Newbie Setup questions

[MakitaSalesRep]

Hello,

I just found this board last night and the timing is perfect. I am getting
ready to put together my first reef tank after about a year of maintaining 2
fish only setups. I just ordered a 90g acrylic tank and have pretty much lined
out the majority of the system as far as my sump system, skimmer, pumps etc. I
have an exsisting 60 gallon tank with approx. 50 pounds of live rock and 3-4
inches of live sand in it that is about 8 months old. I want to transfer these
items to my new tank and was curious if anyone had any advice that could save
me from making a bad decision. Should I have a "dead space" in my new setup
under the sand? I do not have anything beneath it now in the old tank.

How about bonding live rock formations in the new tank.....I have used the
putty that you find at the LFS but don't really have great luck with it. How
about super glue gel? I hear that is ok as well and safe for use.

[Dragon Slayer]

"MakitaSalesRep" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> I just found this board last night and the timing is perfect.

Welcome to the NG.




> Should I have a "dead space" in my new setup
> under the sand?

No, you should just use 4-6 inches of sand in the bottom, no dead space.


> How about bonding live rock formations in the new tank.....I have used the
> putty that you find at the LFS but don't really have great luck with it.
How
> about super glue gel? I hear that is ok as well and safe for use.


its safe to use and it works great, but with the amount of rock you'd be
gluing together, I don't think its an economical decision. you can use
aquarium sealer to bond the rockwork together (or a good grade of silicone
based clear sealer), it gets a better grip on the rockwork if you towel dry
the spot your gluing and clean it a bit with a nylon bristled brush to
remove any "dirt". if you don't have corals on the LR then when using the
sealer you can allow the rockwork to remain out of water as you aquascape
and glue the rockwork together. after you get all the rockwork in the tank
and glued fill with water and your all set. the sealers will "harden"
underwater and form a very strong bond if the rock was clean where you
applied it.

I have used the sealer to stick rocks to the back glass to get GSP's to grow
up the back wall of the tank, its very strong and doesn't come off till you
pretty much cut it off.

HTH
kc