New Guy with a Few Questions

[TomSeaman]

Hi:

I Just settup a 46 Gal FOWLR tank and was wondering what water what readings I should be getting? PH,Salt ,Amonia ect. What do you use to Adjust the PH? Same as fresh water?
This is my first salt tank in 30 Years.
Thanks
Tom
PS: I just set it up tonight. I'm using a Emporer 400 and a Remora Pro Skimmer untill I get more live rock.

[Reefland]

Hey Tom and Welcome to Reefland!

Well first of all if you just set it up tonight, it is much too early to be worried about the water readings other than the temperature (78 - 82) and the specific gravity (1.021 - 1.026) and the variations to me would depend on if I was doing a reef tank of a FO tank.

I will preface by saying: Never do anything to a saltwater tank that you would try with a freshwater tank, as far as trying to raise or lower certain water conditions.

After the tanks starts to settle in a few days, test the ph (~8.2) and start testing the ammonia and nitrite so you can watch the cycle and be certain when it is complete. When the cycle is complete your ammonia must remain at 0 as well as your nitrite, nitrate needs to be as low as possible, but at least below 20ppm.

With all that said, tell us a little bit more about your system, size, equipment, etc. Also please tell us that you don't have anything in there unless it is live rock!

Regards,
Scott Z.

[TomSeaman]

Hey Tom and Welcome to Reefland!

Well first of all if you just set it up tonight, it is much too early to be worried about the water readings other than the temperature (78 - 82) and the specific gravity (1.021 - 1.026) and the variations to me would depend on if I was doing a reef tank of a FO tank.

I will preface by saying: Never do anything to a saltwater tank that you would try with a freshwater tank, as far as trying to raise or lower certain water conditions.

After the tanks starts to settle in a few days, test the ph (~8.2) and start testing the ammonia and nitrite so you can watch the cycle and be certain when it is complete. When the cycle is complete your ammonia must remain at 0 as well as your nitrite, nitrate needs to be as low as possible, but at least below 20ppm.

With all that said, tell us a little bit more about your system, size, equipment, etc. Also please tell us that you don't have anything in there unless it is live rock!

Regards,
Scott Z.

Scott:

The only thing in the tank so far is 40# of live sand. How long before I can put live rock in? My Goal is beteween 45 & 70 Lb. of live rock. Do I have to put this in slowly? or is in 30 - 40 Lb. at a time ok? My tank is a 46 Gal bow Front with an Emperor 400 and a Remora Pro with a mag 3 pump and a skimmer box. I have 144 watt of PC lighting (4x36 watt bulbs). If I can give you any more info to help me please Just ask. Do you use the same PH Buffers to raise or lower your PH as with Fresh Water?
Thanks
Tom

[Reefland]

Scott:

The only thing in the tank so far is 40# of live sand. How long before I can put live rock in? My Goal is beteween 45 & 70 Lb. of live rock. Do I have to put this in slowly? or is in 30 - 40 Lb. at a time ok? My tank is a 46 Gal bow Front with an Emperor 400 and a Remora Pro with a mag 3 pump and a skimmer box. I have 144 watt of PC lighting (4x36 watt bulbs). If I can give you any more info to help me please Just ask. Do you use the same PH Buffers to raise or lower your PH as with Fresh Water?
Thanks
Tom

Tom,

Glad to hear you didn't go with fish or anything else to cycle the tank. The live sand was a great addition and you can go ahead and order your live rock, I would go with getting it all at once, there is no need to slowly add it. Once the rock is added you can just sit back for a while and let the tank cycle. If you decided to add it in 2 chucks (30 - 40lbs at a time) unless you use fully cured rock you will affect the tank by causing it to go through another cycle. Adding it at once is your best bet.

The only additions to my tank is Ocean Blends 2 part calcium, ph/alkalinity kit. There are also powder buffers available but I have never messed with them, only ESV's B-Ionic and now Ocean Blends 2 part kit. You might look into one of those.

Scott Z.

[Ilia]

Welcome to Reefland Tom. Congrats on setting up the tank. Everything that Scott said is perfect to get you on your way to an awesome reef. I also wanted to say sorry that I can't sell you the LR. I had to sell it fast because I was afraid it would start to have too much die off.

Ilia