Red sea max 130

[Prawn-Head]

Ok, I pick up the new addition on Sat. Need some ideas on set up.
Ok, its a second hand red sea max 130 ,empty. Need to know best sandto be using, how much live rock and how should i be setting up the filter?
I would really like to have the finished tank as a showcase for nice colours of corals and rock with some active couloful fish to keep things interesting. Wanting to do a no rushed build in progress and time is no restraint. Would like to take time to complete a fantastic build but cant prommise i wont get overexcited.
Lets do it!

[neilanh]

For sand I recommend dry aragonite sand. And you'll want 1-2lbs of Live Rock per gallon as well.

What kind of lighting do you have?

[Henry405]

I've only recently heard of the red sea max tanks and I'm so jealous! Did you get everything from the seller? hood, stand, filter, lights?

[Prawn-Head]

Yes its a complete red sea max 130, standard lighting, i am looking at upgrading the skimmer intake to the 130d and adding ventilation fans before filling.
Will keep you guys updated on the build as it happens

[hackteck]

I just recently heard about those tanks pretty good deal

[kurtyboh]

yeah ive been looking for a used one for a while seems lots of people have been hearing about them recently as they keep getting picked up by someone other than me...
but cant wait to see your build!

[Henry405]

I would pick one up too, but I don't have that kind of money how much did it cost you?

[kurtyboh]

They're not badly priced on cl if you're one of the lucky ones.

[Henry405]

never saw one in my area

[kurtyboh]

Use searchtempest and you can look at many areas surrouning yours a $300 rsm may be worth a daytrip... At least it would imo

Forgot the $ sign

[kurtyboh]

Oh yeah and you know about fishless cycling right?

[Henry405]

$500 is cheapest and its 200 miles away, I guess I'll just have to save money for the future

[kurtyboh]

Even at 200 miles away youre saving
A buck a mile... Just thought id point that out but i understand completely

[Prawn-Head]

Mine has cost$450 Au.and is complete with full marie test kit,refractometer and some plakkie water containers and i only have to travel 30km to pick it up. Now comes the search for good live rock, have found red sea argonite for $85 and have a guy just starting shop with corals only that he dives for himself from the Northern Terrotory so might give him a look.
Yes know a bit about fishless cycle, is there anywhere that has full details as how to do step by step and what to look out for?

[kurtyboh]

Theres a sticky at the top of the page which has articles in it one of them has a great step by step process for fishless cycling i tried to link it but my ipod sjowed something else.... Any how hipe it helps

[hackteck]

here this should help you out Cycle your salt tank

[Henry405]

After you read about cycling with the shrimp, one advice is to use only the amount the article told you to. I used too much shrimp and it kind of screwed up the balance of ammonia and nitrite in my tank

[Prawn-Head]

Wow thanks everyone for all the help,also how do you work out what sort of bioload this size tank would be able to support when complete so i can start planning on fish/corals and inverts and in what sort of order to add them

[Henry405]

My tank is 36g and I was recommended 4-5 depending on the fish. If you have good filtration, then you can have more fish. Also the type of fish determines a lot also. If you have a messy fish like a lion fish, it'll cut down the amount of fish by quite a bit.

Always consider the adult size of a fish when you buy one. Don't look at a fish at the LFS thinking that it wont grow much.

[kurtyboh]

Also you cant put them all in at once sw is at a snails pace but with the expense better safe than sorry.
Also i recommend ammonia dose, it's really up to you but with dosing you know exactly how much ammonia your tank can handle in a day