starting 50 gal around cheektowaga

[steel3470]

ok just starting out here so dont shoot me down. im from cheektowaga. and i have been doing my reading and have been talking to a lfs Markihiem about how to start. i have priced out water and found water at culigan water fo $5.25 fo 5 gallons, now i need to find out were the best place is to get live rocks and sand. would i be able to get some play sand from homedepot and then just acouple of pounds of live to seed it. and as far as live rock I was told the best place to go is in tondawanda.(forgot the name) but its like $10 a pound. sould i just get cheap rock for base then get a couple pounds of live rock to go on top and how much live rock do i need 50lbs right? i think i have everything else figured out.

So i put in my sand and rocks and water at the same time then let cycle right. i've been told different things. like only 10lbs of live rock at a time.

any help would be great like were to get the sand and...

one more thing what type of play sand can i use?

 

[RLMainers]

You might get more response if you post this under the "New to the Hobby" forum. Just a suggestion.

 

[stykthyn]

NO PLAY SAND!!!! keep it in the sand box
it is not the same stuff as reef sand. Aragonite sand is basically ground up coral and shell that over time has fallen to the reef floor. It is porous enough to support your bilogical filter and a diverse assortment of microfauna, and due to its high calcium content it acts as a natural buffer.
Play sand is mostly silica and will not buffer your tank. You will have a hard time keeping your ph in balance and will constantly battle nuisance algea. Dont cut corners here. buy aragonite sand or crushed coral. there is nothing wrong with using base rock to start. You can use as little or as much as you like there is no real hard number to go by.

 

[jonasu]

My Dad is from Buffalo, near Amherst, my aunt lives up in Depew... Haven't heard the names both Cheeck, and Tonawanda in a long time... How's the weather up there everything still brown and dead as usual?

Good luck with your new tank!

Jon