Setting up tank ;)

Joshua Hurst · Dec 28, 2016

Hello everyone! So we've finally made the decision on the tank, and it's sitting in our garage cause I'm trying to figure out what to run on this bad boy! It's a aqueon 65gallon (36.4" x 18.4" x 25"). I'm a die hard kessil fan, because I love the shimmeriness it gives from the water.

Lights- Kessil A360W-E Tuna Blue Led aquarium light - Wide Angel
NOTE- So can I get away with only using one of these guys; or should I buy 2 of the less strong ones?

Filtration- Sump?
So I've done so so so much reading on this because I just need it to be simple; since it's for my dads office. I love the idea of a sump due to the obvious advantages, and I don't want hardly anything hanging on the back of the aquarium besides the overflow box and a power head.
NOTE- My sump is so loud!!!! My dad is going to want as little noise as possible coming from filtration so advice is much needed!!

Skimmer- what's yalls favorite kind?

Starter fish- anyone have a few small cheap fish I could buy to cycle this system with?

Brew12 · Dec 28, 2016

Joshua Hurst said:
So can I get away with only using one of these guys; or should I buy 2 of the less strong ones?

These are only recommended for 24"x24" so 1 will not work.

Joshua Hurst said:
My sump is so loud!!!! My dad is going to want as little noise as possible coming from filtration so advice is much needed!!

I'd recommend drilling it for a bean animal drain system. These can be set up to be very quiet.

Joshua Hurst said:
Starter fish- anyone have a few small cheap fish I could buy to cycle this system with?

I really recommend against cycling a tank this way. Beyond being harmful to the fish it just isn't a good way to do it. You really won't know when it is safe to add any future fish.
The best practice imo is to use a bottled bacteria product and pure ammonia. I would order Dr Tims One and Only, along with the Dr Tims ammonia chloride.
Both come with the directions you would need to follow, but once you can add enough ammonia chloride to get your ammonia to 2ppm and have it at 0ppm after 24 hours it is safe for fish. It's no more expensive than using fish, you don't end up with fish you may not want long term, and you aren't making any fish suffer. It should also take less than a week as opposed to the month or 2 just using fish.

Jason mack · Dec 28, 2016

+1 /\ I agree with brew

cee · Dec 28, 2016

Sacrifice expensive lights in favor of a sump / decent skimmer if funds are limited. The OR LEDs and other "black boxes" will suffice; I'd go with 2 over a 36" tank. Water quality is more important than light and I'd also reserve some funds for at least one, preferably two, "programmable" power heads for circulation. I wouldn't cycle with fish, shrimp or other ammonia sources are sufficient "food" for the bacteria. Heck, the die-off from some "live rock" is probably sufficient depending on which route you go. You really shouldn't need to buy anything to cycle a tank other the common grocery store items or what you'll find naturally on "live rock". If you do go with dry LR or "cooked" LR, just get a small piece of rock from a functioning reef tank and that's all the bacteria you'll need.

BTW, I'm "cheap" so I've figured out many ways to avoid buying all the "reef" products you see marketed for sale. More money for quality corals is my motto! I don't skimp on skimmers and circulation, though, and am skilled enough to modify cheap LED fixtures to meet my (and the corals') needs.

Joshua Hurst · Dec 28, 2016

cee said:
Sacrifice expensive lights in favor of a sump / decent skimmer if funds are limited. The OR LEDs and other "black boxes" will suffice; I'd go with 2 over a 36" tank. Water quality is more important than light and I'd also reserve some funds for at least one, preferably two, "programmable" power heads for circulation. I wouldn't cycle with fish, shrimp or other ammonia sources are sufficient "food" for the bacteria. Heck, the die-off from some "live rock" is probably sufficient depending on which route you go. You really shouldn't need to buy anything to cycle a tank other the common grocery store items or what you'll find naturally on "live rock". If you do go with dry LR or "cooked" LR, just get a small piece of rock from a functioning reef tank and that's all the bacteria you'll need.

BTW, I'm "cheap" so I've figured out many ways to avoid buying all the "reef" products you see marketed for sale. More money for quality corals is my motto! I don't skimp on skimmers and circulation, though, and am skilled enough to modify cheap LED fixtures to meet my (and the corals') needs.

Money isn't a problem, just a quite tank :/