Ultimate Guide to tank setup

[gift05]

ok guys here's the deal. This thread is meant to be the place for all the pros in reef keeping to share their views and experiences in setting up a new tank. It will be this invaluable pool of wealth where noobies such as i, can feed on with glee =) I am extending my appeal to all the pros in this forums (admins included) in sharing, so we'll get this localised guide that would really be helpful.

Personally my tank just arrived, and despite numerous searches on cycling periods, introduction of LR etc, i can't find what i'm lookign for.

Basically, now that the tank is sitting there, ***What do we do now?**

Add plumping?

Pumps?

What goes in the sump?

Do i cycle the water tog with LR, corals etc?

Many many more questions running that i'll post along the way... right now... lets kick start the one and only, CONSOLIDATED ultimate tank setup guide!

[blueheaven]

Well, I wouldn't say that I'm a pro as I am still learning and everyone else is learning. There is no way to ever reach any extremities in this hobby such that you become a professional.

Anyway, let's start with your tank. You should have drawn up a schematic diagram or have a rough idea of what your tank is going to be like before you order it.

The main interest in this hobby, I believe, is to create something which best represents you and your perception. Do you want a full fledged SPS reef because SPS are the real reef building corals or do you want a full fledged soft coral reef because you see a beauty in them which others don't?

After drawing up a schematic, you will have to plan what sort of equipments you want to get. It is always good to buy a product which will last you for the days to come instead of upgrading them. Are you looking into a DSB system or you want to grow macroalgae in a refugium or you want a huge tub to act as a water reservoir? All these must be in place first before you get down to plumbing your tank.

As for plumbing, you want the most efficient and simple design with minimal elbows and bends. You might also consider having a swing check valve to prevent water backflow in case of a blackout. What type of fittings are you going to use and how big will your pipes be? These are some questions you have to ask yourself constantly.

Always remember that you want an efficient system for your tank. Not only should the plumbing be simple and effective (check out mine in my tank thread), you should also aim for the most energy efficient and in this case it is to minimise the running time of your chiller. If you notice in my system, I have all my pumps external and all of my equipments are external too. This helps to save energy by reducing the amount of heat going into your tank.

Next, you have to have a rough idea of how you want to scape your tank. As Anthony Calfo said, try to be creative and not follw other people's scaping. Who knows, you might be the first in Singapore to have a rocky overhang with non photosynthetic corals hanging upside down

After your planning, look for the best quiality LR you can find. Do not be brought down by the price tag as it pays off in the future. After scaping your tank, you know want to let your tank fallow by letting it cycle for about a month and at the mean time, constantly check the water parameters. A note here is that please do not use live fish to kick start the cycle as it will be more humane to just throw in a big piece of prawn or even a sotong

After your cycle is done, you will want to start by just having one or two fishes to liven up the tank. Corals such as corallimorphs are also good and hardy and reproduce fairly quickly. Always remember what you want to keep and only purchase them after thorough reading and understanding their needs.

And finally after this, you are on your way