Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
If You Are New to Reef Central, Introduce Yourself Here!
- Thread starter JohnL
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new
I am very new to this salt water thing, i have justg set up a 40g tank with 60 pounds LR 30Pounds Live coral and premade salt water from PETCO. i havnt really had a spike in amonia or niotrates yet and it has been about 5 days, but the levels are really low and look good. could tank have cycled that fast or has cycle not really started, any info would help thanks!!
new
I am very new to this salt water thing, i have justg set up a 40g tank with 60 pounds LR 30Pounds Live coral and premade salt water from PETCO. i havnt really had a spike in amonia or niotrates yet and it has been about 5 days, but the levels are really low and look good. could tank have cycled that fast or has cycle not really started, any info would help thanks!!
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
[welcome] probably not, while waiting read through these
CJO
New member
I'm new here and new to aquariums as well. My father had aquariums while I was growing up, ranging in size between 75 and 220 gallons, and I always wanted one. I finally was able to pick up a system from someone who was moving so I wouldn't have to deal with the hassle of cycling the aquarium and trying to tell the kids why we couldn't have any fish.
The tank is 65gal with quite a bit of live rock (no idea how much), a 7 year old Ocellaris Clownfish, a 1-1/2 year old neon dottyback, several colonies of golden polyps, brown and green mushrooms, a small hammerhead coral, and quite a few snails and hermit crabs. I've had it since Christmas and it has been running fairly well except for one mishap.
I recently added 3 small conchs and 2 emerald crabs to help out as well as some Cheato for the refugium I plan on setting up this weekend. I am planning on letting the kids pick out a damsel each this weekend to add (I'll also be picking up some Nassarius snails).
CJ
The tank is 65gal with quite a bit of live rock (no idea how much), a 7 year old Ocellaris Clownfish, a 1-1/2 year old neon dottyback, several colonies of golden polyps, brown and green mushrooms, a small hammerhead coral, and quite a few snails and hermit crabs. I've had it since Christmas and it has been running fairly well except for one mishap.
I recently added 3 small conchs and 2 emerald crabs to help out as well as some Cheato for the refugium I plan on setting up this weekend. I am planning on letting the kids pick out a damsel each this weekend to add (I'll also be picking up some Nassarius snails).
CJ
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
I took a hiatus from reef keeping for a couple years and was amazed how much changed in that time. It would be wise to read the stickies for a refresher.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
New guy in NC
New guy in NC
New to saltwater but not to aquariums in general...I've had aquariums all of my life and I've had my saltwater set up for almost a week with some GREAT looking specimens of live rock..Indonesian, tonga branch, and Fiji for the most part. I'm having a little amonia spike right now which I've been told is average for a new tank...PH is great and salinity is perfect...temp is holding perfect and NOW I WANT MY FISH! LOL
New guy in NC
New to saltwater but not to aquariums in general...I've had aquariums all of my life and I've had my saltwater set up for almost a week with some GREAT looking specimens of live rock..Indonesian, tonga branch, and Fiji for the most part. I'm having a little amonia spike right now which I've been told is average for a new tank...PH is great and salinity is perfect...temp is holding perfect and NOW I WANT MY FISH! LOL
Aquarist007
New member
keep measuring the ammonia and nitrates. The ammonia will come back to zero, the nitrates will spike and then come back to zero.
At that point you are good to go(1 small fish a week)
[welcome]
flatsout1171
New member
new to forum
new to forum
hey everyone...i was told about this forum from my lfs yesterday.so i just wanted to say hi
new to forum
hey everyone...i was told about this forum from my lfs yesterday.so i just wanted to say hi
SoCalNavy Guy
New member
Howdy folks, new to SW have been a FW keeper most of my life but I made the big plunge due to all the stars aligning and all the perfect "deals" coming along at once!
I am nowhere close to setting this tank up yet as I am still in the planning on paper stage! But I would love to get anyones opinions as to how to proceed. I was really limited on what I could get to set this up due to the circumstances but as you can see from the prices you'll see why it is that I ended up with what I did!! All of these came from a clearance/ out of business sale from a LFS. (Everything is new & unused in the box)
Tank: 90 Gal Oceanic tank w/built-in overflow ($175)
Sump: 29 Gal Tank ($10)
Protein Skimmer/ Filter: CPR Cyclone Bio Filter 194 ($100)
Lights: 48" Coralife Aqualight 50/50 Single Power Compact - 130 watts (1 x$5)
30" Coralife Aqualight 50/50 Single Power Compact - 65 watts (4 x$5)
All of this for under $325!!
My goal with this tank:
Under 10 assorted fish, Live Rock, some soft corals & mushrooms etc..
My main concern is the lights, yes I know they are not the best but are they good enough? Could I take some of the 30" fixtures and change the bulbs to some of the optional ones sold by Coralife? I see the offer a Royal Blue one in the 470nm range, or even a Dual Blue for 470 & 420 ranges.
Like I said I don't want a reef only tank but I do want some! Any input is greatly appreciated!!
I am nowhere close to setting this tank up yet as I am still in the planning on paper stage! But I would love to get anyones opinions as to how to proceed. I was really limited on what I could get to set this up due to the circumstances but as you can see from the prices you'll see why it is that I ended up with what I did!! All of these came from a clearance/ out of business sale from a LFS. (Everything is new & unused in the box)
Tank: 90 Gal Oceanic tank w/built-in overflow ($175)
Sump: 29 Gal Tank ($10)
Protein Skimmer/ Filter: CPR Cyclone Bio Filter 194 ($100)
Lights: 48" Coralife Aqualight 50/50 Single Power Compact - 130 watts (1 x$5)
30" Coralife Aqualight 50/50 Single Power Compact - 65 watts (4 x$5)
All of this for under $325!!
My goal with this tank:
Under 10 assorted fish, Live Rock, some soft corals & mushrooms etc..
My main concern is the lights, yes I know they are not the best but are they good enough? Could I take some of the 30" fixtures and change the bulbs to some of the optional ones sold by Coralife? I see the offer a Royal Blue one in the 470nm range, or even a Dual Blue for 470 & 420 ranges.
Like I said I don't want a reef only tank but I do want some! Any input is greatly appreciated!!
I am new to the reef community and the hobby. I have a 65 gallon reef aquarium that has been up and running 3 days. I have always wanted to have a saltwater aquarium with alot of corals and some fish. I now can make that happen.. I built my tank into the wall that has all the operations in a closet directly behind it. I am excited to learn how everything works and happen and especially developing a wide variety of species over time.
Tina
Tina
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Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
HI and[welcome]
Hello, I am in the process still of trying to fill my brain with as much
info as possible before starting my first reef system. I've had FW tanks
for the past 12yrs or so and always have wanted a marine tank. Now
that I've got the space and time I'm gonna go for it. Just have to finish
getting the $$$$ for a RSM250!
Jim.
info as possible before starting my first reef system. I've had FW tanks
for the past 12yrs or so and always have wanted a marine tank. Now
that I've got the space and time I'm gonna go for it. Just have to finish
getting the $$$$ for a RSM250!
Jim.
Aquarist007
New member
[welcome]
Jim, you can only do so much reading then you have to "hands on" to really learn.:thumbsup:
Aquarist007
New member
First of all congratualations on your deal:thumbsup:
A general rule of thumb is to provide 3-5 watts per gal of light for lps and soft corals which I suggest you start out with.
Your first consideration in setting up this tank should be your live rock.
You need 90 lbs of of it. This is the basis for your filtration system
You can purchase live rock at about 5 dollars a lb and base rock for about 2 dollars a lb. You can also go 60 lbs live to about 30 lbs base.
You should also get about 1 inch of medium grade argonite for the sand bed. This will run you about 45 dollars
I would suggest you hook all your plumbing up and fill the tank with tap water. Run the system and check for leaks. (the protein skimmer will not run with tap water)
Drain the tank
Pre rinse your substrate and then add to the tank.
Build your reef by adding the live/base rock
Fill the tank with ro or ro/di water.
For the first time you can add the salt directly to the tank water until you acheive a salinity of 1.026
For this I would suggest you purchase a refractometer.
Instant Ocean makes a good salt mix which is reasonably priced.
Start up your system again and be prepared to measure ammonia and nitrates for about 3 weeks.
The ammonia level should peak and then fall to zero, similarily with nitrates.
When both are zero you tank is ready to add:
a clean up crew
hardy corals
and finally fish
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress
[welcome]
Aquarist007
New member
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
[welcome]
where in SoCal are you? I'm heading that way in Feb?
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