Starting A New 100 gallon saltwater corner tank

I have several freshwater tank, but after coming across a great deal on this 100 gallon corner tank I am taking the plunge and trying my hand at a saltwater tank. After cleaning the tank I did a quick water leak check, the 1 inch bulkhead fitting was leaking so I took the whole back panel off to replace the bulkhead and re-silicon all the fittings, which turn out for the best since the back panel actually is comprised of two parts and the filth between them was intense, pic included. Any advice for a new reefer.

er.

 

Well, first of all, congrats! Welcome to the dark side. It's a lot of fun. I'm imagining you want to turn this into an awesome reef tank eventually, so I will proceed accordingly.

First, you're going to need rocks! Research benefits of dry or live rock and decide what's best for you. There's more to it, but personally, I like to start with mostly dry rock, it's easier to play with and figure out a good rockscape, (something else you'll want to look into if you plan on corals.) Then, you can always add in a smaller amount of live rock to help seed and cycle the tank.

You'll also need to make saltwater... best to use RODI as source water. You want to source water to have 0 TDS, because you'll be adding mineral and nutrient content to it with the salt. If you start with water already containing these things you're parameters will be out of check. For mixing you will definitely need a good spare pump and heater. You'll probably want a large Brute container to do the mixing in.

Test kits... I recommend Salifert, much better than API tests and accuracy is key in reefing.

Here's a great thread about starting a Saltwater tank from scratch....
10 Gallon Tank Restoration

Here's a great thread about a tank we can aspire to as we learn and grow in the hobby. Incredible photography in this one.
14gal Nano Reef Build

I'm super excited to follow along with your build. Please keep us posted and ask any questions you have. I'm not super experienced but I'll help in any way I can. Yay, another salty Fishlorean!

 

Thank you Stella, not sure if you can tell from the buckets but there was rocks and sand with the tank, I have done the bleach/acid bath on the rocks, so I will be starting with dry rocks. And I wash out all the sand. As for RODI, I purchased one from Amazon it should arrive shortly. Tks for the info on the test kits will look into it. I taken apart most everything else to clean it out, I awaiting on bulkhead fitting that should arrive this Wed. I will post some shots up tomorrow.

 

Looks like you know what you are doing.

Umm.... let's see any advice I could give you. Take your time with the tank cycle.
Don't just pile up rocks in the back of the tank. You want to be able to have a nice flow of water all around your tank to prevent any detritus from settling in any dead spots. This is to avoid any algae outbreaks down the line.

Looks fun.

 

Installed sump in the stand and started to run wiring.

 

Tank installed on stand, waiting for repairs I did to silicon to cure.

 

That's good plumbing, I had a 55 one of these, id have done it salt but I sold it as it was soo scratched.
I thought it would be great as a reef. Did yours come drilled?

 

That's good plumbing, I had a 55 one of these, id have done it salt but I sold it as it was soo scratched. View attachment 344762 I thought it would be great as a reef. Did yours come drilled?

Yes I bought the whole kit in one shot, the tank was running at one time but was empty and stored in the garage. It's been a lot of cleaning but getting close for leak test number #2 if everything goes well, sand and salt water next.

 

Very good buy.

 

Very good buy.

It seem to be a very nice light Maxspect Razor R420 160 watts, I looked at price and it's worth more then I paid for the whole set up. Only new item I bought was an Ecothech MP40 which was a Bday gift from my wife.

 

Wow that's some serious light and power head ! This set up is flying before its even up, I'm on a 32g reef with a Chinese black box led and a jabeo sw4.
that's mine.

 

Looking good. I'm jealous

 

Looking good. I'm jealous

Love the layout in your tank, probably the thing that intimidates me the most is the getting the scape to look just right.

 

Agreed with the rockscaping. Take your time with that until you are 110% happy.

 

Day Seven of the new cycle, I am have a Diatoms bloom its covered most of the rock and about half the sand overnight, any suggestion or should I just leave it. Also during the cycle there seem to be a lot of pro's and con's for water changes any advice, current levels are Ammonia 2ppm Nitrite 5PMM and Nitrates 40ppm

 

Hmmm, cycling can be a bit of a hot topic... you're right there. Opinions differ but I'll share the way I go about it. I generally follow this thread. Although it talks about using bacteria in a bottle and that's not needed here, some other questions can be answered. I trust the author of this thread and do water changes during the cycle if...

"2. When should I do water changes? You don't need to do a water change unless nitrites get up to 4.0 or higher or nitrates up towards 100 when fishless cycling. Other than that just one large one before adding fish."

Quoted directly from this thread. I've adapted it for my own use multiple times to cycle Freshwater & SW, with bacteria in a bottle and without, with pure ammonia and when I was dependent on ammonia leaching from my rock.

Ammonia Instructions when Cycling with TSS+ or other Bacterial Starter

I choose to believe that very high nitrogen levels can stall a cycle. Though I have not experienced that, I've seen it said by more experienced aquarists than I. So, in your case, with Nitrite at 5ppm, I would do a water change. Just my 2¢ and it works for me.

 

Hmmm, cycling can be a bit of a hot topic... you're right there. Opinions differ but I'll share the way I go about it. I generally follow this thread. Although it talks about using bacteria in a bottle and that's not needed here, some other questions can be answered. I trust the author of this thread and do water changes during the cycle if...

"2. When should I do water changes? You don't need to do a water change unless nitrites get up to 4.0 or higher or nitrates up towards 100 when fishless cycling. Other than that just one large one before adding fish."

Quoted directly from this thread. I've adapted it for my own use multiple times to cycle Freshwater & SW, with bacteria in a bottle and without, with pure ammonia and when I was dependent on ammonia leaching from my rock.

Ammonia Instructions when Cycling with TSS+ or other Bacterial Starter

I choose to believe that very high nitrogen levels can stall a cycle. Though I have not experienced that, I've seen it said by more experienced aquarists than I. So, in your case, with Nitrite at 5ppm, I would do a water change. Just my 2¢ and it works for me.

I am currently getting ready to change out about 16 gallons.

 

About two weeks in, getting small spots of green algae now, I have had my first cycling of ammonia and nitrite go down to zero, so I dosed ammonia again to bring it up to 2ppm, will see how long it takes to process that.

 

New tank calls for new toys, my MA887 digital refractor arrived, works awesome and so easy to use.