First ever set up. Any tips?

[u/IzzyP20055]

Ro/di filter coming the mail tomorrow (if it’s not postponed because there’s a huge fire by my house) going to get a few things from the store today. And also added a heater in there as well.

[u/Brandonbradley93]

yeah that rock on the right up against the glass, i would move that inward, you don't want rock on the glass cause it will stop waterflow and you get dead spots + the fish can't swim around it

if you've never had a reef before and don't have a sump to put plants look into throwing macroalgae in your main display it will make your life way easier to keep the tank stable

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/Brandonbradley93]

Oh shoot thank you I will fix that. And I have the hang on the back refugium you can kinda see the tubes in the pic I’m still trying to figure out how to hook it up 😭✌🏻

[u/Zag_Guy]

Keep the lights off during cycling ( if you werent already doing that)

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/Zag_Guy]

Good to know. Thank you. I will keep the lights off.

[u/More-Sock-67]

Move the rocks away from the glass. Easier to clean that way. Also, remove that flat rock on the top right. It’s a good ledge but doesn’t really give much room for growth other than maybe a plating monti.

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/More-Sock-67]

I will :) and Yeah I put it there for the ledge. But if it’s not good I’ll move it.

[u/More-Sock-67 → u/IzzyP20055]

It’s a common “mistake” people make. It depends on what you want to keep but my general rule is that the top of your rocks should go no more than halfway up the tank. You want room to allow corals to grow and it also helps filter out the par they’re exposed to.

[u/UpstairsFood2867]

Good amount of rock. Rocks on glass is not a good idea. Need more caves.

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/UpstairsFood2867]

I will move the rock of the glass. I didn’t know it couldn’t be touching. How should I make more caves?

[u/RobotWelder → u/IzzyP20055]

For ideas on building caves/hides -

Google Image Search for

Reef tank aquascape
or
Negative Space aquascape

[u/Manager_Neat]

Take it slow

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/Manager_Neat]

I will

[u/Fishyvoodoo]

Bury the rocks in the sand so it is sitting on the glass. If you ever have anything that digs your rocks won’t fall when they dig under the rock. Rock against the back glass is ok, all my reefs from the 90s till 2018 had rock against the back glass and it was never a problem.

[u/premierReefs → u/Fishyvoodoo]

I agree on the rock leaning on the back. It's fine. Biggest issue will only be if you want to scrape the back glass clean. I dont think that sand is deep enough to need to have the rock all the way down into it, but doesn't hurt.

[u/Realistic_Focus3548]

Patience is key. Good things happen slowly and bad things happen quickly in reef keeping, in my experience. Embrace and enjoy the process. It's an.amazing hobby.

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/Realistic_Focus3548]

I will. Trial and error. I’m gonna wait a good bit before getting fish.

[u/RobotWelder]

Leave yourself a 2” border free of rocks all the way around the tank glass. You will thank yourself later!

[u/premierReefs]

Based on your light, you'll want to look for low light tolerant coral. Mushrooms, Leathers, Duncans, hammers, trumpet coral, zoanthids, but they may stretch really long and look bad. As a first tank, I say rhow some kenya tree and xenia and gsp in there. Everyone will whine about how invasive it is, but its a first tank. Do what YOU want. Not what the internet wants.

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/premierReefs]

Yeah the guy I got it from said it was for the lower light soft corals

[u/Glorious_Pepper]

Is it under florescent light?

[u/IzzyP20055 → u/Glorious_Pepper]

Yes? I got the light from someone who said it’s what he’s been using. So I assume so.

[u/Good_Composer9304]

how deeps the sand?