Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide Revision October 22, 2019 brought to you by ReefGiants.com Recommended Equipment (if applicable to the Step) Step # Action Notes / Dependencies Good Better Best I know you might be eager to dive in and have a tank with livestock, but you must first be willing to spend time learning. Specifically, four things:

1) Watch some YouTube videos about the Nitrogen Cycle until you understand its importance. 2) Accept the fact that you will be buying your water from your local fish store, and not trying to normalize tap water yourself. 1 LEARN! 3) Accept the fact that you must do things in sequence (for example, rock before sand, cycling before fish, etc. 4) Go spend some time talking to an expert at your local fish store about your ambitions before you commit to a specific path.

(Recommended YouTube Channels for Learning: BulkReefSupply, Aaron's Aquarium and Inappropriate Reefer) N/A N/A N/A

Great! So you've done a lot of learning, absorbed information from online as well as spoken to reps at your local fish store. By this point you should have realized that starting and maintaining a saltwater tank is a significant monetary investment and time investment. Also, it requires a decent work ethic and a lot of patience to stick with it, as there are repetative maintenance tasks that you will need to do every week and month to keep your tank healthy.

Consider all these things, and that the path ahead of you is a marathon, not a 2 COMMIT! sprint, then make the decision to commit or not. At this point, you have ask yourself what you want to get out of this - Do I want to spend only a little amount of money and do a one-time setup with little to no maintenance? If so, then I recommend a small 3-10 gallon freshwater aquarium with a beta tetra. If you truly are in it for the long game, and have the patience to go through these steps (read below) then continue on my fellow reefer!

<< This is your last chance to back out without having spent any $$ yet >> N/A N/A N/A

Find something used on Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist, Buy something new at your local Some DIY enthusiasts have a Estate/Garage sale, or a friend! pet or fish store. Prices can vary larger budget than I do, and can wildly depending on the build go full-on modern and high-tech, I got this used 55 gallon aquarium quality, features and look that you buying turnkey setups from 3 Aquire the Tank! Choose a tank that is to your liking and that fits your lifestyle, and obviously your with filter, wood cabinet, wood are desiring. This might be companies such as Red Sea. budget. Keep in mind, the size of your tank drives a lot of other budgeting top, dual LED hoods, fish net, somewhere in the $200-$1,000 Some of these tank setups, with elements: How much sand is needed, how much water is needed, amount of fake plants, fake log, and 2" layer range though, most come with built-in sump/filtration systems, aquascaping, etc. The larger it is, the more expensive and higher-capacity other of gravel for $180 light hoods, filters and some and additional features can range hardware will need to be to keep up with your eco-system. starter accessories. from $800 up to $10,000

I got this used 55 gallon aquarium with filter, wood cabinet, wood top, dual LED hoods, fish net, fake plants, fake log, and 2" layer Marineland Heartland LED Red Sea MAX S-650 LED of gravel for $180 Aquarium & Stand Ensemble, 60 COMPLETE REEF SYSTEM LINK: ReefGiants.com Blog Post titled, "Choose A Tank That Fits Your Lifestyle" Gallon (170 GAL)

1 Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

Canister (these are a step up from HOB filters, a touch more expensive, but are quieter and out of sight. Also, you'll never get that 'waterfall/trickle' sound like HOB filters do when the water is too low, but since you don't get that auditory reminder with Sump: Thse are usually the best Canisters then you'll just need to option, albeit the most pricey 4 Acquire a Filter be more dilligent about keeping ones. These 'miniature tanks' your water levels up. However, be provide versatility in placing all aware that canister filters can your equipment below your tank Filters remove impurities from the water so that your fish do not become sick, or cause nitrate build up if not in this (heater, bio filter, protein bogged down with ammonia and other harmful build-up. These come in three main Hang On Back (these are usually preoperly monitored and for skimmer, etc), instead of in or on formats: Hang On Back, Canister and Sump. These increase in complexity and the cheapest option, and will do larger tanks they are a non-starter the tank, as well as allows for prices as you move from left to right, but that doesn't necessarily mean that for the job well, yet can be noisier since they cannot handle a fast better flow and prevents less your setup, a Sump is the best option, especially if you are doing a smaller nano than other filter options like enough flow when compared to build up from harmful reef (10 gallon or less). Canister or Sump) sumps. contaminants. Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor 400 Aquarium Power Filter, 80- Trigger Systems Sapphire Sump gal Fluval FX-4 Canister Filter 26

While I'd try to find you the cheapest one possible for this column, I am not going to skimp on a heater. You still need to To be frank though, there's really have something reliable and of not much variance between Every tank needs a heater, or two depending on the size, to make sure your fish quality so your livestock doesn't cheap and fancier heaters, other 5 Acquire a Heater are comfortable. You want to keep your water temperatures at an even keel, with die. Remember, you can always than specific bells and whistles I as little fluctuation as possible. Keep this in mind when placing your aquarium: Did buy more than one, depending on would consider unecessary. For you put it in an area that varies between warm and cold pretty often? Did you put your tank's size, which I prefer for example, this one link below has the tank upstairs where the AC unit has a harder time cooling? Did you place it redundancy purposes, rather than A step up from the basic heater, a magnetic mounting system and somewhere that you won't frequent, and so your livestock may be too hot or cold, buying one lager one that can Cobalt is considered to be a clearer visual readout, which are yet it is out of sight out of mind? Kep all of these things at the forefront when handle a bigger tank - that's a recommended brand by many cool but unecessary features in placing your tank. Now, on to heaters - my advice, keep it simple. single point of failue. vendors and hobbyists alike. my opinion.

2 Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide Revision October 22, 2019 brought to you by ReefGiants.com Recommended Equipment (if applicable to the Step) Step # Action Notes / Dependencies Good Better Best Bulk Reef Supply TITANIUM AQUARIUM HEATER Eheim Jager Trutemp Aquarium Cobalt NEO-THERM SYSTEM WITH MAGNETIC Heater SUBMERSIBLE HEATER MOUNT

If you bought a tank in this Paint the Back of Your Tank category, it likely came with a 6 The standard background color for reef tanks is black. This makes the lifestock black back already, or you have Black and aquascaping pop. However, the typical plastic/sheet won't do, so it is Read our Reef Giants blog post HERE on what materials you need some custom setup that doesn't recommended to paint the back of your tank black. and I accomplished this on my own! require painting anything youself.

Found/random rocks: You can use your own rocks by all means, but just know that found rock needs to be washed thoroughly. At this point you are ready to aquascape your tank. This basically means create Also, some rock types can the internal layout (rock + sand) that you would like your livestock to have (you change the chemistry of your Reef Rock: This is synthentic live can do this before or after you add water, but I recommend doing it before so you water in your tank. Limestone can rock that has had a short simlated Aquascaping Part 1: Add 7 can make sure your rock is sitting flush on the base of your tank. First you'll want raise the aragonite levels, while Reef Saver Dry Live Rock life in freshwater then saltwater Rock to place your rocks in the formation you like, gluing them together with IC Gel others might containtoxic metals, (budget): Reef Saver is a for multiple weeks/months to build (available from BulkReefSupply.com). so be careful of using randomly sustainable product since it is not up beneficial bacteria. These found rocks. This is definitely the taken directly from the ocean and rocks are typically colored to For longer tanks, you typically want to build an arch (for the fish) and an island (for cheapest option, since you can does not impact living coral reef match the beautiful real reef rock your corals and mushrooms). Check our the blog post on ReefGiants.com about spend little to no money, but you structures in any form. These are you'd see if you were out diving in creating a cardboard template of the tank with taped off margin areas before have to know what you are doing typically much cheaper than other the ocean, so their price is usually attempting to finaluze your aquascape. Some people do this directly in their empty or you will kill off your livestock, fancier reef rock since their basic about double that of the Reef tank, but I find that using the template was much more helpful and convenient. and waste a lot of hard work. nature keeps their price low. Saver rock. Note: I used to recommed Wet/Damp Live Rock but I do not anymore, and here's why: Live Rock is sold by local fish stores, and is typically harvested from the ocean. These rocks are usually cured and contain beneficial bacteria, but you should be careful as they may contain organisms that you may not want, or did not expect to be hitching a ride along. Go to ReefGiants.com and read Brian's post about the Mantis Shrimp Massacre of 1997 when he had an unexpected hithiker kill off much of his livestock. So, while live rock can help cycle the tank to give you MarcoRocks REEF SAVER Real Reef Solutions 55 POUNDS a head start, it sometimes may not be worth it.) (N/A) AQUARIUM DRY LIVE ROCK REAL REEF ROCK - NANO

LINK: Don't forget your IC-Gel (non-toxic glue needed to secure your rocks together as part of your aquascaping): IC-GEL INSTA CURE CYANOACRYLATE GEL

3 Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

You can get many types of cheap Sand (The "Better and Best" options are both the same price, so it's just a matter sand (inert play sand, blasting of color preference, if you're wanting light or dark). Also keep in mind, using live sand, pool filter sand, etc) but just Aquascaping Part 2: Add 8 sand products will help your tank health and nitrogen process/cycle work well. For be sure to wash it thoroughly, and Sand now, stay away from CaribSea's "Ocean Direct" product line. Their other stuff is read up online first about it. Even great, and leading the industry but while the Ocean Direct products are supposed if you want to go cheap, make to contain more beneficial bacteria, they have other caveats related to sure it's something that won't be Live Sand is a better choice, and is specifical designed for the health cloudiness/maintenance difficults and are not yet mastered. toxic to your fish. of your tank's lifestock and water fidelity. Process: After you fnish creating your rock structures, and get them all glued together, and placed in your tank, then you can put the sand around the rock aquascape. The reason it is better to put the rock in before the sand, is to be sure your rock is securely on the tank floor, as well as to prevent your livestock/burrowers from tipping and edge or getting under the structure. Of course, you can put your rock in after your water and sand, you will just need to dig it in, and be ok getting your water cloudy in the process, which will take at least Black Diamond Fine Blasting CaribSea FIJI PINK ARAG- CaribSea HAWAIIAN BLACK half a day to settle. Sand ALIVE! LIVE REEF SAND ARAG-ALIVE! LIVE REEF SAND

At this point you want to add your water and let it cycle (i.e. filter turned on). You can purify and normalize tap water, but I am not going to recommend it. Cities are Make your own saltwater home required to dump heavy amounts of chrlorine and other chemicals into their water Buy Saltwater from your Local mixer (this is a bit complicated, supply to preent bacterial outbreaks, and many times the products used to purify Fish Store (prices will vary, but I and I have never done it, so I am the water, might remove the chrlorine, but not be good enough to break do the was told for a 55gallon tank they simply linking to a how-to doc 9 Add Water and LET IT CYCLE! chloromine bonds, and have difficulty with removal of other harmful chemicals (e. would charge $71 if I picked it up online). You can also purchase g. nickle). For this reason, plus the fact that many cities do a 'chlorine dump' myself. If I hired them to come to RODI systems that will hook into multiple times a year causing you to really have to be on your game, constantly my house and fill it for me, it the water line of your house and measuring your levels to prevent killing your livestock, I simply do not recommend RODI Water + Premade All-In- would be an extra $100 for the produce your own suitable even trying to make tap water work. One Purifier and Salt Additives labor, for a total of $171) aquarium water base. Note: For the first "Good" option, you will need to use RODI (Reverse Osmosis Distilled) water, not tap water. If you cannot afford your own RO setup at home, then you can buy gallon of RODI water at Walmart (usualy they are in the gallons with the pink cap, and will just say "Drinking Water"). However, be sure to check the labels closely, it should say something to the effect of "purified through reverse osmosis filtration". They cost about $0.85 USD/gal.

Also keep in mind, you'll need to have RODI in perpetuity for the remainder of the life of your tank, since this is the water you will use for top-offs when the level gets low. Remember, when water from your tank evaoprates, the salt doen't evaoprate with it, thus as your water level goes down, your alkalinity goes up. The recommended range for alkalinity in reef aquariums is between 142-215ppm or 8- 12 dKH, so you need to add RODI water when topping off to keep it low enough to not kill of your livestock. Fish and corals are very sensitive to the salt levels, and small percentage differences in salt and other chemical/temperature changes can kill off your entire ecosystem. If this last paragraph makes you nervous, then read up more on it, and watch some YouTube videos from BRS or Aaron's Aquarium to build your confidence level before trying to do the "Good" or "Best" options LINK: MarineDepot's 5 Simple yourself. The "Better" option here for this step will actually give you the least TropicMarin PRO REEF SALT Steps To Making Your Own amount of worry for beginniers since the work is taken care of for you. MIX (Variable, just call them to ask) Saltwater

4 Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

Cut up a raw shrimp and throw it in your tank once a week. This will start to break down into ammonia, and kick off the nitrogen cycle in your tank. Since you don't have any livestock in At this point you have cycled your water (for at least 3-4 weeks hopefully) and are your tank at this point, be sure to 10 Start your Nitrogen Cycle! ready to add your livestock. However, your water is just saltware, and there isno manually clean up the raw pieces healthy nitrogen cycle occuring in your tank. Perhaps you used live sand, or live left over after at the end of the rock, and it's kinda already going, but what you'll want to do at this point is use week with your net. Do this for 3- Turbo Start. I recommend using turbo start istad of another method to build 4 weeks to build up a solid up/break down ammonia in your tank since it allows you to add your fish at the nitrogen process, and remember, Use Turbo Start to prime your tank water before addition of your same time/shortly after. I would use the "Better/Best" option here, and only try the this whole time your filter should wildlife. This is the more modern method than the first option, and is "Good" method (shrimp pieces) if you absolutely want to go au-naturale and be a be running to continue cycling generally held by most hobbyists and fish store reps to be a safe true explorer. your water. method. WATCH: Aaron's Aquarium - The Nitrogen Cycle (Check your local grocery store) FritzZyme Turbo Start 900 Saltwater

5 Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide Revision October 22, 2019 brought to you by ReefGiants.com Recommended Equipment (if applicable to the Step) Step # Action Notes / Dependencies Good Better Best Hopefully you find something used on Facebook Marketplace or Craiglist. Or, perhaps when you bought your tank it came with a basic light/hood setup that should be sufficient for you to get started.

Some people can get a bit carried away with lighting, and spend more time and However, there are many decent money on it, yet neglect the health of their tank, water, chemicals, filtering, etc. options for lighting that you can 11 Add Lighting Keep in mind, while having a cool light is nice, try to think of what is most choose if you want to get a important first (all the above items) before investing heavy amounts of money in a healthy reef light that will be fancy light. suitable for both fish and coral, without breaking the bank. When For example, while I would love a fancy $500+ coral LED light setup, my used I thought of this I was reminded of This light is a go-to by many setup came with dual white LED hoods. That will be fine for now, especially if I a video by Innapropriate Reefer hobbyists working on a budget, have fish only. I won't need the red and blue lighting for corals just yet, so I can where he builds a sub-$200 nano but is by no means cheap. Of course, if you are picking ease into it and work my way up to that. Last word on the topic...check your reef, and finds a decent light, so I However, the light quality put out options from this column, and can priorities and don't care more about your light than having healthy water for your am linking the product he used by this product will beat many swing for the fences, why not go fish. here. ohers in this same price range. big... Maxspect 48" Recurve 120 LED AquaKnight A029 LED Light Kessil A80 LED Light Fixture

While I'd try to find you the cheapest one possible for this column, I am not going to skimp on a heater. You still need to To be frank though, there's really have something reliable and of not much variance between Every tank needs a heater, or two depending on the size, to make sure your fish quality so your livestock doesn't cheap and fancier heaters, other 12 Add a Heater are comfortable. You want to keep your water temperatures at an even keel, with die. Remember, you can always than specific bells and whistles I as little fluctuation as possible. Keep this in mind when placing your aquarium: Did buy more than one, depending on would consider unecessary. For you put it in an area that varies between warm and cold pretty often? Did you put your tank's size, which I prefer for example, this one link below has the tank upstairs where the AC unit has a harder time cooling? Did you place it redundancy purposes, rather than A step up from the basic heater, a magnetic mounting system and somewhere that you won't frequent, and so your livestock may be too hot or cold, buying one lager one that can Cobalt is considered to be a clearer visual readout, which are yet it is out of sight out of mind? Kep all of these things at the forefront when handle a bigger tank - that's a recommended brand by many cool but unecessary features in placing your tank. Now, on to heaters - my advice, keep it simple. single point of failue. vendors and hobbyists alike. my opinion. Bulk Reef Supply TITANIUM AQUARIUM HEATER Eheim Jager Trutemp Aquarium Cobalt NEO-THERM SYSTEM WITH MAGNETIC Heater SUBMERSIBLE HEATER MOUNT

6 Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide by Reef Giants Plan Steps

Connor's DIY Saltwater Reef Tank Setup Guide Revision October 22, 2019 brought to you by ReefGiants.com Recommended Equipment (if applicable to the Step) Step # Action Notes / Dependencies Good Better Best At this point, you've completed the above steps, and you technically should be ready to add your first livestock, likely something less expesive such as a fish or two to test the waters. However, before doing this, I recommend you do an external/3rd party check to make sure you're ready:

Take a sample of your water to the local fish store and have them run a test on it. This may cost a doallr or two. They will give you numbers that tell a story about Pre-Livestock Final Check: the health of your water. If you are off on any important levels (phosphates, 13 alkalinity, calcium, etc) then they can made contextual suggestions to guide you Local Fish Store on what you need to do next to remedy any issues. Or, they can give you the green light to proceed to adding wildlife. If you get back undesirable results, I encourage you to take the advice and if it's an obious miss then fix it, but if you want a second opinion, post on the Reef2Reef.com community forum and ask other hobbyists if they agree with the local fish store rep's recommendations. There are some advanced experts on there that can really give it to you straight, and help cut through and possible sale pitched the LFS rep wrapped the numbers in, if that occured. N/A N/A N/A

At this point, you've got what I believe is a tank that is ready to add livestock to. I recommend starting with fish, not corals, eels, sharks or anything else fancy. 14 Add Your First Livestock! While those things are cool, they take an intermedia to advanced level of skill to maintain. Damsel ($5-10) Clown Fish ($20-25) Tang ($50-55)

LINK: Beginning Saltewater Fish - Here is a list of good starter fish that won't break the bank if they happen to die in your new tank. Some of these should be available at your local fish store. I do NOT recommend ordering any livestock online.