New first ever Saltwater tank

TcStriker · 03-11-2006, 11:21 PM

Hey guys looks like I'm going to be spending alot of time here now.
I just added water to my first ever salt water tank. Today. I did some reading and researching, but there is nothing better than experience so, all of you experienced people out there who have the time to make sugestions, comments and warnings, feel free to do so, don't hold back

. I guess first things first, I began the cycling process today. So give me some insight on that please.
c u guys around

Witfull · 03-11-2006, 11:31 PM

welcome to RS. drop a few cocktail shrimp into the tank and let it decompose, waalaa cycling fuel~

KeyserSoze · 03-12-2006, 12:10 AM

Live Rock! Live Rock! Live Rock! If you can get some live rock from an established tank that would be perfect. It will reduce the spikes while cycling and make it less stressful on your tank inhabitants. I started my first tank just a year and a half ago and would like to see what others have to say.

Snooker00 · 03-12-2006, 12:19 AM

Welcome to RS,
Ditto to what Wit and Keyser said and remember take it sloooooow. All good things come to those who wait.
Have you decided if you are going to do a Reef or Fish Only Tank?
If you are going to do a Reef I would definitely get the live rock your going to want so that the tank can cycle all at once, get your Diatom blooms out of the way and let that beneficial bacteria get going.
Good luck,
Steve

TcStriker · 03-12-2006, 01:20 AM

Probably fish for now. just until i can get the jist of the water conditioning and stuff, however i will be looking into reefs eventually. so i don't want to get any fish that might be troublesome later.

the shrimps, i have a 65g, +10g sump, so will like 2-3 shrimps do the trick?

Charlie97L · 03-12-2006, 08:01 AM

well you need to put some Live rock in there, before the shrimp, that's key.

the shrimp will just jumpstart the cycle.

welcome!

Gina · 03-12-2006, 08:23 AM

Don't skimp on the equiptment. Buy the best you can afford so that you don't have to go back later and buy items you've already bought because what you have isn't good enough for what you want to keep in the tank.

We had to repurchase lights and a skimmer.

Take it slow as mentioned above. I know when your setting up your first tank you can have a tendency to rush things.

Purchase a RO/DI unit. You can probably find a good one on e-bay at a reasonable price.
Use good test kits. Alot of people are using Salifert. Not saying alot of other test kits aren't reliable.

Gina · 03-12-2006, 08:25 AM

In case you havne't seen this in our Knowledgebase, here is some good info for you to read.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/knowled...links.php?c=46

TcStriker · 03-13-2006, 03:03 PM

question, will live sand do the trick for the cycling process as the live rock would?

Dragon Wrasse · 03-13-2006, 05:25 PM

Welcome to RS!! see if this link helps you....good luck, great to have you aboard.....

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/deepsandbeds.htm

Freddie · 03-13-2006, 10:31 PM

to RS TcStriker!....When I was new to this...(Bout 8 months ago) I was bombarded with information that was ALL over the place..till I found this place. The people here are nothing short of incredible! They often amaze me with thier knowledge, I sometimes test the guys at my LFS with some of the things I find out on RS (hehehehe). Sit back, learn and share!
It's an awesome thing, Welcome again and enjoy your new hobby!

Here's to a Healthy Tank!

TcStriker · 03-14-2006, 12:08 PM

i read about it and went out and found some "live elements" or living backteria, whatever it is called. wich is this powder that suposebly in contact with water it starts building the bacterias, however i have not put it in yet i decided to check here with yall first, see if there is anything bad about it. another thing is aeration.. i have so much air being pumped in by the power heads is not even funny, i know it can cause stress for the fish eventually, but now in the cycling process is there anything bad about it? since i have no fish i though the more O2 i get in the water the better. is that the case?
thanks

TcStriker · 03-16-2006, 12:14 PM

how long should i expect my water to stay cloudy for? I made the mistake of starting out with tap water and added the chemicals and salt and all, however my water is couldy could it be because the the water movement on the sugarfine sand? but i though we are suposed to move at least 10 times the gallons the tank hold per hour, or am i just worrying too much eventually things will clear. also i have alot of bubbles going in the tank from the power heads, is that bed?

KeyserSoze · 03-16-2006, 10:59 PM

It can take from a day or two to weeks. It depends on your substrate, filtration and water movement among other things. Everything has to settle. If you have any mechanical filtration like a hang on the back or canister remember to rinse out the filter frequently for the first several days. I've seen tanks with sugarfine sand that didn't become truly clear until the nitrogen cycle really got going.

TcStriker · 03-17-2006, 09:49 AM

The only filter i have on there is a sump and a skimmer. I have a fluval, canister that did not want to put it in there but will, if it will help. Should I decrease the amount airation the powerheads are pumping in?

03-11-2006, 11:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
TcStriker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7 View Gallery Karma Komment	New first ever Saltwater tank Hey guys looks like I'm going to be spending alot of time here now. I just added water to my first ever salt water tank. Today. I did some reading and researching, but there is nothing better than experience so, all of you experienced people out there who have the time to make sugestions, comments and warnings, feel free to do so, don't hold back . I guess first things first, I began the cycling process today. So give me some insight on that please. c u guys around

03-12-2006, 12:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 111 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank Live Rock! Live Rock! Live Rock! If you can get some live rock from an established tank that would be perfect. It will reduce the spikes while cycling and make it less stressful on your tank inhabitants. I started my first tank just a year and a half ago and would like to see what others have to say.

03-12-2006, 12:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Snooker00 Midas Blenny Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 110 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank Welcome to RS, Ditto to what Wit and Keyser said and remember take it sloooooow. All good things come to those who wait. Have you decided if you are going to do a Reef or Fish Only Tank? If you are going to do a Reef I would definitely get the live rock your going to want so that the tank can cycle all at once, get your Diatom blooms out of the way and let that beneficial bacteria get going. Good luck, Steve __________________ *My Son and I.*

03-12-2006, 01:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
TcStriker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank Probably fish for now. just until i can get the jist of the water conditioning and stuff, however i will be looking into reefs eventually. so i don't want to get any fish that might be troublesome later. the shrimps, i have a 65g, +10g sump, so will like 2-3 shrimps do the trick?

03-12-2006, 08:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank well you need to put some Live rock in there, before the shrimp, that's key. the shrimp will just jumpstart the cycle. welcome! __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

03-12-2006, 08:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank Don't skimp on the equiptment. Buy the best you can afford so that you don't have to go back later and buy items you've already bought because what you have isn't good enough for what you want to keep in the tank. We had to repurchase lights and a skimmer. Take it slow as mentioned above. I know when your setting up your first tank you can have a tendency to rush things. Purchase a RO/DI unit. You can probably find a good one on e-bay at a reasonable price. Use good test kits. Alot of people are using Salifert. Not saying alot of other test kits aren't reliable. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

03-12-2006, 08:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank In case you havne't seen this in our Knowledgebase, here is some good info for you to read. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/knowled...links.php?c=46 __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

03-13-2006, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
TcStriker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank question, will live sand do the trick for the cycling process as the live rock would?

03-13-2006, 05:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dragon Wrasse Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank Welcome to RS!! see if this link helps you....good luck, great to have you aboard..... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/deepsandbeds.htm __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* "A wise man learns more from a foolish question, then a fool learns from a wise answer" - Bruce Lee _____________________________ 75 gal SeaClear II Reef Tank (softy tank) - Coralife 125 Super Skimmer - Little Giant 2-MDQX-SC - Angstrom 2537 UV 15W - HOB Refugium - Eheim Pro 2228 - Red Sea Wave Maker w/Maxi-Jet 600 (X4) - 100 lbs Live Sand (DSB) - 100 lbs Live Rock - 260W PC lighting - 470nm lunar lights (X15) - AquaController II Custom 75 gal Starphire glass tank (SPS/LPS tank) - Custom 24 gal Refugium - Tuzne Wave box - JBJ Chiller - 390W PC lighting - 175W MH (X2) - Knop Cal. Reactor - AquaController 3 Pro - Aqua C Skimmer - Phosban Reactor - 18W Turbo-twist UV sterilizer - Sump - Sony Computer 5 gal Nano Hospital Tank - Eheim 2213 - Red Sea Prizm Skimmer - Live sand - Live Rock - Built in Refugium - 36W PC lighting

03-13-2006, 10:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
Freddie Midas Blenny Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 91 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank to RS TcStriker!....When I was new to this...(Bout 8 months ago) I was bombarded with information that was ALL over the place..till I found this place. The people here are nothing short of incredible! They often amaze me with thier knowledge, I sometimes test the guys at my LFS with some of the things I find out on RS (hehehehe). Sit back, learn and share! It's an awesome thing, Welcome again and enjoy your new hobby! Here's to a Healthy Tank! __________________ Freddie 90 gal Mega flow, Current dual satellite lighting,All glass 30 gal sump, 300 watt heater, mag drive pump, Coralife super skimmer, 20, 50 & 70 Aquaclear powerheads. Critters: F/O Yellow Tang, Hippo Tang,Harlequin Tusk, Clark Clown, Picasso Trigger,Niger Trigger, Snowflake eel, Brown Button polyps,shrooms, star polyps, nessarus snails & hermits

03-14-2006, 12:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
TcStriker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank i read about it and went out and found some "live elements" or living backteria, whatever it is called. wich is this powder that suposebly in contact with water it starts building the bacterias, however i have not put it in yet i decided to check here with yall first, see if there is anything bad about it. another thing is aeration.. i have so much air being pumped in by the power heads is not even funny, i know it can cause stress for the fish eventually, but now in the cycling process is there anything bad about it? since i have no fish i though the more O2 i get in the water the better. is that the case? thanks

03-16-2006, 12:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
TcStriker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank how long should i expect my water to stay cloudy for? I made the mistake of starting out with tap water and added the chemicals and salt and all, however my water is couldy could it be because the the water movement on the sugarfine sand? but i though we are suposed to move at least 10 times the gallons the tank hold per hour, or am i just worrying too much eventually things will clear. also i have alot of bubbles going in the tank from the power heads, is that bed?

03-16-2006, 10:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 111 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank It can take from a day or two to weeks. It depends on your substrate, filtration and water movement among other things. Everything has to settle. If you have any mechanical filtration like a hang on the back or canister remember to rinse out the filter frequently for the first several days. I've seen tanks with sugarfine sand that didn't become truly clear until the nitrogen cycle really got going.

03-17-2006, 09:49 AM	#15 (permalink)
TcStriker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: New first ever Saltwater tank The only filter i have on there is a sump and a skimmer. I have a fluval, canister that did not want to put it in there but will, if it will help. Should I decrease the amount airation the powerheads are pumping in?

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