Just Bought A Huge Tank

[bitfishy]

I've taken the plunge and bought a 5'X2'X2' tank with a big sump and now we've manhandled it into the house it both thrills and terrifies me!! Currently have a 28 ~UK gall tall tank which has never quite worked - so this time I'm going to try and do it right from the start rather then jump in and try to cure problems after the event!!

So, I have a few basic questions to start with, which I hoped you guys could help with. Its a second hand tank and I'm not going to be able to test for leaks (I'm not taking it down the steps to be outside again), but the seller seemed like a genuine guy so I'm going to trust him (lol - cutting corners ALREADY).

Anyway, I do want to replace the seals on the plumbing and wondered if there was a specific type of sealer that's recommended for tanks or would standard stuff found in DIY shops do the job. Its really for the pipework taking the water to and from the tank and for the hole at teh base of the tank which you can currently turn the fixture within - and hence I feel may not be watertight - although there are washers there - maybe this is normal.

Secondly I want a fairly deep sand bed for the future and bearing in mind that I live by the sea it seems a little silly to fork out for sand. If I washed it thoroughly and perhaps added some of my own mature sand on top and maybe a bag of live sand from the LFS would this be OK?

Also, I've bought seperately a 3ft 4X39W T5 fixture - I think its known as retrofit these days - it has individual reflectors etc - would this be enough? I don't plan to keep hard corals, but would like sone clams. Obviously the 'reef' could only stretch the 3ft, which suits me fine. I really don't want to get into MH mainly because of the expense and because I'm hoping to move to those LED's at some point in the future if they turn out to be as good as they seem.

Oh and one more thing the guy who sold ne the tank gave me a load of spare bio balls which had been sat in the cupboard and which he used in the cavity that's created by the erm..... plastic grid thing which kinda houses the wier........... (am i making any sense here). ANYWAY, the point I'm trying to get to is are these balls OK to just throw in? do I have to do anything with them? I've never run a filter before so this is new territory for me. Do they need periodic cleaning and what do they do that a skimmer doesn't?

Jeez I sound like a fool..

Thanks everyone

 

[SkiFletch]

Well first the seals in the tank. You're referring to the bulkheads I think. If so, it's never a bad idea to seal them. Are these bulkheads part of a closed loop system, or for a Durso standpipe leading to a sump underneath? Either way, sealing bulkheads shoudl be done with either aquarium sealant, or a silicone glue WITHOUT any anti-fungals in it. If you're not sure what those are and how to pick them out, just go with the aquarium sealant

Your sand plan sounds OK. I'd wash it THOROUGHLY first. Then I'd let it soak in a bucket full of water overnight, draining and re-filling it a few times. Lastly I'd boil it to make sure you killed any nasties in it. Using your old sand is a great idea. Finally, don't bother with "live" sand from your LFS, there's about as much life in one of those bags as there is in your favorite Zombie movie...

As far as lighting goes, that's really on the low side for something like a clam. I'd say a 4x54watt setup would be OK, or perhaps a 6x39 watt setup might do the trick. At 2' deep, you'd HAVE to have the clam up very high in the rock stack, almost near the surface.

And hey, where's the pics?

 

[5teady_2012]

big jump to a 125 gallon tank but i wish you all the best with it and look forward to seeing some pics

 

[bitfishy]

Finally, don't bother with "live" sand from your LFS, there's about as much life in one of those bags as there is in your favorite Zombie movie...

Thanks for the tip!!

Bulkheads.... closed loop..... I don't know what I've got to be quite honest - however I'm pretty much sure its not closed loop - can't remember what it is but I did read up on it in the past and I'm pretty sure thats not it. I will research again, but not tonight.... Basically a corner of the tank has been cordoned off and behind the screen is a hole in the bottom through which the water drains to the sump and is then pumped back up via a seperate pump. Will get pics.

erm just out of interest why is this 'a big step'? I mean I know its bigger, bigger water changes, lots of cash for start up bits etc, but TBH ~I was hoping the sump element was actually going to make my life easier!! miracle mud, caluerpa etc BYE BYE phosphates/nitrates hello euphillia, pods and lots of lovely fishes. Please explain!!

Shame about the lighting situation, will hold off on the clam for now, am I right in thinking that this lighting would be sufficient for a torch coral - this is important because my clarkii need something to host - they been quite stroppy since the last one died.

thanks for your help

 

[SkiFletch]

You're right, the up-front work is much larger (both in time and investment), but once it's going, the tank is much easier to take care of .

Also, consider hammers or frogspawns as an alternative to the torch. Most accounts indicate they're a little more hardy than that torch

 

[Musho3210]

Most accounts do, during my short crash i had about a year ago in my smaller tank, my torch made it through relatively unharmed, my frogspawn died unfortunately.

 

[chrissaysyes]

I have also seen a lot more people have success with frogspawn that torch, however in my case it's been the exact opposite. I just cant seem to keep frogspawn thriving nearly as well as my torch.