is it safe to let it sit with lights on a timer for 2.5 weeks while I am out of the country and unable to test parameters? Obviously this will be before I add any inverts, corals, etc. I figure I should take advantage of my time away by allowing part of the maturing process to occur while I am happily on vacation. :)

Pasfur

Yes on the sand.

When you say Kent supplements, what supplements do you mean? Don't get caught up in the crazy product line that they offer. You do not want to supplement iodine or strontium. (This is up for debate, so you may find conflicting opinions.) I only dose calcium and an alkalinity buffer.

I think it is great that you are going out of town and will not be tempted by the tank. Just let your friend top off and allow the tank some time to mature.

NC Frank

By supplements I meant the two you recommended:

Kent Marine Super Buffer DKH (already bought this for the nano)
and Kent Marine liquid calcium chloride.

At what point do I start adding supplements?

NC Frank

can anyone recommend a media reactor?