1st Tank build/progress and ?s (100g on a budget)

[DaRed.Turtle]

Names Rafael,
I'm new here but am a forum junkie. This will be the home to my slow progress build and central questions (cuz I will have a million of them). Just a heads up my spelling is bad and I'm told my grammar is worse. I'm a newb to saltwater so please bare with. Right now my plan is to have a heavy fish ratio with a few corals but who knows later I may change my mind.

Working with a very limited budget in what can be an expensive hobby may prove difficult, but I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. I DIY a lot so I'm hoping that will help keep cost down. I's crucial to make sound decisions before the cheap buy turns out to be the expensive one. I have been doing some research as well not just cruising sale ads and craigslist. I still have so much more to learn but I'm trying.

I have a 100 gallon tank 48"x30"x18" and two 15 gallon tanks. Currently the 100 gallon is empty (not setup) and one 15 gallon is setup with freshwater mollies that I am slowly acclimating to saltwater. Have about 150 lbs of dead and live rock, which I may have turned to all dead rock. I want to start the nitrogen cycle soon so I'm thinking of tossing the rock and sand in the empty 15g with an air stone and maybe a sponge filter if it would help. Should be picking up a power head tomorrow. So far I have been able to get pretty good deals and am working on getting the other equipment. Big Thanks for all those who have helped so far.

I think it will help me if I compile a list of acquired and still needed items. Please feel free to make suggestions.

Acquired:
A. 100g tank (48"x30"x18")
B. 150lbs Rock
C. 50lbs of sand
D. small airpump

Needed:
A. Sump
B. Return pump rated at about 1000gph
C. Protein skimmer rated for about 150g
D. Powerheads total flowrate of 5,000gph plus
E. Lights (LED DIY)
F. Tank cover
G. Stand (DIY)
H. Salt
I. RO/DI filter
J. Fish, coral, and CUC
K. Overflow or drill glass tank
L. Alge Scrubber

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff but its late and I'm tired.

All help/tips/comments are welcome. Looking to learn and make new friends.

 

[ReEfErAdDiCt86]

Sounds good so far. Good luck and post some pics soon! Keep us updated so more ppl can chime in on suggestions and help

 

[Six2seven]

hey Raf looking forward to your build. start the cycle for your rock so its ready when you are. You can never cycle too long.

 

[DaRed.Turtle]

Here is a pic of some of the live rock I think I killed. I will try to get more pics tonight. Also would like some input on the tank itself. It is 3/4" glass with no holes and a lot of micro scratches near the top. My thought was to polish the glass to remove the scratches does any one have any experience with this? Also should I use an overflow box or attempt to drill the glass?

♥ Raf

 

[phish96]

WTF?! that's a lot of worms!

 

[twomuch42004]

Here is a pic of some of the live rock I think I killed. I will try to get more pics tonight. Also would like some input on the tank itself. It is 3/4" glass with no holes and a lot of micro scratches near the top. My thought was to polish the glass to remove the scratches does any one have any experience with this? Also should I use an overflow box or attempt to drill the glass?

♥ Raf

WTH u breed Bristol worms lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 ReefOn or may u can ReefOFF

 

[reefes pieces]

Dang! Bristleworms can be good for your tank but IMO that's seriously way too many. usually that many bristle worms means it came from a tank with a lot of nutrients. I'd start fresh and clean those rocks with muriatic acid cuz I bet there is a lot of phosphates and built up detritus on them rocks.

Also, my vote goes to drilling the tank. Built in overflow is way more reliable than a hang on one.

 

[phish96]

Dang! Bristleworms can be good for your tank but IMO that's seriously way too many. usually that many bristle worms means it came from a tank with a lot of nutrients. I'd start fresh and clean those rocks with muriatic acid cuz I bet there is a lot of phosphates and built up detritus on them rocks.

Also, my vote goes to drilling the tank. Built in overflow is way more reliable than a hang on one.

+1 on starting fresh with those rocks. Acid bath is the way to go and then maybe start dosing some phosphate remover if it starts leaching out a high amount

 

[Six2seven]

geez that's a lot of bristle worms. are they alive? put yourself at ease later and drill the tank.

 

[DaRed.Turtle]

Oh ok cool thanks for the info. I though I read somewhere about ppl cleaning thier new rocks with bleach. Anyone hear of that before would everyone still recomend using muratic acid instead?

♥ Raf

 

[reefes pieces]

I'd do the muriatic (pool acid) over bleach. Can be purchased cheap at home depot

 

[BeanMachine]

It looks like most are dead any way. Put some gloves on when you handle those and the water tho. My fingers swell up really bad when I get those bristles on em. Careful some reactions are worse than others depends on the person.

I would do a 100% water change suck out all the dead stuff worms etc. If your not in a rush just start with that before you kill your rock with acid or drying it out...

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I still have a mark on my arm from a bristle worm sting...over a year ago

 

[Emac909]

I would completely dry out the rock. Every thing is dead in it already. Then do an acid bath on the rock. Let it dry out for a few weeks. Then when u start the build up. Add some seeded live rock from another tank.

 

[TH64]

Holy bristle worm! They look mostly dead and agree with ^

 

[jarmochin]

Good thing I'm following along. I had some live rock in water hoping to save it for my next build but guess after awhile its best to just dry it out and reseed. gl with tank

 

[corbinwaltz]

Wow, I thought my old tank was bad. That was an infestation.

 

[DaRed.Turtle]

Thanks for the bristtle worm info. Had no idea they could be so bad. Kinda glad I killed them now. LOL I'll deal with the rock tomorrow as I won't have time tonight.

Here are some pictures of my tank location and the planned location. I'm hoping it won't get hit with to much light. Please excuse the mess wife was doing laundry.

I think I will need a taller stand for the sump.

♥ Raf

 

[DaRed.Turtle]

Power heads and many other goodies aquired. Big thanks to the awesome reefers of this community.

♥ Raf

 

[jessesoto33]

+1 on drying out LR, boiling it is another option