Lots of ? Sorry

[katena10]

Ok have a new 50 g tank protien skimmer, 5 gal furge. with 2 #LS and Micro-algee, 3 900gph power heads w/wave maker. 3in sand bead with 1 1/2 # LS added 40# LR. Lunar Aqualight.

Ok the ?'s now.
Will this tank cycle? The LFS said i could start putting fish in a few days. I ask about Ammonia and nitrite test and was tod only need Nitrate test. (along with Calcium, Kh, and Hydrometer). I think 1 need these test kits you all agree? I am planning on starting the critter additions with about 20 hermit crabs just to get things going good idea? I'm hot in any hurry to move on to critters but read these crabs are a good way to get things going, plus funn to watch

Next 24/7 lighting on the furge, altrenate with main tank, or same as main tank?

What type of scheduel should the main lights be on?

Thanks ahead of time for the help.

 

[bertoni]

I would get an ammonia test kit. Once you've seen three solid weeks of no ammonia, you can add a cleanup crew.

I agree that the nitrite test kit might not be very useful. You will likely want pH, calcium, and KH test kits.

The lighting is a personal choice. 24x7, alternate with the tank, or the same as the tank can all work. I keep mine on the same timer. I keep the lights on about 10 hrs a day, which seems fine.

This article talks about water parameters, and should help you a lot:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[bertoni]

I should add that I've had good luck with Salifert test kits. FasTest and SeaTest have worked as well, although I found them more time-consuming. I had bad experiences with Red Sea.

 

[christianbak]

don't add any creatures until your ammonia cycle is complete. also check the nitrite/nitrate lvls of your tank. i would add a simple clean-up crew: 10 hermits seemed to be enough in my tank 45g - a cleaner shrimp or two depending if you like it - a peppermint shrimp could replace one of the cleaner, it eats glass anemones which is awesome - some snails that sift through your substrate would also be good, get them right off the bat, as they really make your life alot easier. when are you considering adding corals? hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[pufferbob]

Play it safe, not sorry. Get a full lab so you will know exactly what is going on in your system.Take out all of the guess work. Better to not have regrets...

 

[bertoni]

And I forgot to mention a nitrate test kit. That might be useful, depending on what corals, etc, you want to add, and as a general sanity check. Sigh!

 

[fishman805]

If your LFS said that you could start adding fish to your new tank in a couple of days, the first thing I would do is "STOP" listening to your LFS folks.... Seriously, nothing will get you more discouarged in this hobby than losing a ton of money due to bad advice like that .... The most important thing to remember is to "TAKE YOUR TIME" Let the tank cycle for atleast 6 weeks before adding any fish.... You may also want to wait that amount of time before adding your clean-up crew as well.... This is also relative to whether or not you've added "good" cured LR to your new tank or not.... Good cured LR will speed up the cycle a bit and you may notice that you have a very quick cycle.... I did .... But I hand picked my LR from the wholesalers vats... so....

You will have to monitor all of your perameters for that cycle period..... "ALL" of them ... Ammonia,trites and trates... You may not have to go to the expense of buying a Salifert test kit for everything ( at least not right now ) but I understand that they are the best so don't skimp if you can help it...

The most important thing is "take your time" ..... We've all been where you are now and have made the same mistakes ( at least I did )... and it can be costly..... Keep dialed into this site and keep asking questions..... Remember, MOST ( but not all ) LFS are in the biz to make money... Don't be a casualty in this hobby....

Good luck

Bob