Want to start up a saltwater tank

ddeluna21 · 09-12-2007, 07:21 PM

I had a guy to offer me 69 lbs LS for 30.00, it's been at room temp for 2 months and also an odysea high compact light 65 watts each bulb for 70.00 is this a good deal? I won't be setting up my 75 gal. tank for another month due to putting in hardwood floors. I just want to make sure the sand will be ok since I am new to the saltwater thing. Thanks Dannie

A guy offered me 69 lbs of LS for 30.00 It has been at room temp. for 2 months, he also has an odysea high compact light 65 watts each bulb for 70.00. Is this a good deal and will the sand be ok, I won't be able to set up my 75 gl. tank for another month due to putting in hardwood floors Thanks

chadf · 09-12-2007, 07:36 PM

Is the sand still wet?

ddeluna21 · 09-12-2007, 07:58 PM

yes. I think he said he put some of the saltwater in it

chadf · 09-12-2007, 08:31 PM

ls that you can buy packaged at the lfs has an expiration date on in (I'm not sure how long it can be on the shelves, maybe a year) so I'd assume it's still alright. Both prices sound very good to me although I'm not familiar with that particular lighting.

blackbmagic · 10-01-2007, 02:50 PM

Just something to add...You most defiantly do NOT need special lighting or 4 watts per gallon for a fish only or even a FOWLR tank u will only need 4 watts per gallon when introducing LPS corals, and anemones...fish do not need that much light to survive its a matter of personal viewing preference..You may even do fine with 1-2w/gallon with some low light corals...If you are going to set up a reef in the future with many low light and LPS corals and other inverts (which you most likely will want to).. i suggest you invest in some higher watt lighting like said 4w/gallon. So if you are just doing a fish only or just starting with a fish only save your money for now and keep the lights you have...If doing a FOWLR live rock will do better with better lighting and corals can start to grow naturally..but as I said and what is a fact is that fish do NOT need high watt lighting...hope that helps

ddeluna21 · 10-02-2007, 11:21 AM

Ok everyone. I just set up a 20 gal SWT. I got it from a guy that was getting out. I got the tank, 10 lbs live rock. Live sand,Heater, LIght, cover for top, and the water that was in it. also got a 20 gal refugium with live rock and sand. This is what I did I took the all the rock and put it in the refugium , I put the sand in a bucket with some water. I then cleaned the tank, it had a lot of green algery on it,so I cleaned it real good. I took another 5 gal of sand that I had and rinsed it good, I add 1 cup of the sand that came with tank. I arranged the rock and added the sand. I used the water he gave to me. I got an Aqua Clear power filter for 20-50 gal tank, I got a powersweep 214 for tanks up to 30 gals. All this stuff I got new. I placed all this in the tank. I placed the powerhead at the other end of the tank from the filter to sweep over the tank. Let sand settle and turned on everything. Checked ph-8.0, ammonia .25, nitrate 40, nitrite 0 salt 1.025 temp 79. Natrate was a little high so I did a 20 % water change. And let run. I got up this morning and tested again. ph 8.2, ammonia 0, nitrate 20, nitrite 0 salt 1.025 , temp 79. I don't have anything in it yet, Are these readings good to start adding a cleanup crew, if so what should I get. And let me know if I need to do anything else. I am new at this but I have really learned a lot from reading. Thanks to everyone for their help. PS I didn't use the refugium I got with the tank but I am getting a hangon the back that has a protein skimmer in it.

blackbmagic · 10-02-2007, 11:59 AM

your not going to want the bio-bag or wheel that comes with the filter its ok to use to clear the tank of fog with the initial fill but the bags and/or wheels will cause unwanted nitrite spikes...I know you are anxious to start buidling a crew and adding fish but you have to be patient your ammonia and nitrite levels are going to rise it might take a long time and you might have to add raw shrimp or more uncured liverock to speed up this process but once they rise they will start to drop and when they both his 0 this is when it is ok to add livestock meaning your tank is cycled if u add livestock now it will be a waste and most will not live through the cycling process...Being your stuff is from a previously established tank the cycling process will most likely only take a week or two but thats not a guarantee..Sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear lol..take your time and do it right the first time..hope that helps.

ddeluna21 · 10-02-2007, 12:54 PM

ok the filter has a bio bag, a sponge and carbon. My tank is already clear so do I just take the bio bag out. I can put a shrimp in and wait till its gone. I'm ok with that. Thanks Dannie, PS I am going to add some more live rock. If I can I will post some pics. Thanks again

Nereaga · 10-02-2007, 04:11 PM

The live rock should be enough to start your cycle, plus you already have a trace amount in there from something. I would be patient with adding livestock right away. Your tank will go through some changes depending on how fresh everything was. (ex- Live sand/ live rock) When your Ammonia and Nitrites are at a steady 0 reading for a week, I would then begin to add a cleaning crew. Patience!

Good Luck! Brad

ddeluna21 · 10-19-2007, 01:36 AM

Here is a pic of my 20 gal tank. I am at the end of week 3. My readings are temp-76, ph- 8.0, ammonia-0, nitrite-0, nitrate-10. I have 25 lbs LR. I have a damsel, which I will be removing soon. 10 crabs. 5 snails.I have had the same readings since I started on Oct. 1 The tank looks really good. I did my first water change on Oct. 12. Is it ready for fish yet. I want to do it right. The pic isn't very good. Thanks Dannie I also removed the bio bag and left the carbon and sponge, How do I clean these and when, or do I alternate replacing them, if so how often.