Converting my 75 gallon to salt

bulldoggg03

bulldoggg03

New Member
Hey everyone-
New to the saltwater world. I do work at a LFS and it is mostly salt but I am coming away from African Cichlids. Got the SG at 1.022 It has been up an running for about 3 days today. I am wanting to get live rock tonight. Starting out with about 60lbs. Does anyone see a problem with this. All I work with up at my LFS say to go ahead. They are also saying once I add the rock my tank is pretty much cycled. Its not that I dont trust these guys I just want to get some other opinions. Oh I have a 20 long as my sump with a protein skimmer. Also have one Koralia 3 power head. Right now its going to be a fish only with live rock. Will do corals in about a year.
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
ok. first bring the salt to 1.025. as well the rock will not cycle that fast. you have to go through a cycle. after 3 weeks or so you will be ready
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by nissan577
http:///forum/post/3116176
ok. first bring the salt to 1.025. as well the rock will not cycle that fast. you have to go through a cycle. after 3 weeks or so you will be ready
Hey Nissan...would you care to explain that to him a little better
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by bulldoggg03
http:///forum/post/3116170
Hey everyone-
New to the saltwater world. I do work at a LFS and it is mostly salt but I am coming away from African Cichlids. Got the SG at 1.022 It has been up an running for about 3 days today. I am wanting to get live rock tonight. Starting out with about 60lbs. Does anyone see a problem with this. All I work with up at my LFS say to go ahead. They are also saying once I add the rock my tank is pretty much cycled. Its not that I dont trust these guys I just want to get some other opinions. Oh I have a 20 long as my sump with a protein skimmer. Also have one Koralia 3 power head. Right now its going to be a fish only with live rock. Will do corals in about a year.
First welcome to SWF....the one thing I learned is NEVER do anything w/o asking here first...it will save you a lot of money in the long run
Are you going to put Live Sand in the tank?...I don't see it mentioned
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by bulldoggg03
http:///forum/post/3116170
Hey everyone-
New to the saltwater world. I do work at a LFS and it is mostly salt but I am coming away from African Cichlids. Got the SG at 1.022 It has been up an running for about 3 days today. I am wanting to get live rock tonight. Starting out with about 60lbs. Does anyone see a problem with this. All I work with up at my LFS say to go ahead. They are also saying once I add the rock my tank is pretty much cycled. Its not that I dont trust these guys I just want to get some other opinions. Oh I have a 20 long as my sump with a protein skimmer. Also have one Koralia 3 power head. Right now its going to be a fish only with live rock. Will do corals in about a year.

WELCOME!
1.022 is fine for fish only....when you go for coral you will want it higher. You do need some sand (substrate) I wouldn't recommend using the same water you used with the fresh...but what is done, is done. It shouldn't hurt too much. I think it is all different bacteria, so you still have to allow the tank to cycle anyway.
You need some marine test kits…not the strip type. A good book to read as you wait for the cycle…Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies…this book has nice clear easy to understand instructions.
Also you need another power head, a #2 Koralia...put them on opposite sides directed over the rocks.
Have fun!
 
bulldoggg03

bulldoggg03

New Member
Ok Ok Sorry. Guess I should have explained myself a little better as well. So I broke down my 75 gallon African setup. Took all the water out and sand. Bleached the sand for a bit. Got my tank drilled and had the sump and overflow installed last weekend. Rinsed the sand from the bleach water and put sand back in my tank. Filled the tank with salt water and has been running for 4 days today. Went last night and picked up 45lbs of live rock and put it in. WOW its crazy how live rock works as a filter. I got some pictures posted below. First pic is of how my tank was cloudy for the past couple days and then putting the rock in. Pic#2 was taken this morning. All cleared up just from adding rock. The rest are just closer pictures of the rock. I know I am going to need more but 45lbs is all i could afford at the moment.



 
bulldoggg03

bulldoggg03

New Member
Thanks Bulldog...It is a great name.. I have a female bulldog that is 8yrs old. Just got a boxer pup who is out of control. LOL
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I agree with what you said..LOL...add some more sand, and definitely more rock....make sure your rock is stable...you do not want it to fall and crack the glass..
 
bulldoggg03

bulldoggg03

New Member
Its not going anywhere. I know it looks dangerous and it would be if it fell but I poked at it here and there and I am not getting any movement.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by bulldoggg03
http:///forum/post/3117214
Its not going anywhere. I know it looks dangerous and it would be if it fell but I poked at it here and there and I am not getting any movement.
....Glad to hear that. What you have looks good, and you will be able to create a lot more caves and stuff when you get some more
 
noah's nemo

noah's nemo

Member
You did the same thing i did a couple years back,only my 75 had red bellies.Anyway good luck and have fun with it ,i love saltwater way more than fresh.One thing though, your gonna wish you went bigger from the start LOL.I just upgraded to a 125....Not really a fun process
 
bulldoggg03

bulldoggg03

New Member
Thanks everyone.
So I have done some research on different ways you can place live rock. The pattern that I have has more than one swim through. I know I am gonna get more live rock in the near future but I am thinking maybe I should make two "islands" with the rock and just stack letting it create its own caves and cracks versus setting the rock like I have it. I dont plan on doing corals for about a year. What do you all think. Should I keep going with the way I have it or make two islands or maybe one big one in the center? I am so used to the whole making caves thing from back when I had african cichlids that it comes natural to do it this way then just a pile.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by bulldoggg03
http:///forum/post/3117327
Thanks everyone.
So I have done some research on different ways you can place live rock. The pattern that I have has more than one swim through. I know I am gonna get more live rock in the near future but I am thinking maybe I should make two "islands" with the rock and just stack letting it create its own caves and cracks versus setting the rock like I have it. I dont plan on doing corals for about a year. What do you all think. Should I keep going with the way I have it or make two islands or maybe one big one in the center? I am so used to the whole making caves thing from back when I had african cichlids that it comes natural to do it this way then just a pile.

If you are someday planning on doing coral, set up your rocks to have ledges and maybe a cave...not all corals like the bright lights and you need some darker places to set them up. It is a royal pain to try and change everything later. So set the rock the way you like it to start with, and save yourself some grief and work.
I have seen the two islands and I think they look really nice...
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
+1 on doing it the way you want it now for later. If you set it up for how you will want it eventually it creates much less of a headache later on down the road.
 
bulldog123

bulldog123

Member
Did someone tell him to get all the rock in now or he could end up with a mini cycle. Try the two islands and see how it looks. Ive seen others and looks sweet. But that could be hard if you stick to the 1.5lb/2lb per gallon.
 
bulldoggg03

bulldoggg03

New Member
Alright everyone....Had to go out last night and get another 30-35lbs of rock. Bills will just have to wait. LOL Man I couldnt help it. I got to looking at the rock I had in there and noticed all the brittle stars and I think I even have a couple Harlequin Serpent Stars down in the holes of the rock with just their legs sticking out. All the little bugs all over it I was like man this is so cool. LOL the little things I go crazy over. Plus I wanted it to get set up the way it was going to be. Didnt want to add slowley. So at any rate I think I am happy with this. Let me know what you all think. Oh I got some good stuff last night too. Two pieces covered in purple. You will see the smaller island is almost all purple.




 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by bulldoggg03
http:///forum/post/3118023
Alright everyone....Had to go out last night and get another 30-35lbs of rock. Bills will just have to wait. LOL Man I couldnt help it. I got to looking at the rock I had in there and noticed all the brittle stars and I think I even have a couple Harlequin Serpent Stars down in the holes of the rock with just their legs sticking out. All the little bugs all over it I was like man this is so cool. LOL the little things I go crazy over. Plus I wanted it to get set up the way it was going to be. Didnt want to add slowley. So at any rate I think I am happy with this. Let me know what you all think. Oh I got some good stuff last night too. Two pieces covered in purple. You will see the smaller island is almost all purple.

Looking good...for a75g however...I know bills had to wait but...you need another power had. The one is not enough. What are you using to agitate the surface?
 
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