Complete newb, looking for tips and advice!

[merghular]

Hey everyone!
I'm currently going to be moving my goldfish into a 40gal breeder and that leaves my 27gal Marineland cube available. I've then decided that the cube look should be neat with coral it in. Over the weekend I got a 30% off discount at a petstore and decided to pick up some of the clearance products. So, besides the tank this is what I have:
(all Kent products except Melafix)
- Concentrated Iodine
- Liquid Calcium
- Strontium & Molybdenum
- Zooplex
- ChromaPlex
- PhytoPlex
- Essential Elements
- Melafix

Honestly, I just picked up one of everything that I knew wasn't just for saltwater fish. I know I'll need a skimmer and probably better lighting (have LED, but I assume i'll need something stronger for coral). Other than that... I'm a newb xP any advice as to what kinds of coral would be best for the cube or gallon size, wattage of light, pretty much everything would be helpful. I read a little about what Foster & Smith said on their website - but I'd assume there are other deals and brands that could be better than them.
Help!

 

[seapug]

How about some salt mix and an RO unit?
You really don't need any of those supplements.

If I may ask, why are you moving the goldfish? The 40 breeder would be a better reef tank.

 

[TX..r33f]

Yes salt mix an ro unit is a must also the correct lighting for corals. I would go with T5 lighting(depends how much you really wanna spend) For first corals i would go with Zoanthids and green star polyp,mushrooms.

 

[chad316]

Hey everyone!

(all Kent products except Melafix)
- Concentrated Iodine
- Liquid Calcium
- Strontium & Molybdenum
- Zooplex
- ChromaPlex
- PhytoPlex
- Essential Elements
- Melafix

Help!

Be careful with Iodine for sure...you can overdose pretty easily, so I wouldnt use it unless you really know what you are doing.

 

[merghular]

There is a koi in the 27, until I convince my grandparents to let me build a pond for him, he'll need to go there.
I didn't get any salt yet - mainly because I won't begin the changes of aquariums for about a week - had to buy other things and figured I didn't need it atm. P

For the RO unit, should it be larger than the actual size, I know it's advised for freshwater.
And for the T5 lighting, would any regular hood work for it?

 

[TX..r33f]

Hood,for the tank? You dont really need a hood/canopy unless you have fish that jump. Also you might need a chiller. Also do you plan on haveing a sump? there are alot of things that you need to know i would read as much as you can on here. ask alot of questions and take your time on saltwater tank

 

[ken55]

Yes, there is more to it than just putting salt in the water. There are a lot of stickys at the tops of these forums. I suggest you read all of them. It will give you some ideas about what to do and what not to do. Of course feel free to ask questions but a lot of the basics are laid out in the stickys.

If I may suggest: see if you can return all those additives and exchange them for water test kits. The first ones you would want are Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. These will get you through set up and cycle. Oh yeah and a hydrometer or refractometer so you can monitor the salinity. You would get far more use and benefit from these as opposed to the additives.

Welcome,
Hope this Helps,
Ken

 

[emeraude1484]

Yes, there is more to it than just putting salt in the water. There are a lot of stickys at the tops of these forums. I suggest you read all of them. It will give you some ideas about what to do and what not to do. Of course feel free to ask questions but a lot of the basics are laid out in the stickys.

If I may suggest: see if you can return all those additives and exchange them for water test kits. The first ones you would want are Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. These will get you through set up and cycle. Oh yeah and a hydrometer or refractometer so you can monitor the salinity. You would get far more use and benefit from these as opposed to the additives.

Welcome,
Hope this Helps,
Ken

+1 You can do without all the additives for quite a long time. Most of the trace elements are replenished by your water changes until your corals start demanding more. Read up on EVERYTHING you intend to buy before putting anything in your tank and best advice for reef tank is take things at a snails pace If you rush it things have a tendency of going bad fast. Good luck!

 

[Joel_155]

Yeah i agree with everyone else. Take your time and read all the stickies. Once youve read them...read them again. Also...try and return all the stuff you bought as i cant imagine youll need any of that for a long time.

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