Equipment Recommendations for 75g tank

[mlovelace]

Hello, thank you again for the solid advice I have been receiving on here. If I decide to purchase the 75g tank I am scheduled to look at this weekend, I will need some other equipment. Can I get some help on recommendations for the following for a 75g FOWLR?

Heater
testing kit (is there a saltwater testing kit that is very good)
Hydrometer
Powerhead or heads
Amount of Live Rock or combination of live/dead rock

I am also curious about what type of bottom should I use? The tank comes with 80 lbs of unused substrate? Is this live sand or something different? Sorry I don't know all the terms nowadays!

Thank you, Mike

[Parrothead]

find out what kind of substrate it is first, 80lbs in a 75 is barely enough, you will probably want to go with an additional 60 lbs. as for the rock, time for more research, I will say this, avoid gulf aquacultured rock, it's heavy, dense, and not all that porous when it comes to bio filteration. Fuji, totoka, galeani(sp?) are all good types of rock. Have you read through this sticky?

Click here before you ask, (links to answers)

If you haven't now would be a good time to start, alot of your questions can be answered right there, and you will also learn alot of good things to help you out as you move forward.

[mlovelace]

Thanks Robert....Yes I have read some of those articles and there is some very valuable information. As far as equipment, I realize there are many opinions and everyone has their product likes and dislikes. I was just trying to figure out what the majority opinion was on these products.

Thank you again, Mike

[Parrothead]

korilia(sp?) powerheads are great and priced pretty decent, I would a look at 2 K-3's for the 75, as for test kits, you could start with the basics and add the others as you need them, at start up you will want to be able to test for amm. nitrites, nitrates, and pH, after you get up and going you can start getting the test for cal, alk and mag.

The first step is getting the tank

[mlovelace]

Well Parrothead, the game is on now! I drove 2 hours and liked the tank. I purchased the tank and headed back home. Looks like I will need to do some cleaning on it and the pump/skimmer, and refuge first. The gentleman whom sold it to me, suggested water/white vinegar to clean it up. He gave me 80 lbs of aragonite seaflor special sand. I told him I was planning on doing this slowly. He gave me some suggestions, can you tell me if this sounds correct?

He told me I could purchase another 40-60 lbs of aragonite sand, add one pound of live sand (throughout the top level), 15 lbs of live rock, 50-60 lbs of dead rock, and place half a piece of raw shrimp in the system to get it going. He stated this would be far cheaper than 50-75 lbs of live rock (I understand the cost savings of live rock) or purchasing sacrificial fish. He also gave me a bucket of instant ocean, told me it would probably create 50 gallons of water, so I would need to purchase another bag. Does these suggestions sound correct? I have read the starter info on this site and never thought about the raw shrimp to get it started?

I just ordered the following in advance (knowing I was going to purchase a 75g tank). They should arrive this week.
HD19301 Hydor Koralia 3 Circulation Pump/Powerhead UL 850 gph 2
AP3313 Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit 1
ES00877 Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer 1
HD11402 Hydor THEO Heater 300 Watt 1

[PhysG]

I would eighty-six the deep six hydrometer, and spend some money on a refractometer. Or you could go the cheap way like I did and buy one of those thermometer/specific gravity testers that bob in the tank. That can be calibrated with RO water. Check out the pic on this link http://www.physics.utah.edu/~garyf/IMG_3263.jpg . Notice that the Deep Six is below the "safe" level. At one time my fish were drowning in salt. BTW I only use the thermometer/specific gravity device to make sure my hydrometer is some what calibrated.

[Parrothead]

Hey Mike,

sorry it took so long to get back here, I agree with PG above on the hydrometer, other than that equipment wise you're in good shape, water and white vinegar will clean everything up nicely, just rinse real good in ro or distilled water. Please do not use live fish to cycle the tank, that is cruel, I would go with a little more live rock than what was suggested, maybe double and the rest base rock would be good, a piece of shrimp would work, but if you are bringing in live rock and you just cure the rock in the tank, you will get the same benefit as the piece of shrimp. JMHO

Sounds like you got things going, now we need pics, thats a standing rule here at reeflands

[mlovelace]

Hey Mike,

sorry it took so long to get back here, I agree with PG above on the hydrometer, other than that equipment wise you're in good shape, water and white vinegar will clean everything up nicely, just rinse real good in ro or distilled water. Please do not use live fish to cycle the tank, that is cruel, I would go with a little more live rock than what was suggested, maybe double and the rest base rock would be good, a piece of shrimp would work, but if you are bringing in live rock and you just cure the rock in the tank, you will get the same benefit as the piece of shrimp. JMHO

Sounds like you got things going, now we need pics, thats a standing rule here at reeflands

Thanks guys!

I just received my base rock from Bulk Reef Supply and I was very impressed with the quality and the packaging they used. I purchased 20 lbs of the mixed dry rock that is on sale right now half price and the reef saver (50 lbs). I opened the case yesterday and looked at them (my wife was thrilled and seems motivated to aquascape the tank). This is a GREAT sign, having my wife jump on the bandwagon! Thank you guys!

[Parrothead]

Thanks guys!

I just received my base rock from Bulk Reef Supply and I was very impressed with the quality and the packaging they used. I purchased 20 lbs of the mixed dry rock that is on sale right now half price and the reef saver (50 lbs). I opened the case yesterday and looked at them (my wife was thrilled and seems motivated to aquascape the tank). This is a GREAT sign, having my wife jump on the bandwagon! Thank you guys!

Glad to hear the wife is getting involved, must be something in the water, go check out my thread, Rebuild of Parrotheads 55 in the reef forums and you'll understand why I said something in the water, it's a beautiful thing.