Have everything; need help setting up

[DisneyCoralReef]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Generally speaking it's about a cup of salt per 2 gallons. But, what you want to do is get a hydrometer if you don't already have one, because what you SHOULD do is add the salt and then check it after a few hours and add salt (or water) to get to your target specific gravity ("SG"). You'll quickly get a feel for how much salt it takes but you always measure your SG regardless. A refractometer is the easiest and most effective tool. A swing arm hydrometer is subject to huge amounts of error in readings (learned that the hard way) and no 2 swing arm hydrometers will tell you the same value anyhow .. a plumb-bob/glass hydrometer is good for reliability and ease of use and accuracy, but the glass is so thin you just look at them wrong and they break and it sucks to clean up all those little tiny lead ball bearings that fall out when they do. So, yeah, refractometer is the ONLY way to go. Plus, you'll feel all Star Trek and stuff looking into one to get your SG reading.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/t-...actometer.html

I ran a Rio Hyperflow for a few years. Nice pump, but when it goes, it's going to fail like this: the magnet will swell and the impeller will fail to turn. You can get a replacement impeller for about $20 less than a whole new pump. Stellar. And Big Al's is the only place left who sells these pumps. Don't sweat this purchase for now, it's a good pump when it runs right, and you'll get at least a year or two out of it in the meantime. Which, if you think that sounds not bad, consider that I have Mag drive pumps that have been running except for a few hours for cleaning, or power failures or whatever for .. I think the one driving my skimmer is about 8 years now (purchased in summer 2002. Used! - the impellers may not be original but the cost to replace those is nomimal). So yeah, I myself am done with Hyperflows, not impressed at all with them on their impeller replacement cost. I have the pump in my dead equipment pile because I can't bring myself to throw out a "perfectly good pump, it just needs a new impeller" but then the stupid impeller costs $150. FAIL!

Like I said don't sweat it for now, it will get you going and get you going good in the meantime.

Which pump do you recommend?

[BlueWorldAquatic]

Most important, check the tank for leaks.

3 Key steps setting up a new tank:

1 - Patience
2 - Patience
3 - Patience

For the beginning, try to get some used salt water, and a cup or 2 of sand to start "seeding" the tank with bacteria.

You can also use products like Prodibio's Start Up, or Seachems Stability.

To keep the costs down, don't go overboard with the salt, you can use basice IO salt, then upgrade to reef crystals. Keep your salinity lower, you don't need to have 1.025, you can get away with 1.020 (use less salt during the setup time).

Make sure your refactometer is calibrated.
Ditch the stick on thermometer
Timers for your lights
I would recommend a second heater, so if one fails there is a backup. Also less work on just 1 heater.

Next step is preparing your live rock, we warned, buying used live rock is great, but be prepared for organisms that may be already growing on the rock that you may not want in your tank. In all our new setups, unless the customer has his own rock, we will supply new semi-cured live rock that have been sitting in our holding tanks for a few weeks.

you should be able to get any help on these forums or your LFS, but if you need, don't hesitate to contact me here.

Ken - BWA