2nd time setting up a saltwater tank..help

[2ndtimer]

I had to divorce my first tand and now I've gotten a new one.I received a 55 gal tank with filter, heater and of course your basic hood lights. I need a refresher course on what kind of filter I need to use and also I can remember on my last tank I just let my water filter for a day or so before I began putting anything such as rocks or fish in it. At that time I was on well water but had no problems with water, algae or anything else. My water was always great. Tests were great. I did upgrade my lighting and I can remember I also had powerheads for water circulation. Can anyone help me out here.

 

[2ndtimer]

I will probably have more live rock than fish. The different live rocks are beautiful if they thrive good.

 

[sinner's girl]

welcome! good luck
cycle the tank with raw shrimp, then after water is good add fish,
use ro/di if possible. tap water bad

 

[2ndtimer]

how much raw shrimp are we talking about and can I go ahead and put the sand and salt in. Also how about the filter

 

[2ndtimer]

How about the sand, filter and heater situation. I know what kind of lighting I will use.

 

[cb]

WELCOME TO THE BOARD.......................

 

[2ndtimer]

Thanks! I will be putting in the sand and salt this evening and then the shrimp afterwards. How about the filter? What kind do you suggest using?

 

[2ndtimer]

I've never done that. Can you tell me how???

 

[2ndtimer]

Is it necessary to use the sump? Also what temp. does the water need to be?

 

[2ndtimer]

I will check into the sump for sure. Kipass4130, what do you normally keep your ammonia level at? If memory serves me correctly, I kept mine close to 8.0. Your opinion......

 

[lobstergrabber]

Kip,
why do you say 82 on the temp. I understand that it is ok to be that high but why does it need to be that? My tank sits at 76-78 w/o a chiller so I am curious. I know others who use chillers to keep it there also.
Rich

 

[2ndtimer]

My mistake. I was talking about my ph. My temp is now 80. I haven't checked anything else yet because I just got the sand and the powerheads put in last night. I also got the salt put in too. I checked the salt this morning and it still isn't near being enough. How much would you put in for a 55 gal tank>Do I need a protein skimmer?

 

[2ndtimer]

I mixed the salt outside of the tank and then added. Most likely will put live rock in this weekend. As you well know Kip there's I think only 1 saltwater store around and it closes at 5:00 weekdays so it will have to be saturday. Do I need to put any algae eaters in now. What do you suggest? Forgot the name of the sand I used but I have about a 2" bed. On my last tank I used bubbles for circulation but have been reading here not too. Never had any problem with them. Your opinion??? I will also be getting different bulbs this weekend also when I pick up my rocks. Not sure if I'll get any fish yet or not. Want to make sure water is good and stable before I start getting fish.

 

[thefishfreak03]

rule of thumb is usully 1/2 a cup of salt per gallon.

 

[sinner's girl]

"Do I need to put any algae eaters in now." Nope, you should wait till your tank is cycled before adding any inverts/clean-up crew. ammoinia, nitrites and nitrates should be zero, ph 8.3, temp 78, salinity ~1.023
"Not sure if I'll get any fish yet or not. Want to make sure water is good and stable before I start getting fish." Right, make sure your tank is cycled before adding any fish. (you know what a cycle is right? -some don't-).
If you add some uncured lr (sometimes cheaper) that will help with the cycle. Also you can add some base rock, which is cheaper and the base rock will become lr over time.
Good Luck!

 

[2ndtimer]

Not sure what your definition is for cycle. Let me know. OK Kip what about Greendales. That's the one I was talking about. When I had my other one I didn't have any problem there. Have you had bad experiences there? like I said that was about 10 years ago. Should I not be going there. Whats the name of the place on S. Blvd.? I have two canopies. VHO is the one I was looking at.

 

[bheron]

Kippass,
So you're saying the new PC lights are the way to go? I am starting a new 75G FOWLR + some inverts. I have a 110W compact VHO but was going to add in another 275W of MH to be safe and for any simple, hardy inverts in the future. I always heard MH was the way to go for the best lighting. No so?

 

[2ndtimer]

Kip my salt is high right now. What can I do to bring it down. Haven't checked anything else yet but will be doing so later this evening but would like to fix the salt situation now. Any suggestions??

 

[bheron]

kipass - sorry, misread the line. gotcha. phew - thought all my research was wrong! thanks

 

[2ndtimer]

Kip I re-checked everything last night and everything was ok except my salt level. Is there a reason why it would keep fluctuating so much. As stated earlier it was real high and last night it was low again. A little help please..........