Basic Questions ... aka Stupid questions we all SHOULD know, but don't

[PJ]

Hi,

My son and I just set up our 40g reef tank, with 25 lbs of LS. Our LR is on order. We'll be getting about 50 lbs.

Our tank, which we got 2nd hand from our LFS, who is very helpful by the way, was set up last night.

My Stupid Question. Just how MUCH water should we be putting in the tank?

Our tank has a built in wet/dry. I suggested that we fill the tank only to the point where the overflow would have the water run into the wet / dry.

My teenage son, however, insistend that we fill the tank past the overflow line, until the wet dry level equalled the tank level.

Well, when we awoke this morning the wet dry overflow line had completely filled our drain bucket, and was overflowing onto the carpet.

Q?

Doe it sound like we (1) just put too much !@#$#$%%^& water in the tank, or (2) our wet'dry isn't workikng properly?

I'm at a loss.

BTW, we are going to return to the LFS this evening.

I'd just like to hear from you, the experts.

Thanks so much,

PJ

[gregt]

1. Turn off all your pumps.
2. Wait until the tank stops draining into the wet dry.
3. Fill the wet dry up to about an inch short of the top (with the pumps still off
4. Turn on the pumps.
5. Wait until the system has time to equalize (a couple of minutes)
6. Mark the water level with a piece of masking or electrical tape on the outside of the wet dry

You can now use the tape marking to know how high you can fill the wet dry without turning off the pumps.

[PJ]

Greg,

Thanks for the suggestions. They worked.

We now have our 40g running.

I have some questions about Live Rock.

I have ordered 45 lbs of LR, which should arrive next week.

At this point, we have the tank running with 20 lbs of live sand, and ten hermit crabs just running around having a great time.

I've read a lot of the TRT forums, and would like to know your ideas about the following:

1. I want to cycle the tank with LR. When the LR arrives should I be putting all 45 lbs in, or add it in stages?

2. Do I have to do anything for the LR once it's in the tank?

3. I see some people put the LR on PVC stands. Do you recommend the PVC support idea?

4. Some people say they drill holes in the PVC pieces. Is this a good idea? Is it to benefit water circulation, or some other reason.

5. We'll be going to our LFS sometime this week to order our lighting. We want to set up a reef tank, and eventually put in some corals. But I'd say at this point we will start with FOWLR. From what I've read, VHO seems to be good to start.

Got any good ideas on what type of system we could start with, understanding that at some point we'd like to try some corals.

Thanks for your help.

PJ
2/18/04
12:03pm

If any other want to give me some feedback I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks TRT !