Starting a saltwater aquarium

[Sweetden25]

Hi
I am completely new to this. I have never had a fish tank. My uncle gave me a 36 gallon bow front fish tank and I have always loved salt water fish because they are so pretty, so I decided to start one. It came with all of the equipment it needed such as a Tetra Filter, heater, thermoter. All I bought was a powerhead and live sand. I will probably get a protein skimmer later on. But right now I have already put my live sand in and water mixed with the salt. Its been cycling since last friday. I decided I wanted to put rocks in so I bought 50lbs worth of dry rocks. My question is can I put it right in or do I need to do something to beforehand?

 

[lmforbis]

You will want to rince and soak the rocks for a few days.
When you put the rocks in, You will want to move the sand so the rock base is on glass then push the sand around the rock.

 

[jay0705]

Also adding a piece of live rock will help seed your dry rock

 

[Sweetden25]

Thank you for the feedback! So I should buy live rock as well? Is there something else I can do other than putting a piece of live rock to help the cycle go faster?

 

[lmforbis]

Not really. You just have to have patience

 

[Sweetden25]

ok thank you. I've also checked the salinity of the water and right now its at 1.024. Should it be lower and if so how do I get it lower?

 

[Kristin1234]

Are you checking with a refractometer or a hydrometer?

 

[Kristin1234]

Your fine with were you are. I keep mine at 1.025.

If you are testing with a hydrometer though, that may be a false reading.

 

[Sweetden25]

with a hydrometer...so then I need to get a refractormeter? Are those expensive?

 

[jay0705]

Not really. You just have to have patience

Patient!!!!! Whats that?

 

[Kristin1234]

with a hydrometer...so then I need to get a refractormeter? Are those expensive?

They are just not as accurate and can be off by quite a bit. I got mine for like $89.00.

 

[jay0705]

Mine was $60

 

[Kristin1234]

You have to calibrate them with straight RO water though, so if you don't have any get some from the lfs as well.

It's a good investment. Well worth the money. And you only have to buy it once. Of course unless you break yours or something.

 

[Kristin1234]

Patient!!!!! Whats that?

Right? Lol!

 

[lmforbis]

Mine was around $30 on Amazon.
I have ca 35 ppt calibration solution for mine.

 

[jay0705]

The fluid is what they say to use, but I use distilled water and get the same results

 

[Sweetden25]

I just used tap water and then added Tetra AquaSafe Plus.

 

[Kristin1234]

I just used tap water and then added Tetra AquaSafe Plus.

For your top off water?

 

[Sweetden25]

I just used tap water and then added Tetra AquaSafe Plus.

For your top off water?

I haven't top off yet. I just started my aquarium.

 

[Sweetden25]

You will want to rince and soak the rocks for a few days.
When you put the rocks in, You will want to move the sand so the rock base is on glass then push the sand around the rock.

When will i know the rocks are ready to go into the aquarium. I just hosed it down really good until the water became clear and now I have them soaking in a few buckets.