taking the plunge... maybe? or not?

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#1
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#1
so i have a 3 gallon eclipse system that i got for free from a friend who wasn't using it... i'm thinking about going salty with it. i'm not looking to make any crazy hasty moves, though, and i've been reading all the stickies and various threads and looking at other sites and trying to gather my thoughts. some questions i've come across...

-RO/DI water. i know what it is, but even for a pico system, it seems very expensive to have to use it every day (top offs etc). i don't own an RO system, and from what i know... they're expensive?? and i can't be buying gallons upon gallons of water constantly. several threads have said something to the effect of "..pH needs to be stable. i use RO/DI water..." but they never list alternatives to using RO water. are there any, or do you have to use RO/DI water to run a saltwater reef?

-lighting. is the standard eclipse lighting sufficient for low light corals such as mushrooms? not that i am *ANYWHERE* near thinking about corals, even within the year... but i am wondering if expensive lighting is in my future if i plan to have any coral in my tank eventually.

-salinity. this sounds silly but when i read about hydrometers and SG i feel dumbfounded. would that end of things start making more sense to me as i began making my salt water?

-current. would the eclipse filter (minus filter media, of course) create sufficient current, or would i need a powerhead as well?

-heater. right now i have a spare (cheap) heater which i believe is rated for five gallons or less. would that be sufficient? if not, why?

-the actual process. in very extremely over-simplified terms, goes something like this:
1)add sand
2)add (already mixed) salt water
3)begin running [empty] filter
4)add live rock
5)add inverts
6)add fish
7)add corals
or is it a different order? some things i read made it sound like it was ok/good to add the water and then the sand... but that sounds like a very messy process to me. others made me think the live rock goes before the sand? but that also doesn't sound right. again, i know my questions are stupid sounding, but i'm trying to wrap my head around all the elements before making any decisions.

advice/comments/thoughts suggestions welcome and appreciated!! ;)
 

J

JeLeAk

Large Fish
#2
Jan 4, 2005
491
0
0
40
Alaska
#2
i dont use RO/DI water, i can basically use tap water as is, RO/DI is for places that have poor quality tap water... i suggest using your faucet water and if for some reason you cant control algae then maybe you might want to look at buying bottled water by the 5-10 gallon size (i dont see how a RO/DI unit will be a reasonable buy in your sub 5 gallon size)

the eclipse filter should move enough water for what you are going to do... i am assuming a few small rocks a snail, hermit, and maybe a small fish

lighting will be fine for fish only with live rock (FOWLR) but if you want to add corals down the road, you can prob get away with replacing the incandescent light(i think thats what you have) and replace it with a compact fluorescent(the kind that you replace normal light bulbs with to save money) they put out a large amount of light for the size, will not heat the tank, and come in a wide spectrum of light

the heater should be fine, as long as it dosent malfunction and over heat the tank, or not heat it and freeze it


and yup thats the same process i did when i set up my nano, except i mixed the salt water in the tank before adding the sand, because i couldnt find a bucket to use that day


ohh yeah btw salinity, it dose seem kinda confusing but it is actually really simple, hydrometers are easy to use, but kinda a pain to use i have to test the water 3-4 times before i actually know what the salinity is... basically you dunk the hydrometer in the water it fills up, and the "dial" floats in the water, the more salt in the water the more it wants to go to the surface, and the less salt in the water the more it wants to sink, and on the side of the hydrometer is a set of numbers that are very easy to read, so once you actually start mixing and testing salt water you will prob laugh at how simple it actually is
 

B

BONGRIPPER0420

Small Fish
#3
Jan 1, 2007
44
1
0
cville, il
#3
set up should be a snap. the elclipse is a alright system. i would think of adding a small powerhead for added movement though. and i would also think of adding a refractometer to your list especially in a system that small when salinity could change at any time (with it neing that small and all).
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#4
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#4
thanks for the input guys. i'm still not rushing out to the store today, but i'm getting kind of excited, this is something i really want to do. i'll keep you updated!!
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#5
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#5
exciting update. :) i went to the lfs today, "just to look" (hahaha).. and i started my shopping. i bought marine salt (enough to make 10 gallons), a hydrometer (i'll think about a refractometer in the future, but not yet), and live sand. i know that live sand isn't needed because it becomes live once i add my live rock, but it's convenient... no rinsing, etc.. and it may give me a little head-start on my cycle before i go back for live rock. so i just finished rearranging a few things in my room and rinsing the eclipse out, and soon i'm gonna go make some sea water!! :D
 

C

CoolWaters

Superstar Fish
#7
Dec 10, 2006
1,028
1
0
Milpitas
#7
just let the tap water sit for a while so the chlorine doesnt kill everything.
if u dont use RO/DI water your risking a lot of algae blow outs.

3g as a start out for a SW? good luck 10g is already hell for me X.X

at least do a FOWLR for now. its cheaper too.
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#8
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#8
hehe yeah coolwaters, i know it's a challenge.. but i've done lots of reading and i'm taking it one step at a time. so far i've got water + dechlor + salt in the tank with the filter running. assuming i have the SG leveled out, i'm going to add the live sand in the morning.

and i'm certainly not adding any corals any time soon. hopefully eventually, but no time soon!!
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#9
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#9
A lot of people recommend adding the sand after the rock has cured. If you've got die off and debris from the rock, it's a lot easier to clean it off a barebottom tank than one with sand. As soon as the rock is cured, you can add the sand.

Cycling-wise, I doubt it willl make a big difference, but in a smaller tank, dirty sand will probably bother you.
 

C

CoolWaters

Superstar Fish
#10
Dec 10, 2006
1,028
1
0
Milpitas
#10
Lotus said:
A lot of people recommend adding the sand after the rock has cured. If you've got die off and debris from the rock, it's a lot easier to clean it off a barebottom tank than one with sand. As soon as the rock is cured, you can add the sand.

Cycling-wise, I doubt it willl make a big difference, but in a smaller tank, dirty sand will probably bother you.
Click to expand...

well it really depends on wat the person wants. the sand (depending on wat kind) clouds your tank and coats your live rock. but later settles and coats disappears after a while with good flow.

thats from experiance.

to put it simple the tank itself is a filter and the live rocks and sand is the filtering media. (never needs replacement)

but u would want a power head since is better then the filter. more natural currents.

right now all my tanks needs is food and WC (water changes)
and the occasional water top off.

i have a good light/heater/powerhead/LR/LS/ and the testing stuff.
thats the break down.

and the most important thing that keeps your live stock alive is...






















food...:rolleyes:
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#11
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#11
i've got sea water and 5 lbs of live sand in my tank thus far. i'm beginning to agree that the stock filter isn't going to be enough water movement... how do i fit a powerhead into my eclipse 3, any tips? and where can i get a cheap one? :eek:

the water is still very cloudy and at first it was freaking me out but then i read it can take 4 or so days to completely calm down. it looked like it had mostly settled, but there was salt/sand on the sides of the tank, so i used a (new) toothbrush to get some of it off.. now it's all murky again.

i'm excited to get live rock.. can i go get it now, or are there reasons i should wait? til the "fog" clears, etc?
 

C

CoolWaters

Superstar Fish
#12
Dec 10, 2006
1,028
1
0
Milpitas
#12
if u put in live rock while its cloudy then its going to get the live rock dusty but it goes away after a while.

theres powerheads and pumps made just for nanos. there really small like the rio 50 which is like less then 2" big.

careful where u aim the powerhead if it kicks up sand then its going to take a couple of hours for it to settle down again.
 

J

JeLeAk

Large Fish
#13
Jan 4, 2005
491
0
0
40
Alaska
#13
yup yup, the good thing about the nano sized powerheads is they are all super cheep so even if there is a steal of a deal your only going to save like $3 vs a LFS(that is if they normally carry that kinda stuff)
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#14
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#14
sweet, glad to hear the nano power heads are cheap :D i will have to find one this week or next..

i put 4 lbs of live rock in my tank and it looks great!! it seemed to help clear the water up, but that was probably a coincidence, lol. either way, the water itself is really clear now... although there is still stuff stuck to the sides of the tank.

i'll try to get some pics!!
 

TRe

TRe

Elite Fish
#15
Feb 20, 2005
3,645
1
0
ft. lauderdale
#15
as for r/o were talking about a 3 gallon tank here splurge the .75 cents a gallon a do whats right for your tank :eek: .... that is unless your tap water tests out...youll defintly need a power head a small one will do ..... and my prediction is that way before your ready for corals youl be looking to upgrade on that tank *crazysmil btw what were yur plans on this tank?? i know it said fowlr but what??
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#16
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#16
well it's not that i mind spending the 75 cents, it's just that it seems like over time water changes would get pricey... as for my tap water, high pH=good, right? i haven't ran my tests yet but i do know our water has pretty high pH in general. but we'll see.

as for plans, pretty simple.. possibly a blue legged hermit, an astrea (sp?) snail, 1 shrimp (either a cleaner... or maybe a peppermint shrimp, isn't that what the bright red ones are called?), and a goby - probably a clown goby. certainly FOWLR for now. and as for upgrades, we'll see, but for now i really like it as is.

the tank is looking really great, the water seems to have settled... i have my test kit but i haven't run tests yet as i'd planned to because i apparently have a herniated disk in my back... ugh.
 

jessey

jessey

Large Fish
#17
Dec 25, 2006
548
0
0
37
Tampa, FL
#17
just to give this thread a little *bump*...

i tested my water today:
pH 7.8
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate <5

5 lbs live sand
4 lbs live rock

it's looking really good except for some algae starting to form on the front wall... sooo... i went and picked up a red scarlett hermit and a turbo snail. :D hooray. they are already exploring the tank... my lfs didn't seem to have any astrea snails. i said that i'd heard turbo snails get big, and the employee there said that it wouldn't outgrow it's shell... if he's a liar i'll just have to trade this guy in when he gets too big.

i ordered the azoo 200 powerhead from fish.com today... anyone use this powerhead? how is it? i probably should have asked for recommendations before i ordered it.. oh well, too late now. ;)
 

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