My 36gal journey

I posted this once already but it did not make it through. Attempt #2.

This is my first saltwater tank and I thought I would start this thread and keep a journal going as I get things started in case I run into any troubles.

Current setup -
36 gal bowfront
gl*******s.com drilled overflow
25gal sump
mag 5 return (470 gph with head)
25lb Marco base rock
Sicce Voyager 2
40 lbs live sand
30 lbs aragonite sand

On order -
Reef Octopus 4" pinwheel in-sump skimmer
Typhoon 5 RO/DI
OCReef XP-E 60 Watt CREE LED

ALL Photos are clickable for full size. Excuse any blur as they were taken with my phone.

Tank -


Sump - (the plumbing has been slightly altered so both supply lines are now draining into the left section and the order from left to right is skimmer/fuge/return.


Overflow plumbing -


Marco Dry Rock - This is beautiful rock


Rock in tank - This is my base aquascape and will change slightly after live rock is added. There will be a 2in (est) sand bed.

Looks like a nice setup. When do you think you will be adding water?

ohhhh totally love the setup very classy!!


AND an LED light!! Your critters are gonna look amazing

Wow very nice set up!!

Looks good. Can't wait to see some wetness going on.

WE NEED WATER!!!!!

Looks great by the way.

This looks really nice - clean set-up. Now just ad water and you'll be good to go.

very nice start......just wait, the hard part is deciding what to put in the tank. That's when the obsession starts. You'll begin debating on another set-up right before this one is complete.

Originally Posted by brebre929

very nice start......just wait, the hard part is deciding what to put in the tank.

And no matter what that debate sounds like - just remember water and salt have to be the first 2 items on the list!!

Originally Posted by chris&barb

Looks like a nice setup. When do you think you will be adding water?

Well.. The light will not be here until Monday. Then I need to build the stand to hang it from. By that time I hope to have my saltwater mixed. Once that is done I can add my sand and live rock(which I will purchase that day).

So, hopefully the end of next week.

Hoewever, I might ad my water before the LED is installed as I can use a different fixture until that is ready.

So, it is a work in progress and I will post up pics as I get things going further.

You don't need a light to cycle a tank. Add water at will and get your sand and rock to start your cycle. The longer you can let it cycle the more stable the tank will be in the long run.

I just bought my salt - Oceanic enough for 200 gallons


and a UV sterilizer - This one is a 9 watt in tank model good for up to 100 gallons with a 53gph powerhead on it. That is not all that much but every little bit helps .. My LFS has one setup in a frag tank and has had no problems with it. It also helps me as I am running low on space to plumb anything else.

How much are you paying for that salt where you are?

awesome build thread! so this is your first saltwater tank? well looks like you've done your research and planned wisely .I love Marco rocks and your scaping looks great! so what's going in this tank? fish? corals?

Originally Posted by chris&barb

How much are you paying for that salt where you are?

I paid $57 at my LHS for that Oceanic tub.

Originally Posted by Barbara

awesome build thread! so this is your first saltwater tank? well looks like you've done your research and planned wisely .I love Marco rocks and your scaping looks great! so what's going in this tank? fish? corals?

To start it will be FOWLR. After a little bit I will start to introduce some corals.

So as it stands now...

Lights - Monday or Tuesday
API Water Test Kit - Monday or Tuesday

Protein Skimmer - found out today that it is on back order even though it wasn't when I ordered it. So I cancelled the order and will be getting it from somewhere else.


RO/DI Kit - ARRIVED TODAY !! (Typhoon 5 stage RO/DI system 75 gpd)

Take a look at these skimmers Skimmers - SWC Skimmer

Adding water -

I am planning on taking out my rock, adding a few inches of fresh ro/di water, adding my sand, rebuilding my rock, then filling the rest of the water. ... after the tank is filled all filtration and circulation will be turned off until the san settles.. once that hppens I will take one gallon and mix the salt required for the entire tank and pour it in. At this time I will also fill my sump and start circulation...

Does this sound like a good order of operation?

well this is really exciting now infamous! ....have you found another skimmer source?
plan sounds good to me......though not sure you need to turn off your circulation - the sand will settle faster if you just keep it all going I think..........anyone else wanna chime in here?

My lfs ordered it and gave me the same price as the place online. My ocreef led lighting will be here Monday (woohoo)... all glass lid on Thursday and skimmer should be shortly after that...

Aragonite sand is in now.. water and live sand start tomorrow and will be done by tomorrow night.. live rock will go in on Thursday along with my fuge materials..

I will post pics of the light tomorrow when I get home from my classes