Just got new 24 Gallon 2006 model JBJ Help

[kainrahl]

Ok i used to have a 75 gallon years ago. However ex g/f took care of that sweet ride. I just bought a new 24 gallon. I plan on getting live rock and live sand. How good is this bad boy stock? What do i need? What is a good way to cycle. I have completely forgetten as stupid as that sounds. THe only thing I remember was last time i did not find this sight until i had to restart cuz i killed everything. Got it right the second time after asking. I did read up on the old cracking model vs. this one. Although some things i need help with
1) Best way to start cycle. abput how long to cycle (i know just an estimate)
2) anything else i need
3) Do i need a heater? it has dual cooling fans so a little confused.
4) anything else you wonderful people could give advice on.
I would like to do a mix corals/fish (reef) i believe.
I know i am dumb at the moment but just help me out and I think I will get it.

 

[kainrahl]

anyone out there tonight on thanksgiving?

 

[devilboy]

first thing to start you cycle is fill your tank up with some salt water, put in some uncured live rock.... then slowly spread some sand on the bottom. and let it cycle. no fish or living livestock is needed. the uncured live rock will start the cycle for ya. and also seed your sandbed.
from what i hear yes the lighting is decent enough to keep some corals, zoos, shrooms, some LPS, candy cane, brains, leathers, etc...
as for a heater yes i would still suggest getting yourself a heater, and also look into purchasing the new fission nano skimmer. it is like $30.

 

[kainrahl]

ok thanks man. 2 things can you post a sight for the skimmer and what is seeding live sand mean? 3 i guess what type of heater? and where.

 

[devilboy]

seeding your sandbed, is easy, when i started my tank, i bought cheap southdown playsand from lowes, home depot, stores like that normally carry it. all the critters that were live would multiply and basically move into the sandbed then reproducing, etc, and turning you dead sand into live sand, with pods, spagetthi worms, and other beneficial micro fauna.
as for the site dude, yea i can give it to ya, but just do this instead, goto google and type in Aquapod, and find the aquapod nanos, and the sites that sell the Aquapod nanos also carry the fission skimmers.... HTH

 

[kainrahl]

OK how much live rock do i need to get for a 24? Do i have to change any of the filtration system it comes with? Can you refer me to a good heater. ... and how many pounds of live sand should I get if I just get all live sand and don't seed it. (hate home depot, cuz of ex who broke original tank)

 

[charliewww]

I just started a 12 gallon tank and I used 12lbs Live Sand and 12lbs Live Cured rock purchased from a local fish store. I filled it with tap water. I have sence learned of R/O water, which I have heard can be purchased at Walmart. I put a packet of Bio-spiral in and the next day about a 3 second squirt of ammonia. The tank cycled in a week. I currently just have a cleanup crew in the tank and am watching it closely just to make sure it has cycled completely. Im 99% sure it did. I would say go with 24lbs of live sand and rock. Good luck

 

[jacksdad]

Originally Posted by kainrahl
OK how much live rock do i need to get for a 24? Do i have to change any of the filtration system it comes with? Can you refer me to a good heater. ... and how many pounds of live sand should I get if I just get all live sand and don't seed it. (hate home depot, cuz of ex who broke original tank)

Congrats on the new tank!!
A good rule of thumb for LR is 1 to 1.5 lbs. per gallon of water. Especially if LR is going to be your main filtration. Remove everything from the rear compartments. Change the stock pump for a maxijet1200. Simple to do, you just remove the old pump pull off the hose and connect the hose to the outlet on the maxijet and zip tie it. Put about 5 lbs of LR rubble in the rear chamber, it doesn't matter which. A good heater is a Via Aqua titanium. I have a 100W in my 24. Place that in the back chamber as well. I used 20 lbs of base argonite sand and 15 lbs of live reef sand. If I had to do it over again I would have used egg crate to put my LR on and then put the sand in around the rock.
My rear chambers are set up this way.
1. Chemi-pure
2. LR rubble...soon to be the fission skimmer
3.Heater and pump.
Good luck,
Bob

 

[kainrahl]

OK once it is setup how often do i need to do waterchanges and do i have to have another tank setup for that? Also is there such a thing as a digital salinity meter or anything like that?

 

[grumpygils]

A good way to cycle is to get a dead shrimp frozen is ok. Get all your stuff right, water salinity ect... Put the shrimp in for 2 days with no pumps. Start pumps and take the shrimp out in a day. Check to make sure this poped your ammonia up and you are on your way. This is faster than cycling with live rock and you don't have to risk expendable fish.
GG

 

[kainrahl]

Any other suggestions on heaters/monitors/test kits. Where do i get a whisper 1200 pump and would this be considered modding the tank, just in case the whole cracking defect is not gone from last year.

 

[madman133]

just try googleing maxijet 1200 or go to your lfs and they might have it or they can order it. A good heater in my opinion is the the visitherm stealth heater or the visitherm deluxe heater. both work great. you would probably neeed 100w. As far as moding the tank you might be able to get away with just putting in the original parts if you have a problem but that is up to you.