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My first saltwater aquarium! |
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#1 |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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My first saltwater aquarium!
Hi , im new to these forums, and i see everybody is helpful here and nice, well i am now doig my first saltwater aquarium in a 50 gallon tank. I have questions??
i have water there already set up with rocks (as in little rocks) from previous tropical fish, its still filtrating with and undergravel filtering kit. Questions . 1. Should i dump the water out, and start with new water ? 2. Do saltwater fish need live plants? My fish are going to consist of orange clown fish, yellow tang .. but the little try out fish will be a simple cheap fish..but mainly the clown fish and yellow tanh after everything is good to go. 3. Do i really need a PH kit? i see one here at my local pet store for 30 bucks .. but hey if i need it i need it.4. what should i measure , and at what time intervals. 5. how soon could i put the lil testing saltwater guy in there with my instant ocean sea salt. Ok guys this is what i know, and what i currently have for my little saltwater aquarium. 1. Protein skimmer good for 70gallons 2. 50 gallon fish tank 3. Hydrometer--cost me like 8 bucks, 4. Undergravel filtering kit with powerheads 5. gravel rocks 6. Instant ocean sea salt as far as i know ..first dechorinate the water, then mix instant ocean, mix it well, check hydrometer make sure is in range, then i dont know what to do ![]() |
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#2 | |||||||||
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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#3 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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Quote:
(( got it!.. daily untill it cycles and matures)) Not until your tank has complete the nitrogen cycle. ok, got that too.. how long does that take 1 week? 2 weeks? maybe 3. Ditch the UG filter and go with good quality liverock instead. ![]() what will the liverock do for the fishes, and how much should i get, and where do i get it from? ok let me get this straight...mix appropriate amount of salt with filtered water, then let it mix with my power head for 24 hrs, then check with my hydrometer and testing kit if things are right ..then what? is that the end nitro cycle.what should my standards be on salinity, alkalinity , ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate be? wow, thanks Last edited by dave00gt; 10-19-2005 at 11:54 AM. |
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#4 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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The nitrogen cycle length will depend on how long it takes the bacteria colonies to develop to perform the conversions. If you were to buy true 'fully cured' liverock it is possible that there would never be a cycle. However most buy advertised 'cured' liverock which will still experience die-off in transit and require time to cycle. The cycle could last from 0 days to 5 weeks depending on your methods. You will know it is completed when there is no detectable ammonia and no detectable nitrite in the aquarium.
Liverock is the main form of biological filtration for marine aquariums. Whether you are doing a reef tank of only fish I recommend that use of liverock, heavy protein skimming and aggressive water changes for all your filtration needs. Liverock can be purchased from many of our online sponsors and even after you include shipping costs, is typically much cheaper than buying from a local supplier. Standards on your: Salinity - 35-36ppt or 1.025 - 1.026 with your hydrometer. pH - 8.0-8.3 although slightly lower is ok too. Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - As low as possible. For a FO tank you can get away with 30-40ppm but for any inverts you want it lower than that. Alkalinity - Don't even worry about this right now. ![]() |
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#5 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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Quote:
i really like the standards you gave me, that will be very helpfull in the future and im going to buy live rock, and a full kit for testing the water. i will look into the live rock section, and see what i can find. ok, im slow, and new to this so here it goes 1.mix filtered water with apropriate amount of sea salt 2. mix it with power head for 24 hrs and install Protein Skimmer 3. after 24 hrs check for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate traces with testing kit oh! and a hydrometer . 4.after everything is in place could i add at least live rock, and a tester guy. |
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#6 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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You should mix your saltwater for at least 24 hours and then test for temp, pH and salinity; make any necessary adjustments. Once these three things are where they need to be (temp should be at 80) you can add all of your liverock (probably about 30-40lbs would be nice in a 50-gallon FO tank). 24 hours after adding the liverock, ensuring that the salinity, pH and temp stays steady start checking ammonia and nitrite. You should see the ammonia rise and start to fall over a couple of days. When the ammonia starts to fall you will see the nitrite rise and start to fall. Once Ammonia and Nitrite are at 0 and Nitrates are <50ppm then you are ready to add a very hardy, first fish.
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#7 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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Quote:
oh yes ! one more question.. do i really need live sand? or will the regular rock gravel work..? my local fish store , sells sand and a liquid to introduce bacteria and such to the sand, is that a good product if we do the sand like that.?? thanks Last edited by dave00gt; 10-19-2005 at 01:57 PM. |
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#8 |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Southcentral PA
Posts: 121
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You don't want to use rock gravel, that will cause you more problems with nitrates than anything. Just regular old sugar sized sand would work, just make sure it's not silica based.
__________________
Big Gulps huh? Welp, see you later. |
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#9 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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Quote:
what if i use rock gravel with live rock and crushed corral? |
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#10 |
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Moderator
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Then you would be following a different path from what has been described above. Myself I use a DSB (Deep Sand Bed) of sugar sized sand. NO UNDERGRAVEL filters... The rock will filter the water, and the skimmer will help remove waste. Just remember to KISS! (Keep It Simple Silly)
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#11 |
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Citizen
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Orlando
Posts: 144
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Can't he just use crushed coral?
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"A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open." |
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#12 | |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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#13 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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Quote:
right now my tank is cloudy and it probably wont clear up till in 24 hrs, is this correct? ![]() |
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#14 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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You do not want to do the rock gravel, bottom line. Take it out along with the undergravel filter now before you get any liverock or anything else. Having these things in place are counter-productive to your success; seriously. You should keep the powerheads in the tank but to just circulate water.
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#15 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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#16 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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I wouldn't, personally I would go without any substrate or use a deep bed of fine sand. Those are the only two methods I would consider.
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#17 | |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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Quote:
.. i already mixed everything , sea salt and everything i am in the beggining of the cycle..cmon, give me some hope, im gonna buy 30 lbs more of live rock by this week...is should help me filter things. |
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#18 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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Unfortunately there isn't a lot of hope using those methods. The problem will be in the form of Nitrate and it may not rear it's ugly face for a couple of months but when it does there will be no way to combat it with your current methods. If I were you I would mark up my losses and go ahead and remove the substrate you currently have and the UGF before you get your next batch of liverock, which will make it harder.
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#19 |
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Citizen
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 233
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if i do remove the susbtrate , do i have to buy more sea salt..
and about the live sand, the LFS said i would buy a chemical they have and dump it with the sand, and that converts it into live sand, can i do that? |
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#20 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 12,998
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You will only need to get more salt to replace what is going to be removed. When you remove the substrate and filter you are obviously going to loose some water and have some additional space to fill so yes, you will need more salt water.
On the sand, no there is nothing that you have buy other than true livesand and livesand life that will make the sand live. Whatever it is that they are selling you is not needed and a waste of mulah. |
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