Upcoming 36 gal Bowfront reef build

[bigjepp]

First time saltwater tank
- Top Fin 36 gallon bowfront tank
- Fluval 307 Canister filter
- 35 lbs of dry reef rock
- Heater, power heads, and new lighting on the way
- Will be adding live sand and water to begin cycle soon, any advice appreciated

 

[nereefpat]

Welcome!

What are your plans for the tank? Reef?

 

[bigjepp]

Welcome!

What are your plans for the tank? Reef?

Thank you! Glad to be here.
Yes, it’s going to be a reef tank but I won’t be adding corals until the tank is very stabile, I’m thinking about doing the 4-month cycle but any advice is appreciated. I plan to start with a pair of clowns and a yellow watchman goby with a cleaner shrimp.

 

[count krunk]

Do you want this thread to be your build thread? If so a mod could move it for you. Linking it in your profile under the right area gets you the build thread contributor badge.

 

[nereefpat]

Clowns, goby, and cleaner shrimp is a great start.

I'm not sure what a 4-month cycle is? It should only take a month or so. You'll have to add some source of ammonia.

I would add a black background

 

[count krunk]

First thought is that those lights do not look sufficient. What are they?

 

[count krunk]

Ahh I see new equipment is on the way. What equipment did you get?

 

[bigjepp]

Do you want this thread to be your build thread? If so a mod could move it for you. Linking it in your profile under the right area gets you the build thread contributor badge.

Definitely, I tried to add the build thread tag but I’m new here so not sure how everything works quite yet, thanks!

 

[bigjepp]

Ahh I see new equipment is on the way. What equipment did you get?

2 Cheap heaters, 2 Hydor Koralia power heads ( 1 240gph , 1 565 gph), Ocean Revive T247B

 

[bigjepp]

Clowns, goby, and cleaner shrimp is a great start.

I'm not sure what a 4-month cycle is? It should only take a month or so. You'll have to add some source of ammonia.

I would add a black background

Here is where I saw the 4-month cycle:

I am looking into adding the black background right now, what’s the best way to go about that?

 

[count krunk]

I would get a heater controller, like the inkbird, for those two heaters

 

[count krunk]

Spray paint makes a great background

 

[bigjepp]

I would get a heater controller, like the inkbird, for those two heaters

Okay, is there any heaters you would recommend? I could always downgrade these to my RODI water storage if I were to upgrade

 

[count krunk]

BRS has videos on the subject. Generally what they sell is decent at worse. I just got 150w jagers from them as my cobalt neotherm failed and doesn't heat anymore.

They are doing the job.

 

[bigjepp]

Welcome!

What are your plans for the tank? Reef?

Ahh I see new equipment is on the way. What equipment did you get?

Hey guys, I'm going to be grabbing a few more things today. Im not quite sure which sand to get. I will most likely be getting caribsea arag-alive sand as thats whats on sale near me but I am not sure which grain to get and how much I will need. I really like the bahamas oolite look but have read the horror stories of cloud storms so I was leaning towards the fiji pink. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[bigjepp]

Also the light came in so I will be posting pics of that soon

 

[Reeferman47]

Nice! I'm glad you got into the hobby! Some nice first additions are a pair of clowns and a shrimp. I would put some Fritz Turbo-start Saltwater. The fish will be the source of ammonia. I hope this helps you out in the first couple months of your tank. I hope the tank goes well for you.

-Reeferman47

 

[bigjepp]

Nice! I'm glad you got into the hobby! Some nice first additions are a pair of clowns and a shrimp. I would put some Fritz Turbo-start Saltwater. The fish will be the source of ammonia. I hope this helps you out in the first couple months of your tank. I hope the tank goes well for you.

-Reeferman47

Hey there! I appreciate the support, everything seems to be coming along nicely. I'm planning to begin the cycle in a few days with Dr. Tims one and only. Would you be able to recommend a caribsea grain size for my substrate? I am also shopping for an affordable ato so any recommendations there would be great. Thanks in advance!

 

[bigjepp]

UPDATE: Ocean Revive T247 lighting came in and it’s looking great. Too bad I’ll have to turn it off for a while during my cycle. I could use advice on the intensity levels at some point from anyone that has any experience with this light or general recommendations. I’ll try to look around and find a par meter because I understand that is the best method. The other equipment came in as well, 1 565gph Hydor Koralia powerhead and 1 20 Lbs bag of Fiji Pink Caribsea Arab-alive. I have also been curing my dry reef rock with some bacteria in a 30 gallon brute with a heater and power head. Still no black background but we will get there.

 

[Reeferman47]

I would get carib sea shells substrate, I love it and so do my wrasses. It is great stuff!

-Reeferman47