I think I got this........or do I?

[Zoregon]

Okay so. Tomorrow all my goodies should arrive and I'll be ready to get going. This is what my notes from RC say - please advise if any of this is wrong.
Fill tank with rodi water
Salinity of 1.25
Temp of 78
Add sand & LR. Dip my LR in SW with a salinity of 1.046 for 1 minute to get rid of hitchhikers before putting in DT.
Run tank, protein skimmer, etc, wait for ammonia spike then nitrite spike then nitrate spike.
Do not do a water change until this has happened and the tank has cycled.
Do top off water daily.
Once everything has cycled do a 50% water change and wait for everything to stabilize again. Then I can start adding shrimp, snails, etc. (after QT) Add cheato to sump.
Leave my lights on for 4 - 6 hours maximum
While the DT is cycling set up my two QT tanks with small HOB filters with sponge only, heaters, lights and pvc pipe for hiding in.
Cycle by 'ghost feeding'. Watch for tanks to cycle as above.
Have already painted them black on three sides and bottom to minimize stress to fish.
Once the QT's have finished cycling I can add fish to them and wait one week to make sure they're eating. After that week treat with Prazi to be on the safe side. Take Prazi out with carbon, continue watching and feeding them in case of ich or velvet. Treat accordingly.
Watch ammonia levels on QT tanks carefully and do small WC's daily.
After 8 weeks they can come out and go into DT and then start the process over with a new batch.

There! Have I got it or am I missing anything? Am I ready????? :spin2::spin2:

 

[Tisbe]

That looks pretty good to me. Give a day or two after mixing the new saltwater before you add you live rock. If this is your first tank go slow with livestock. Do you have a stocking list? I'd get the DT going for a month before setting up QT. Actually put the sponges in the DT. When the DT is cycled the sponges will have your filtration for your QT.

Best for luck.

 

[lacybiker2000]

Watch your salinity....1.023-1.025...not 1.25.

 

[farfromsea]

Put the live rock in the tank before the sand so that it can rest more safely on the bottom glass. I left the lights off during my cycle, not necessary to have them on per my research

 

[Ron Reefman]

Just a suggestion. Put the sand in first, then the LR and press it into the sand so it's stable. Even if both are live (sand & rock) they will be fine for an hour or 2 until you get water in. Now add the rest of your LR and do the aquascape the way you want it. Then add mixed saltwater by setting a big dish (like a dinner plate) on the sand and slowly (very slowly at first) add the water by pouring it onto the dish.

This does 2 things. You get to set your LR scape the way you want it without doing it under water. It just makes the process simpler and pouring the water onto a plate slowly will help a lot with keeping the water from stirring up the sand. And new sand usually will have a lot of very fine sediment in it which is very easy to stir up. Run a filter sock and the sediment will clear up much more quickly.

Also, I'm not sure that dipping your live rock is really going to do anything about hitchhikers. Even soaking your LR in that water for 24 or 48 hours won't have a huge effect. Especially in water with a SG of 1.046. Where on Earth did you get that specific number for a saltwater dip? I'm just curious.

Welcome to the hobby and you sure seem to have done your homework. Congratulations! So many start into this hobby with out a clue, get frustrated and quit within a years. You sound like a potential long term reefer!:beer:

 

[mcgyvr]

Nothing wrong with doing water changes during cycling.. As soon as I start to see nitrates you can start performing water changes to keep it low..

 

[gone fishin]

I agree with Ron. I would also suggest using Tank Transfer Method (TTM) for ich. since your going to QT then use TTM and not worry about ich. Good luck sounds like your of to a good start.

 

[Zoregon]

Okay have looked up the TTM method and agree its definitely more viable than waiting for and treating ich with chemicals. I have a 20g and 25g how many fish would you suggest I do at a time? Starting with gobies and blennies so - three? four?

Thanks for the advice on set up. Quick question on the Caribsea dry sand - do I want to rinse it prior to putting in the tank to minimize small particles or just go for it?

Also I'm not sure if I can fill the whole tank in one go. It's a 180 and my rodi is rated for 90gpd? Can the LR sit for a day or no?

Also Ron, I have no idea where I read this - I've been all over the internet these last few weeks and jotted it down in my notes lol. It seemed viable. Said unwanted hitchers will come out of the rock and into the bucket...idk (shrug)

I originally brushed QT off like I'm sure most of us newer members do, however in googling ich/velvet it scared me just enough. Especially after I watched an episode of Mr. Saltwater entitled "One in the Chamber" in which he lost $1,200 worth of fish in three days.......

 

[sde1500]

I do 2-4 fish in 6 gallons for TTM. I wouldn't fill up the two tanks all the way, thats a lot of salt mix to burn through.

 

[gone fishin]

Okay have looked up the TTM method and agree its definitely more viable than waiting for and treating ich with chemicals. I have a 20g and 25g how many fish would you suggest I do at a time? Starting with gobies and blennies so - three? four? I would agree 2-4 depending on size and temperment would be doable. for your first time you may want to do 1 or 2 until you have a system worked out.

Thanks for the advice on set up. Quick question on the Caribsea dry sand - do I want to rinse it prior to putting in the tank to minimize small particles or just go for it? I rinsed mine in buckets using a garden hose.you will be surprised how much "dust and silt" is in those bags.

Also I'm not sure if I can fill the whole tank in one go. It's a 180 and my rodi is rated for 90gpd? Can the LR sit for a day or no? I have a 180 as well. save yourself some aggravation and get a couple 30g rubbermaid cans to use. It took me a few days to get the tank filled. Later they can be used for mix barrels for normal water changes.

Also Ron, I have no idea where I read this - I've been all over the internet these last few weeks and jotted it down in my notes lol. It seemed viable. Said unwanted hitchers will come out of the rock and into the bucket...idk (shrug)

I originally brushed QT off like I'm sure most of us newer members do, however in googling ich/velvet it scared me just enough. Especially after I watched an episode of Mr. Saltwater entitled "One in the Chamber" in which he lost $1,200 worth of fish in three days.......