New to reefing and looking for some tips on water and cleaning.

[skyetoskye]

Hello, I am very new to reefing and taking my time to learn while also giving myself time to get the right equipment.

to start off, I got the red sea reefer tank second hand, 170litre display and a 30 litre sump. For the first while I’m going to use premixed water but I can’t figure out how much I should be getting. Of course I need to fill the tank but I’m wondering what recommendations you have for how much extra I should get. Should I get for example 100 litres extra?

The place I’m getting my water from deliver very quickly and incase of emergency I can pick it up myself. To be safe would 50litres extra cover me for the first week or two?

As well, I got some secondhand good quality live rock (It I’d dry and “dead” now, was already dried up before I got it) and I’m wondering what is the best way to clean it? I’ve seen a lot of debate online so thought I’d ask first to be safe.

thanks in advance, I’m very excited to get started this has been a dream for a long time

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[Kennya]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Big Smelly fish]

 

[fishguy242]

hi,welcome to the reef...

 

[RichReef]

Welcome!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, I am very new to reefing and taking my time to learn while also giving myself time to get the right equipment.

to start off, I got the red sea reefer tank second hand, 170litre display and a 30 litre sump. For the first while I’m going to use premixed water but I can’t figure out how much I should be getting. Of course I need to fill the tank but I’m wondering what recommendations you have for how much extra I should get. Should I get for example 100 litres extra?

The place I’m getting my water from deliver very quickly and incase of emergency I can pick it up myself. To be safe would 50litres extra cover me for the first week or two?

As well, I got some secondhand good quality live rock (It I’d dry and “dead” now, was already dried up before I got it) and I’m wondering what is the best way to clean it? I’ve seen a lot of debate online so thought I’d ask first to be safe.

thanks in advance, I’m very excited to get started this has been a dream for a long time

Get full tank volume of water and test it for : nitrate-phosphate-ph before placing in the tank
Utilize reliable test kits such as Hanna or salifert and start tank with micro bacter XLM or similar

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!

If you have one a big grey brute trash can or other similar large food safe bin would be great for cleaning the rock. Let it sit in there for a while with saltwater heat and flow. A lot of stuff will come off and can be removed by changing out the water. You can give it a good scrub after soaking for a while as well.

 

[gbru316]

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[rmorris_14]

welcome!

 

[bnord]

Welcome and glad you joined

We Use Brute trash can here as a food grade safe plastic - Agree with Kristopher that holding the the "dead" live rock in such a container with your sourced water and after a few days add half a shrimp and follow ammonia and nitrate will help you along

when it comes to how much water to secure, suggest 2X your water volume... you never know...

Best of luck

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Welcome to reef2reef!!!!!

 

[P-Dub]

Welcome!!!

 

[jsker]

Hello and welcome to r2r!!

 

[Antics]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[G Santana]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Sumo Reef]

170 Litres = 44 Gallons for the other Americans out there

Whalecome to R2R!

 

[Sumo Reef]

As for water, I would look to make the investment now and get an RO/DI unit to make your own water - if even a small possibility.

Otherwise, you will constantly be trekking water back and forth. I have a similar-sized tank and here what I use. I see you are in Ireland, so I'm unfamiliar with what is accessible to you for retailers.

Find a 120 Litre / 32 Gallon rubber bin on wheels like below to mix water in.

Sink/countertop RO/DI unit

Mounted Washroom RO/DI Unit