got my first sw tank... ut oh!

[bill109]

hey i dont know how you all talked me into getting a sw tank over a bigger fw tank but it happend i bought a 12 gal eclipse and have a few question.
when i do my first cycle do i have to chenage the water that week?
how long does a cycle last?
how many should i do untilo the first fish goes in.?
how do you do the top offs with dripping method i thought that you pour it in litlle at a time?
also can the fish stay in when you do top offs?

any answerrs?

 

[bill109]

are royal gramma and clownfish compatible
for a 12
or what goes with a roayl ( my mind is set one one of those) lol

 

[oceangrl11]

cycles can last various times. not sure for your size tank but my 75 lasts over a month. Do not want to change the water until the cycle finishes. Learning about that myself.....check the bag for how much water the salt will make. if it says only UP TO 10 gal then you will need for for a 12 gal....usually salt is 1/2 c. per gal of salt water.....i buy them in super large buckets so not sure how many lb you need for a 12 gal. also not sure about the compatibility stuff...hope this helps....

 

[oceangrl11]

also i ditched my bio balls b/c of high trates......anything to keep them down sounded good to me..

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by oceangrl11
cycles can last various times. not sure for your size tank but my 75 lasts over a month. Do not want to change the water until the cycle finishes. Learning about that myself.....check the bag for how much water the salt will make. if it says only UP TO 10 gal then you will need for for a 12 gal....usually salt is 1/2 c. per gal of salt water.....i buy them in super large buckets so not sure how many lb you need for a 12 gal. also not sure about the compatibility stuff...hope this helps....
the bag says up to 10 gal.. your ratio was correct it sasys i have everythin i need but i guess i need 2 more gallons ( i have a 12 gallon) worth tht makes sense but the box says has everything you need but i guess not

 

[sepulatian]

Hey Bill, Get yourself a master test kit. This kit should include tests for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ph, and KH. Do not cycle your tank with fish. Put a piece of shrimp, or some fish food in your tank and wait for the Ammonia to spike. If you are curing your live rock, you can do that in your tank and not add anything else. The Ammonia from the rock will be enough to cycle your tank. If you are curing rock you may want to do some water changes. If you are using a food source to cycle then leave the tank alone untill it is done. I am currently cycling a 20 gallon and it has been about 2 weeks. The Ammonia is still at 1. It will take several weeks to cycle. After your ammonia spike you will get a Nitrite spike. After your Nitrite spike you will get a Nitrate spike. Make sure your Ammonia and Nitrite are at zero for at least a week before you add fish. As far as the question about salt volume, pick up a refractometer. A hydrometer will work for now, but everyone comes across disease at some point and you will need the refractometer later. You want your salinity level to be around 1.025 if you plan to have inverts (starfish, crabs, snails, etc.) If you are doing fish only then 1.022-1.024 will work. I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions at all, please post them!

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
Hey Bill, Get yourself a master test kit. This kit should include tests for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ph, and KH. Do not cycle your tank with fish. Put a piece of shrimp, or some fish food in your tank and wait for the Ammonia to spike. If you are curing your live rock, you can do that in your tank and not add anything else. The Ammonia from the rock will be enough to cycle your tank. If you are curing rock you may want to do some water changes. If you are using a food source to cycle then leave the tank alone untill it is done. I am currently cycling a 20 gallon and it has been about 2 weeks. The Ammonia is still at 1. It will take several weeks to cycle. After your ammonia spike you will get a Nitrite spike. After your Nitrite spike you will get a Nitrate spike. Make sure your Ammonia and Nitrite are at zero for at least a week before you add fish. As far as the question about salt volume, pick up a refractometer. A hydrometer will work for now, but everyone comes across disease at some point and you will need the refractometer later. You want your salinity level to be around 1.025 if you plan to have inverts (starfish, crabs, snails, etc.) If you are doing fish only then 1.022-1.024 will work. I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions at all, please post them!
i am using food (krill) to start my first cycle when i start it can i pot in all my live sand and rock? also how much is a master test kit because i was planning on bringinf my water to my lfs fro testing but i didnt know i could bet one so yeah how much? is my question
ps did you look at the fw question on the last one i think it is called the aquarium is the forum about ANYTHHING

 

[whitey_028]

Welcome to the addiction!!!!!!!!! hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Anyone wanna make bets on how long it will be to a bigger tank?

 

[gills79]

Three months, one to cycle, one to enjoy the couple fish that fit in the tank and one to decide that he NEEDS more fish...and more room...and maybe some live rock...and a few inverts...and to obsesses over it until he gives in and drains his savings account to buy a bigger tank

Such is the curse of SW fish

 

[whitey_028]

Originally Posted by Gills79
Three months, one to cycle, one to enjoy the couple fish that fit in the tank and one to decide that he NEEDS more fish...and more room...and maybe some live rock...and a few inverts...and to obsesses over it until he gives in and drains his savings account to buy a bigger tank

Such is the curse of SW fish

 

[ryanhayes9]

it comes with 10 gallons of mix cuz when you put the lr etc in the water volume will decrease to 10 gallons or less

 

[zanski]

UUUUHHHHHHHHHHH I owned a 10 gal. for 4 months. Then my girl wouldnt let me get a bigger one. So one day i was at a LFS in atlanta and they had a 30 gal. with like 20 juvi. hippo's . So i had to rescue atleast one. then i played the "ohhh i didnt know they got that big, HONEYY!!!! we need a larger tank" card...

. And it worked!