Detailed noob questions-Conflicting Answers

glowplug

glowplug

Member
Nice forum BTW...best ive found
Im a tank/forum noob but I have done some homework.Ive read 2 books-talked to lots of store people. All with Diffrent answers! To get started you will need to know some things.
I want to do a FOWL
My Setup:
20g Long 30''long 12'' up
Coralife double strip 10k + Actinic
Aquaclear 70- too much flow on a 20 ???
DIY Stand
azoo 100w titainium heater
Carib sea aragonite
Crystal Sea salt mix
bunch of odds and ends
My Questions:
1.Good place on web for LR ???? {edit} Is 15$ a lb for poopy looking LR from LFS crazy?(no corraline-just green algae)
2.Can I get away with 10lbs of LR ???? (i like the open look)
3.I know youve heard it........DO I NEED A P.Skimmer on this size tank?? When to add?? Books say all tanks need one, Marine Biologist from LFS says no with the idea being such a small tank limits amount of fish so there shouldnt be a heavy bioload in the first place??? Who to believe!! p.s. If I get one I would go with the coralife needle wheel....good?
4.Fresh water Friends made me get Novaqua AND Amquel Plus.....Told me to use both...is this retarded?
5. The Marine biologist from LFS ACTUALLY SAID to my face: Mix saltwater/Dechlorinator with heater in a container over night,TEST(salinity at .025!!), throw in sand, LR, and Saltwater in the tank(in that order-sand at 1/2 inch depth), get it all running, then NEXT DAY, throw in a fish and NitroMax Marine--then let it rock. Is this really sound advice because it goes against everything ive read?????? And hes a MARINE BIOLOGIST!!!
6.Any experience with NitroMax Marine?!!! How good can it really be? Nothing lives in plastic!--!-!-!
Sorry for long post but its my first so i should get at least 1 free ticket for that! And sorry for the noob ques, ive done the forum thing and gotten real burned out with the same questions over and over!!! But I think mine are pretty good!! I look for your help on clearing up all the BS ive been subjected too!!!!
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!!!
:joy: :cheer: :jumping: :cheer: :joy:
A small rule - because this forum is sponsored by a store, we do ask that you not request or post links to other online stores etc. Just one of the ground rules
No problemo.
OK....that's quite a list!!!
Personally I suggest getting as much LR or at least LR plus base rock as possible. Look at local reef clubs or in the paper or classifieds here. Often good deals

$15 a lb is CRAZY for LR!!!!! AHHHH!!!!
The "marine biologist" is right on the specific gravity and mixing overnight, but I don't personally care for throwing a fish in. There are better and far cheaper ways, IMO, to cycle a tank without harming a fish. IMO, there is no miracle in a bottle and LR is a better investment of your money. Patience is critical. Anyone looking for a bottled solution may need a different hobby. He is trying to sell you stuff
but then it is his livelihood. I don't have a problem being sold stuff, I just hope it is the right stuff

A skimmer is always nice. There are some for small tanks but you can also watch feeding and stocking ( I mean you are not looking at many fish) and do regular water changes, IMO. It would help to have a skimmer but it is not everything.
No problem on the noob questions. Noob questions, IMO are far better than NO questions. Asking before hand prevents a lot of loss later on.
 
coachklm

coachklm

Active Member
make sure that SG is 1.025/6....usev a shrimp and known cycling times.....i like amquel but not to that extent......mucho live rock.....15$ is insane and not worth it....your right nothing lives in plastic but the bacteria starter mixed with SW is ussually the liquid that is inside a bag of LS (aragolive)
ohh and WELCOME....
 
glowplug

glowplug

Member
Sorry I requested!!! Is the rock on here top shelf stuff? I realize thats hard to answer, but is it good stuff or exceptional quality?----Any one ever order any?
 
symon

symon

Member

Originally Posted by ophiura
WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!!!
:joy: :cheer: :jumping: :cheer: :joy:
A small rule - because this forum is sponsored by a store, we do ask that you not request or post links to other online stores etc. Just one of the ground rules
No problemo.
OK....that's quite a list!!!
Personally I suggest getting as much LR or at least LR plus base rock as possible. Look at local reef clubs or in the paper or classifieds here. Often good deals

$15 a lb is CRAZY for LR!!!!! AHHHH!!!!
The "marine biologist" is right on the specific gravity and mixing overnight, but I don't personally care for throwing a fish in. There are better and far cheaper ways, IMO, to cycle a tank without harming a fish. IMO, there is no miracle in a bottle and LR is a better investment of your money. Patience is critical. Anyone looking for a bottled solution may need a different hobby. He is trying to sell you stuff
but then it is his livelihood. I don't have a problem being sold stuff, I just hope it is the right stuff

A skimmer is always nice. There are some for small tanks but you can also watch feeding and stocking ( I mean you are not looking at many fish) and do regular water changes, IMO. It would help to have a skimmer but it is not everything.
No problem on the noob questions. Noob questions, IMO are far better than NO questions. Asking before hand prevents a lot of loss later on.


That coverd about everything you where asking! Research is a good thing, talking to the LFS guy is a good thing! But you really have to ask him, How many tanks do you have! How long have you been in the hobby! Ok that's just me!
Please don't cycle your tank with a living creature! Once you mix your water overnight, .025- .026 is good, place your sand and LR in the tank and gently pour your water in, YOu may want to rinse you sand to decrease the cloudness more quickly!
Take your time, Patience patience and even More Patience
Welcome to the boards and the Hobby
Keep us posted!
 
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