| Set Up Today!
Okay… the second post as promised. I really have read quite a lot here, but I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row for setting up my BioCube 8G this afternoon as a reef tank (no fish). Please accept my apologies for a long post… so sorry, but I want to get it right. This is the stuff arriving today from Premium Aquatics:
Mini-Jet 606 pump to replace stock pump.
Hydor FLO Rotating deflector.
Carib-Sea Arag-Alive Fifi pink sand.
Kaelini Tonga Ultra Show LR, fully cured – 10 lbs.
Kaelini Tonga Ultra Show LR, uncured – 4 lbs.
100 ml bag of Purigen
My plan thus far:
Filtration: Chamber 1: Filter cartridge pulled, overflow area into chamber 2 enlarged, Purigen bag and heater inserted.
Chamber 2: Bioballs out, LR rubble in, upper drip tray in with floss, lower drip tray left in for now to reserve space. Poss skimmer location in the future, maybe (if an 8 gal needs one)?
Chamber 3: Stock pump replaced (maybe use it for additional flow inside the tank?). Bag of Chemipure dropped in. Hydor –flo attached.
Water prep: Using distilled water initially; will get RO/DI filter as paycheck allows. Instant Ocean w/ salinity at proper specs.
Live Sand/LR prep: This is where I am in question more, because years ago I bought LR at my LFS. Rinse sand in clean SW and put about an inch (or more?) in tank? How does one rinse sand? Dump it in the bucket, swish it around, and pour the top water out? (told ya I was a noob). LR made into optimal sizes if necessary (hammer & chisel; I must love to make big messes, because I sure clean a lot of them up). Is it okay just to rinse and lightly brush the cured and uncured LR in clean SW? Just swish it around? I obviously got some uncured for the variety of critters & such.
Scaping: Sand in, LR arranged w/ min amt surface area in the sand; plenty of caves / crevices. Add SW & turn on. Once again I am sorry for the lengthy post! All future ones will be much briefer! Thank you very much.
Jim |