Beginner Here

[sweetr]

We currently have a 30 gal freshwater setup. We really like it but are growing more and more fond of saltwater. We have a LFS that has been around for 20 years and another just a few miles away that is a breeder. So hopefully our products and fish will be quality.

We have so many questions still and I would like more opinions before we change over. We are wanting to keep the 30 gal. We live in an apartment and nothing bigger is allowed. We are prepared to buy live sand and live rock to start. We also would need a filter. I wish I knew what he suggested but it was a filter that hung on the back that was full of bio balls (I think thats what they are called). It was 175$. We also wanted to start with only a shrimp and a few hardy and low maintanence fish. We have been reading on clowns and perhaps a domino or three stripe damsel. :happyfish
Please let us know the best brands to use. We also need suggestions on rock size....we arent sure how much to put in. Then there is the question of how long the tank sits empty. And last but not least what "cycle" means.
:help: :help: :help:
THANKS!!!

 

[usinkit]

If you are going to have live rock you will not need a high dollar filter. The live rock will have enough rea for your benificial bacteria to grow. You could pick up a small canister filter just to run carbon. As for how much rock to have its about 1-1.5 lbs per a gallon so 30 to 45 lbs would be good for a 30 gallon.
Cycling is when you start the benificial bacteria growth which consumes all waste produced by your fish. If you purchase liverock I would purchase uncured liverock. The uncured liverock will have die-off that will start your cycle. You will need an ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kits. Once you have the rock in the tank test the ammonia level, you will see the ammonia level start to rise. The ammonia levels will peak and then start to fall back to 0. The next stage is the nitrites will do the same. After the ammonia levels and nitrites have fallen to 0 you can test your nitrates. The nitrates will be on the high side , so then is when you want to do a 20-30% waterchange. Once that is done you can add your clean-up crew. Wait a week after the clean-up crew is in the tank and test your ammonia and nitrites and if they are at 0 add one fish. You want to wait 1 to 2 weeks in between adding fish so your benificial bacteria has time to grow to support your new fish.

 

[usinkit]

Forgot the cycle generally takes 2 to 6 weeks to complete the full cycle.

 

[crazyaqua]

Yeah dont use damsels to cycle either use cocktail shrimp damsels are a pain to get out of tank once you have it established and there the worst fish out to cause stress to other fish in the future.

 

[sweetr]

We are wondering about keeping out 30 gallon fresh and buying a 24 gal nano cube deluxe. It comes with the right lighting and filtration systems and is great for beginners.
What would you suggest?? Is the Nano a good choice?

 

[usinkit]

The one thing i never liked about the nano kits is the lighting. It doesnt come with enough lighting to keep most hardier corals and anomone's IMO. I would rather buy a 10 or 15 gallon tank and retrofit it for lights. JMO

 

[sac10918]

I just purchased the 24 gallon aquapod with HQI lighting. I am just now in the process of setting it up but I think I am really going to like it.

 

[badoleross]

I ordered my liverock fully cured from the Drs and my tank cycled in about 2 weeks with little or no die off. I would get a HOB skimmer instead of anything that contains bioballs. Bioballs seem to increase nitrates. I'd go with a HO canister for periodic polishing.