Step-by-Step

[Holly]

My 180g tank arrived at the LFS yesterday, and the guy estimates a little under 2 wks to get everything hooked up and deliver it. YAY!

I was wondering if someone can give me a quick step-by-step of how to set up the DSB when the tank, LS, LR, and water gets here. (They're delivering my tank with the RO/DI seawater and whatever cured LR and LS I've ordered.)

LR: 75# nonliving and 100# living. It's Fiji. Could I get away with less LR? I'm trying to minimize additional cost, so my husband won't have a coronary HA

Since my LR will be fully cured, I plan to put in the rock and LS at the same time (per Ninong's suggestion!).

Is this the order in which to do it: LR, LS, water? I've read to put the LS and rocks in before slowly adding the water.? I assume that the portion of the rock structure that will be under the sand should be all nonliving?

Do I put in ALL of the LS right away? The LFS guy is trying to tell me to do it over many weeks, one inch at a time. ?

LS plan:
70lbs of LS from the LFS guy
70lbs of LS from http://www.oceanproaquatics.com/shop...934d8e440b7e91
160lbs of CaribSea Bahama Oolite LS (0.1-1.0mm).

That's 300lb for 180g, which should be a bit over 4". Decent plan? The LFS sand is providing the finest grade he carries, but it's Arag and not as fine as the Oolite. Not sure about particle size of the sand on that site, but it looks relatively fine.

Do I put in one sand first and then another on top, or do I gently mix it all together before putting it in?

Since I'll have all the LR and LS I plan to use, I assume I should go ahead and fill the tank up completely..?

Once it's up, I've read conflicting reports on lighting and circulation (no skimmer) during cycling. Some say leave it dark and still, others say run them. ?

Sump/refug: Should I go ahead and put a little of the LS in there or should I just wait for the DSB to cycle? It's 46g and has T5s. I figured I should prob just wait on that. ?

One site said to feed the tank 'as if you have 3 or 4 fish' as soon as you set it up, to get the ammonia cycle going. ? If I'm supposed to do this, do I only do it that one time?

I assume I should wait a week or so to add any detritivore kit/snails/etc?

Is there anything I need to do for it while it cycles, other than test ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?

Sorry to ask so many questions! These are things that an Old Salt (no pun intended) would know w/o thinking, but a newbie like myself has no idea about. I just want to make sure I do it right. Any other tips would be very much appreciated!! THANKS!

[underseaworld]

Whole lot of questions there. I just broke down my 135gl and used the live rock from that tank to go into my new 300gl. I also used as much of the water from the 135 to help seed the new tank. The sand i put into my sump which was a mistake. I will take that sand out and place live rock in the sump. The sand I had in my 135 was black sand and I wanted to go with white sand in the new tank. What I would do with the live rock is to cut PVC to set on the bottom of the tank where you would like to place the live rock. Place the live rock on top of the pvc to get the live rock so it does not sit so deep in the sand. I never used live sand I always just let my live rock seed my sand. I always thought live sand was a waste of money. I could be wrong. My sand is alive and well with plenty of little creatures in the sand. If you would like to get some live sand in your tank i would just buy a bag and spread that ontop of the other sand. It will seed the rest of the sand. REMEMBER the best thing you need in this hobby is patience....

[Holly]

Thanks. I started planning and studying for this tank over a year ago, so I think one could say I'm patient! I have a PVC frame built already to attach the rock to.

Do you have any pics of your 300gal? I'd love to see what it looks like. What did you do with your 135gal?

The LFS guy that's putting my stuff together told me that when they come to put it together, they'll show me how to set it all up; however, he's very anti-DSB, told me I should NEVER use too-fine sand, balked at me for wanting a Ca reactor, told me that more than 10x the tank in circulation wasn't necessary, didn't want me to get a heater (even though I have an AquaController as back-up on it), etc, so I'm suspicious that his way might not be the best way to set things up.

He's a minimalist and runs a gorgeous warehouse, so clearly his way works, but who's to say mine wouldn't work?

Since he's the only reef person I know in Vancouver, I'm relying on online blogs advice and internet articles. Reading other articles and threads have helped a lot too

[underseaworld]

I sold my 135 the guy just wanted the tank. As far as the 300 goes I have not yet finished everything on it. It is a long story but I bought this tank for a custome house I was going to move into. I design the house to have a fish room off of the garage and that the tank face was going to be part of the living room wall. To keep a long story short.. The bank lost my paper work and by the time they found it the builder start date came and gone and he did not have his money to start. So now the builder wanted more money to build the house. He wanted 30% more then what we agreed on. So I had to pull out of the deal. But I purchased the tank. So I bought this other house and also had to build a stand for the tank.

I would say that you sound like you have done your research. What a lfs says is not always the way to do things. I have found that after 20 plus years that you end up knowing as much as most lfs. Keep in mind they are business people they just want to make money... I will send some pictures. Keep in mind it is still work in process. I built the stand. I have 250lbs of live rock in it. I made about 100lbs of rock. I need to get the lights for under the tank set up and light up the sump. Then stand is built out of alder and walnut.