So... im new to all this I have my eye on a 75 gal. Tank. Im interested in a coral and fish tank. I know patients is the key to success and I cannot tell you how much I have read up on these. However, as far as getting started. What is you all's opinion on the nessesitys to get started and get my tank "cycled". Do I need to get all my Live Rock at once? Or can I just get what can afford now? Or wait? Same with the Live Sand how thick of a sand bed do I want? Just looking for some advice from someone with a successful aquarium. Please if you are trying act like you know what your talking about and realistically dont know anything, please keep it to yourself I dont have the money to flush down the drain. Thanks
Just a few suggestions?
- Thread starter shane p.
- Start date
mauler
Active Member
You could just buy 10-20lbs of live rock and buy dry rock for the rest to save some money you can also do the same with the sand. You don't necessarily have to buy all your rock or sand at first but if add live sand or rock down the line it could cause a mini cycle due to die off.
As far as how much rock and sand you need you'll want a 1-2" sand bed for the rock you'll get different answers from everyone some say 1-2lbs per gallon some say enough to go half way up the tank but I think it depends on what fish you want to keep and also what looks good to you.
For the cycle you can add pure ammonia, ghost feed the tank or toss in a piece of shrimp
As far as how much rock and sand you need you'll want a 1-2" sand bed for the rock you'll get different answers from everyone some say 1-2lbs per gallon some say enough to go half way up the tank but I think it depends on what fish you want to keep and also what looks good to you.
For the cycle you can add pure ammonia, ghost feed the tank or toss in a piece of shrimp
Ok awesome. So if i buy 20 lbs of Live Rock and the rest dry how long will it take until its "live" ? And as far as the fish go I know this sounds kinda marginal but the only fish im really counting on having is a Purple Tang and thats not even until everything is steady for awhile. Unless its not feasible in a 75gal. Tank. Pretty much everything else will be based off of my fascination with the purple tang and whatever else comes after that will be based off of that. Also im thinking im going to get my corals going BEFORE I add fish is that a good idea or no? My only though is get it to look the way I want it and then add fish. If thats not a realistic or smart idea please feel free.
mauler
Active Member
As far as how long it will take it to become live will depend on how much dry rock you get but I'd say about a month or so.
I'm sorry to say it but a purple tang won't work in a 75 the tank just doesn't have enough swimming room if you could get a 6' or so tank then I'd say go for it.
You can most certainly add corals before fish. It's also a great idea to get everything where and how you want it before you add fish.
I'm also curious what kind of filtration are you planning to use?
I'm sorry to say it but a purple tang won't work in a 75 the tank just doesn't have enough swimming room if you could get a 6' or so tank then I'd say go for it.
You can most certainly add corals before fish. It's also a great idea to get everything where and how you want it before you add fish.
I'm also curious what kind of filtration are you planning to use?
trigger40
Well-Known Member
+1 to what mauler said. buy a little live rock and the rest dry. i also suggset a deep sand bed and macroalgeas. both of thoes two things are just as important as live rock IMO. with high flow i think you can do a purple tang. but at the end of the day its your decision on what you do.
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I wrote an article called "getting started". You can find it after you click on articles at the top of this page. It should answer your questions.
refflover1
New Member
Hello shane p.
I think that a purple tang is possible with all the right things in place. I also think that since this is your first
fish, I would go ahead and get a clown or chromis as a tester. that way you'll know if your tank is going to
be able to sustain aquatic life or not. Now I'm not saying that the life of a clown or chromis is not as valuable
as a purple tang, just a lot less expensive. Just a thought. I hope all goes well for you. And I think purple
tangs are awesome looking fish!
God Bless,
Mike - reeflover1
I think that a purple tang is possible with all the right things in place. I also think that since this is your first
fish, I would go ahead and get a clown or chromis as a tester. that way you'll know if your tank is going to
be able to sustain aquatic life or not. Now I'm not saying that the life of a clown or chromis is not as valuable
as a purple tang, just a lot less expensive. Just a thought. I hope all goes well for you. And I think purple
tangs are awesome looking fish!
God Bless,
Mike - reeflover1
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Sorry Shane, please don't be mad, but I have to disagree. A properly cycled tank does not need a "test" fish, that's what test kits are for. What you add to your tank dictates what can be added later, don't get any fish you don't really want and intend to keep.
That being said, a purple tang requires a 100g tank, and adult size is 9 inches, it does not belong in a 75g tank. It is so stressful not only for the fish, but all it's tank mates, to try and remove a fish once it has grown too large. Start out with fish that can live in your size tank. if you want larger fish, now is the time to upgrade the tank to one fit for what you want.
Sorry Shane, please don't be mad, but I have to disagree. A properly cycled tank does not need a "test" fish, that's what test kits are for. What you add to your tank dictates what can be added later, don't get any fish you don't really want and intend to keep.
That being said, a purple tang requires a 100g tank, and adult size is 9 inches, it does not belong in a 75g tank. It is so stressful not only for the fish, but all it's tank mates, to try and remove a fish once it has grown too large. Start out with fish that can live in your size tank. if you want larger fish, now is the time to upgrade the tank to one fit for what you want.
As far as filtration Im not exactly dead set on anything any suggestions
2014FishKiller
Member
If I have a 75g tank, I will start it differently 1). If I am going to have corals, than I won't need a live rock 2). get some invest in here, very good price and don't get live sand, but get more sands 3). regardless live and dry rocks 40-50 lbs are more than enough, remember corals come with rocks.
mauler
Active Member
That's not necessarily true all my corals came on either a plug or a very small rock plus it's cheaper that way cause I'm sure most places will charge you for the rock and the coral. So I would still buy a little bit of live rock and the rest dry the same with the sand cause if you buy all of it dry you won't get any of the little hitchhikers that you want.
Inverts are a good idea but make sure whatever inverts you get are reef safe and make sure you add them after the tank has cycled.
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Sand deeper then 2 inches just traps junk deep down in it, no deeper then 2 inches is best... sump is by far the best thing to have, a canister is next on the list, and HOB s the last choice because of splash, which leads to salt creep. The only type of filter you can't use is the under-gravel type.
Corals, depending on what you want, need special lighting. You won't need a skimmer for a few months. If keep a refugium section in the sump with macros, you will save yourself lots of nitrate and phosphate (99% of all coral problems) grief.
Sand deeper then 2 inches just traps junk deep down in it, no deeper then 2 inches is best... sump is by far the best thing to have, a canister is next on the list, and HOB s the last choice because of splash, which leads to salt creep. The only type of filter you can't use is the under-gravel type.
Corals, depending on what you want, need special lighting. You won't need a skimmer for a few months. If keep a refugium section in the sump with macros, you will save yourself lots of nitrate and phosphate (99% of all coral problems) grief.
refflover1
New Member
we all know what test kits are for. Some of us know that test kits are not always accurate, nor can they tell you
what may be in the water that you aren't going to detect on a test. I usually don't recommend buying fish that you don't plan on keeping either. But this is this guys first set-up, with a pretty expensive fish. I say better to be safe than sorry. And really, if he doesn't plan or want to keep a fish, LFS or wherever you obtained the fish will usually take it back as a donation. One more thing to think about. I'm sure many of us seen the test gauge, I mean gas gauge on our vehicles on Full and the car still wouldn't run. I've had a few tanks test out good and still lost fish in them. Those tests sure didn't help then. Sure glad it wasn't a purple tang though.
what may be in the water that you aren't going to detect on a test. I usually don't recommend buying fish that you don't plan on keeping either. But this is this guys first set-up, with a pretty expensive fish. I say better to be safe than sorry. And really, if he doesn't plan or want to keep a fish, LFS or wherever you obtained the fish will usually take it back as a donation. One more thing to think about. I'm sure many of us seen the test gauge, I mean gas gauge on our vehicles on Full and the car still wouldn't run. I've had a few tanks test out good and still lost fish in them. Those tests sure didn't help then. Sure glad it wasn't a purple tang though.
mauler
Active Member
Have you ever tried to catch a fish out of a tank? It's more work then it's worth. also with every fish you put in the tank you run the risk of introducing parasites to the tank unless your going to qt a fish you don't even plan to keep I just don't think it's a good idea to buy fish you don't want or plan to keep.
If the tank is properly cycled then there should be no worries its also possible your fish died from something else like parasites or some kind of sickness.
If the tank is properly cycled then there should be no worries its also possible your fish died from something else like parasites or some kind of sickness.