New to saltwater

[wayne d]

Hello everyone.
Just getting into salt water for the first time. I have been into fresh water for some time now and when I stripped the tank down for cleaning decided to go salt water.
I have a 90g tank with overflow and a 20g sump. everything is plumbed and working correctly.
I plan on fish with soft corals.
I have been reading the different posts here for several weeks along with utube videos so I think I have a good idea of whats needed.
Here is my plan.
starting out with a sterile tank of dry rock and sand and RODI water.
first is to cycle the tank, understand that. I plan to use a shrimp for the cycle process. Question is, how much shrimp? After the cycle process I would add 2 clown fish and one or two anemones.
wait 10 to 14 days and add a couple more fish. wait 10 to 14 days and add a couple more. Then add the cleaners. Is this ok?
Am I missing anything?

 

[tilo]

Welcome to the forum!

Everything sounds great. Just one shrimp in the sump can do it, usually I leave it till I read my ammonia spiking at about .50-2.0 ppm then remove the shrimp.

Then I let all levels climb and fall after a few weeks. After the cycle do not add any anemones just yet. Best thing to do is add a CUC (clean up crew), not many but as a rough estimate 15-20 Astrea snails, 15-20 "reef safe" hermit crabs. CUC will provide a small amount of food for the bacteria to reproduce and adjust to having a small load. Then after a couple days test the water for the same basics ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, if these levels reflect good results look into adding your clowns.

The rest seems great though, with the waiting 10-14 days. Good luck

 

[Dan_P]

Welcome!

Your plan sounds good. You don't mention setting up a quarantine tank. Strongly recommended. It might be a case of Ich might not happen too often but if it does consequences are bad.

Good luck!

 

[tilo]

Welcome!

Your plan sounds good. You don't mention setting up a quarantine tank. Strongly recommended. It might be a case of Ich might not happen too often but if it does consequences are bad.

Good luck!

^^^ +1 Sorry I forgot, this is very important as well. You can do everything perfectly and have something come in on the fish and blame it on your husbandry.

 

[Jeff210]

You may want to think about adding anemones in a new tank - I am waiting until mine is at least 6 months old (possibly - if not probably - longer) before adding them...

 

[wayne d]

Thanks guys.
I was hoping that I did my homework correctly the first time.

 

[wayne d]

Welcome!

Your plan sounds good. You don't mention setting up a quarantine tank. Strongly recommended. It might be a case of Ich might not happen too often but if it does consequences are bad.

Good luck!

I have had thoughts on a quarantine tank. What size should I be looking for?

 

[pREEFERED]

Hello everyone.
Just getting into salt water for the first time. I have been into fresh water for some time now and when I stripped the tank down for cleaning decided to go salt water.
I have a 90g tank with overflow and a 20g sump. everything is plumbed and working correctly.
I plan on fish with soft corals.
I have been reading the different posts here for several weeks along with utube videos so I think I have a good idea of whats needed.
Here is my plan.
starting out with a sterile tank of dry rock and sand and RODI water.
first is to cycle the tank, understand that. I plan to use a shrimp for the cycle process. Question is, how much shrimp? After the cycle process I would add 2 clown fish and one or two anemones.
wait 10 to 14 days and add a couple more fish. wait 10 to 14 days and add a couple more. Then add the cleaners. Is this ok?
Am I missing anything?

i also used raw shrimp to begin the ammonia cycle... i used 2 which was more than enough, i would suggest de-shelling the shrimp prior to dropping it into the tank

 

[wayne d]

20 gallon long should suffice. You don't want anything to large due to having a hard time catching the fish,but not to small just in case you add larger fish.

Thanks, I'll add that to the ever expanding list.

 

[wayne d]

i also used raw shrimp to begin the ammonia cycle... i used 2 which was more than enough, i would suggest de-shelling the shrimp prior to dropping it into the tank

Will do. Thanks for the tip.

 

[MMacro]

I wouldn't add any anemones until the tank has been setup for at least 6-7 months. Also, I would wait two weeks in between adding fish. It is also best to add the CUC first.

 

[wayne d]

I wouldn't add any anemones until the tank has been setup for at least 6-7 months. Also, I would wait two weeks in between adding fish. It is also best to add the CUC first.

I've been debating that for a while.
What would you suggest for a CUC?