29g build / thread split

[spinnerbayt]

I figure most of you have been following my other thread with all that is going on. Here is a quick recap of the setup I have going right now. 29g tank with 10g sump. HOB filter in sump, 200w heater in sump 525 GPH Via Aqua return pump, cascade 300 internal pump. 110 watts of 10k and atinic pc light with ahsupply reflectors. I have added a ton of rock that was given too me and I need to know where to go from this point. What test kits should I get to start out with? Should I be getting some kind of life into the tank to keep it going? What should be my next step? I have to learn all this before I jump into that 265! Here is what the tank looks like right now for those that haven't been following the other thread.

 

[mcox33]

1 redo the rock so it does not touch the front and preferable the sides of the tank.

2 you need the Aquarium Pharmacueticals (sp) test kit that test for PH , Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate.

3 once your Nitrites go down and Nitrates start to rise your tank is cycled. Then add your favorite clown. (hint: buy both at the same time as small as you can get and as they grow up they will resex to become a pair)

Hook up that monster of a skimmer you have. You need one anyway. If you use that one you will already be familiar with it when you move it to the 265 gallon

 

[spinnerbayt]

I haven't checked to see what the box says but I have AP text kits for freshwater. Will those same tests work for salt? If not then I will try and pick some up and see where the tank is at in the cycle. I will try and rearange the rocks and see what I can come up with. I may have to put some of the smaller ones in the sump or just take them out.

 

[mcox33]

No I don't think the freshwater test kit is the same, check and make sure but our favorite lFS has a very nice one. I have been using it for years.

 

[coralreefer]

The aquarium pharmaceuticals ammonia kit is for salt or fresh. It's the only one of that brand I own so I can't comment on the nitrite or nitrate. IIRC the AP nitrate test isn't one of the better ones out there.
If you planning on a reef you'll need to test for alkalinity and calcium too. At least for Alk & Ca I'd highly recommend Sailfert test kits.

 

[mcox33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9352293#post9352293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralreefer
The aquarium pharmaceuticals ammonia kit is for salt or fresh. It's the only one of that brand I own so I can't comment on the nitrite or nitrate. IIRC the AP nitrate test isn't one of the better ones out there.
If you planning on a reef you'll need to test for alkalinity and calcium too. At least for Alk & Ca I'd highly recommend Sailfert test kits.

PH, Nitrite and Nitrate are not the same or interchangable between saltwater and freshwater.

He wanted to know what to test for to get started. Cal and Alk test won't be needed til he actually starts to get LPS & SPS.

As for Salifert test kits. I refuse to use them. I prefer AP or even Red Sea.

 

[sixliner6]

Why do you refuse to use Salifert test kits?

 

[mcox33]

I just never liked them. I bought a couple they are here someplace. I ended up buying red sea. But I prefer AP or even Hagan when I can find them. Red Sea is my next choice. Honestly I don't remember why I didn't like them just that I replaced them. I kept the boxes to remind me which ones not to buy. They may be great and I just don't like them.

 

[MattG]

I guess everyone likes different test kits.

I will not use anything other then salifert for calcium/alkalinity/magnesium. For ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph I use whatever is cheap since these are rarely if at all tested once the cycle is over.

If I was going to be checking phosphates I would use a decent kit but I don't test for them.

In all honesty after your tank gets settled in you will probably not test anything other then calcium/alkalinity. Even those aren't all that necessary with regular water changes unless your keeping calcium demanding creatures.

If you want to buy a good 'test kit' get a refractometer or at least use a hydrometer that has been checked against a refractometer.

The tank looks like its off to a good start. I would agree with mary about keeping the rocks off the glass. It makes it tough to keep algae off if you cant run a cleaning magnet over it.

Give the tank some time to cycle and just add your livestock slowly once its ready.

 

[spinnerbayt]

I never did get to make it to the LFS yesterday or rearange the rocks. I did use some of the tests that I had and my ammonia was around 4 so I have a long way to go. I did pick up a coralife super skimmer 65 from a friend for helping get his girlfriends jeep back on the road after she ran it over the hillside and bottomed it out to the frame. I guess I'll rearange the rocks and play with the skimmer tonight and figure out how to work it.

 

[coralreefer]

PH, Nitrite and Nitrate are not the same or interchangable between saltwater and freshwater.

After looking at Marine Depot all the aquarium pharmaceuticals kits, except the freshwater ph, seem to be for fresh or salt AP test kits. Could save quite a bit of money if you have them already.

btw spinnerbayt what ballast are you using for your power compacts?

 

[LtPiper]

The Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia, and HIGH END PH test kits from AP are all fresh/marine compatable. They just have different charts for the two different enviroments. I use them on all of my tanks fresh and marine.

 

[spinnerbayt]

I went ahead and picked up some Sea-Chem marine test kits. I rearanged all the rock to get it off the front glass but I still have some touching the side glass. there isn't much I could do about it unless I just take it out. If I do that the it will just be setting there in a bucket and I didn't want that. I hooked up the skimmer and got it going also. I guess its just a waiting game now. I'll take a new pic tonight and post it when I get a chance.

 

[firefish2020]

Hammer and chisel?

Not the tank but maybe a rock corner.

 

[spinnerbayt]

That would probably work but I don't want to break up those larger rocks. I know they are way over kill for the 29 but they will be going into the 265 one of these days and I will need big ones for it. Maybe its time to go ahead and set up that 55 I have and just do away with the 29g.