Help with 1st saltwater tank... please....

[Gom]

Hello guys!!!

Here is the quick story on my journey to get a saltwater tank... My daughter who will be 6 months old loves all these saltwater fishes!!! So wife and I go to petsmart and buy a 20 gal starter kit thinking we wer egoing to do fresh water tank... after some thought and contemplating wether or not to go saltwater, I made the decision we would, since my baby girl LOVES all these bright fishes...

(this is for a fowler?) meaning, fish with live rock and some corrals? What I am saying is that I will have fish, live rock, and some corrals (in the near future, future meaning probably within a month after the cycle period, lol)

I was going to ahead and use the starter kit for the saltwater tank, but decided not to. I exchanged the 20 gal starter kit at petsmart for a 29 gal tank (due to space this is the biggest I could get, it will be in my daughters room for her to enjoy), a 150 watt heater, and a marineland bio-wheel filter (says its for tanks up to 50 gal) I already have the live sand, red sea salt and hydrometer. (will have to get more seasalt and live sand since I now have a bigger tank, lol)
I will be getting a power pack for lighting today... And also be getting some liverock! My question is what else do I need?

I have heard some things about a skimmer? and an air pump? will I need all of this for my 29 gal tank?


I just want this to be done right and not rush into it, but its hard not to because I want this up for my daughter already, lol... I know this will be for my daughter but I AM SURE that i will be getting more in depth with this HUGE hobby...

I am here to learn more about this hobby and any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Thanks,
Raphael

[cocoa_pleco]

hey!

you dont really need a skimmer, mainly tanks 33g+ should have them. also, you need live sand or crushed coral substrate. and FOWLR is fish only with live rock, and a reef has corals. for corals, about 5 watts/gallon is for medium light corals, and 10W+ for high light corals. also, corals need some blue actinic bulbs for making food.

any other questions feel free to PM me!

[CAF]

Hello guys!!!

Here is the quick story on my journey to get a saltwater tank... My daughter who will be 6 months old loves all these saltwater fishes!!! So wife and I go to petsmart and buy a 20 gal starter kit thinking we wer egoing to do fresh water tank... after some thought and contemplating wether or not to go saltwater, I made the decision we would, since my baby girl LOVES all these bright fishes...

(this is for a fowler?) meaning, fish with live rock and some corrals? What I am saying is that I will have fish, live rock, and some corrals (in the near future, future meaning probably within a month after the cycle period, lol)

I was going to ahead and use the starter kit for the saltwater tank, but decided not to. I exchanged the 20 gal starter kit at petsmart for a 29 gal tank (due to space this is the biggest I could get, it will be in my daughters room for her to enjoy), a 150 watt heater, and a marineland bio-wheel filter (says its for tanks up to 50 gal) I already have the live sand, red sea salt and hydrometer. (will have to get more seasalt and live sand since I now have a bigger tank, lol)
I will be getting a power pack for lighting today... And also be getting some liverock! My question is what else do I need?

I have heard some things about a skimmer? and an air pump? will I need all of this for my 29 gal tank?


I just want this to be done right and not rush into it, but its hard not to because I want this up for my daughter already, lol... I know this will be for my daughter but I AM SURE that i will be getting more in depth with this HUGE hobby...

I am here to learn more about this hobby and any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Thanks,
Raphael


FOWLR - Fish Only With Live Rock ( no coral included) that would be a reef tank.

From the posts it sound like your tank is not drilled. Can you verify that?

Thanks. ( I have some SW expierence but will bow to others with more once they start to post here)

[Gom]

what do you mean by drilled? i dont understand some of these terms, hehe... sorry guys...

oh okay.... so i will be looking into fish and live rock for right now... but will eventually be getting corrals and what not... just to make it more interesting for my daughter (and of course me, lol)

we will be getting the light that is designed for corrals and what not...

so am I set?

I have the tank, live sand, hydrometer, red sea salt, filter, and i will need live rock... about how much of live rock can I start off with? I know it costs a pretty penny since its per pound, and i know it is reccommended to use about 1.5-2 lbs per gallon... but how much cna I just start off with?

thanks for the replies guys!!!

raphael

[cocoa_pleco]

you can add a bit at the start, but you will have to "cure" any more LR that comes later.

a drilled tank has holes where you run tubes for a sump. sumps are only needed for tanks 55g+ so you dont need one


sounds like youre set!

[CAF]

Well I should have said this first... LOL Welcome to AC!!!!


A drilled tank has plumbing connections so you can hook up to a sump. What you are describing should work, I started bigger so I had to get more bells and whistles... Hopefully someone here will a nano tank can help you out.

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, CAF, weve had 2 ninja posts!

so far all ive had is nano tanks (33g is my biggest SW tank, but someones picking it up today).

[Gom]

ALLRIGHT!!! can't wait for this baby to get started... lol... we are actually going to be putting on my baby's changing table (we NEVER HAVE NOT USED IT NTO ONCE!!!) its a perfect spot in my baby's room, lol... very stable...

so tonight will have the water adn salt mixed... make sure the salinity level is good, then add the live sand (or this is what i haev been told) when can i add the live rock?

also, i have heard people saying to not do fish cycling? using fish to cycle your tank... but my lfs said you can... i am a bit confused as to what to do about cycling... but i know you guys will haev more answers for me!!! hahahaha... :19: i can't wait to get off work so i can buy the extra sand and salt, and live rock... lol... so ho wmuhch live rock cna i start off with?

thanks again guys!!!
raphael

[CAF]

lol, CAF, weve had 2 ninja posts!

so far all ive had is nano tanks (33g is my biggest SW tank, but someones picking it up today).
LOL and I'm the one usually accused of Ninja Posting...

[cocoa_pleco]

start with about 8-10 Lbs.

and fishless cycle, theres a few stickies on it

[CAF]

start with about 8-10 Lbs.

and fishless cycle, theres a few stickies on it

The LR and LS will cycle the tank completely on their own without having to add any chemicals. Thats how I did mine.

[Gom]

is an air pump with air stone necessary? if so, what kind?

[CAF]

is an air pump with air stone necessary? if so, what kind?
Not really... however it is always good to have one on hand for emergancies...

[Gom]

well, i have about 60 dollars left on my credit for petsmart, lol... what can i buy there there that will benefit this tank? hehe...

[CAF]

well, i have about 60 dollars left on my credit for petsmart, lol... what can i buy there there that will benefit this tank? hehe...
1. A TEST KIT

2. A small air pump w/ stone (if you have enough after the test kit)

[Gom]

i will have to do that today... hehe... a test kit and a small pump and air stone...

where do you place the air stone? should i get the stone or the strip? what are the benefits of having an air stone in a salt water tank?

[zackish]

Get a master test kit that tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates.
Look for a better light and such on www.bigalsonline.com
They have everything and anything and great prices for everything too.
Some other stuff you should get:
Hydrometer
Salt, 150 gallon bucket of instant ocean should do for now, I think it is on sale at petsmart now for $25.99
Don't get live sand...it's a waste of money, get the carib-sea aragonite
That is all I can think of right now. I would just do a lot of research and stuff will come up as you go on.
You might want to read up on cycling a tank too if you haven't had tanks before. Though once you put the live rock in it should start to cycle.
Some places you might want to check out:
www.reefcentral.com
www.nano-reef.com
www.reefs.org
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/saltwater/index.html
The last link has great articles, the rest are forums specifically for reef and SW tanks.
Good luck to you!!

[CAF]

i will have to do that today... hehe... a test kit and a small pump and air stone...

where do you place the air stone? should i get the stone or the strip? what are the benefits of having an air stone in a salt water tank?

Certain treatments require more aeration. Just getting one and putting it in storage until needed is what I was speaking of.

[Gom]

thanks again!!!

[CAF]

thanks again!!!
np and good luck.

[Rue]

Well...I agree...go with regular aragonite, it will become live with time...

SW carries less fish per volume than FW, so be aware that you can have a total of 12" of fish (ballpark).

If you go with LR, get all of it at once, it will cycle your tank for you...you don't want to be adding bits and pieces if you can help it, since you have to cure any new rock coming into the tank past the initial setup.

I'd toss the hydrometre and get a refractometre right off the bat. I'd also get good SW test kits...I'd suggest going with Sailfert - get ammonia, nitrate, nitrate and phosphate - Calcium is important too, but if you do weekly water changes, your calcium should be fine.

If you having corals, you'll def. need to upgrade your lights. The stock lights are fine with fish only.

With 29 g, you're borderline for a protein skimmer, but I think I'd get one...my system has a total of 34g and my skimmer pulls out a sig. amount of skimmate.

[CAF]

skimmate.

(that means protein sludge... ewwww)

[cocoa_pleco]

(that means protein sludge... ewwww)

that sludge crap is GROSS! its a filmy brown sludge that accumulates on the waterline

[CAF]

that sludge crap is GROSS! its a filmy brown sludge that accumulates on the waterline
::With wide eyes while nodding:: Thats why you get a 'skimmer...

You have to clean the cup occasionally, but hot water and a pressure washer do wonders...

::gags::

[jttt3]

And unless you want an algea and diatom problem like I have, which has been a month of hell getting rid of, make sure to keep your nitrate and phosphate levels very very very low. Green algae requires phosphates and nitrates, brown algae requires silicas and nitrates. Silicas and phosphates can come piggy backed on the water you use for water changes, the sand, the salt you use to make the water, and your substrate.

I should post a horror pic lol

[Dave66]

The algae problems will go away when your tank matures. The nutrient levels are all over the place in a new marine, so when it stabilizes, algae nutrients diminish.

Dave

[2manyfish]

I have to leave in a few minutes so I don't have much time to post....BUT I am concerned about you using the babies changing table for the tank. A 29g saltwater tank is going to weigh in at around 246lbs. That's just water!
Saltwater weighs in at 8.5 pounds per gallon....

[zackish]

You'll be over 300 pounds with LR and substrate but I think you may have already thought of this. If not look into a simple stand or even making one. I chose to make my stand with 4x4's and 3/4" sheet of plywood which is over kill but I still made a really nice sturdy stand.

[Gom]

thanks for the concerns about the stand... I am well aware that it will be a heavy piece, haha... but this is not an ordinary type changing table... this changing table is made of quality grade wood and is made well!!! very stable and can take my 220 lb body no problems... lol... i actually tested it myself, lol...

[2manyfish]

Glad to hear it!
I have seen some very nice changing tables, sturdy enough for what they were designed to do but yet not something I would trust with such a heavy object....glad yours is up to the task!! :c10:

[Gom]

a lil update on what i did...



i returned the marineland filter... got a canister filter instead... i will get a skimmer in about a week...



i already got the water in the tank... took about a day to have all the salt dissolve and my salinity level is where it should be...
its between 1.022 and 1.023... added the live sand... and added the live rock... waiting for the sand to settle so i can turn on the filter and start the cycling process...



i did get a powerhead also... I have heard people saying that you can use a powerhead to simulate a current in the tnak? where is the best spot to put this?





thanks,
raphael

[cocoa_pleco]

you want the powerhead placed where you can get most of the flow towards corals. corals need a powerhead to bring them food and to clean them off

[Rue]

You really need 2 powerheads...one directly kinda of upwards, to disturb the surface of the tank...and the other directed into the tank itself...