Looking for any help

[the_bandit]

Well, Im new to this website and posting in general but I just needed a few questions answered. I had a saltwater fishtank for about a year or two when I was younger and it's been about 7 years since I've had one and I seem to have lost most of my knowledge.
So here is my perdicament.
I filled up my 55g tank with RO/DI water and let it sit for a day or two to see if there were any water leaks or anything and there wasn't. Two days later, I add enough salt to get the salinity to 1.025. About a week later, I added 2 large pieces of live rock. I also had a large piece of what you may call "decorative rock" that had alot of freshwater algae on it but I boiled it, bleached it, and hosed it down for about a week before I even thought about putting it in.
My main question is has my cycle began? I don't see any algae growing but the live rock is rich with algae because I bought it with it. I know I may be impatient but I'm just worried because at the moment, due to financial problems I havent gotten a test kit.
My other question is will two HOB filters be good for a FOWLR tank?
Any and all advice, help, guidelines would be extremely helpful either on or off subject.

 

[flower]

Welcome.
You put live rock in? In a 55 two pieces are not enough. The rock serves as a filter...the critters living on it. Your decrotive rock is dead rock until it seeds from the live. Be sure it is the kind of rock that does not have any trace metals in it.
You need something to start the cycle. Some people use frozen shrimp...just make a little pile right in the middle of the tank.
You must get a test kit, or at the very least get some water to take to a local pet store to test for you. If you have no way to do that, then I personally would wait a month... a full 5 weeks.
HOB filters??? I use a canister. Most use sumps.

 

[deejeff442]

if you are that broke you might want to think about turning the tank into a freshwater.
if all you have are two hang on filters the water has no where near eneough flow in it.
you need to get a couple good size powerheads in there .leaving water sitting in a tank for a week with little flow the water will lose all the oxygen in it.
a 55 gallon tank needs at least 55 lbs of rock.
the sign of algea has nothing to do with a sign the tank is cycling.
its a sign of poor water quality.
this is a very expensive hobbie and in the end if you cannot afford to set up a tank the right way you will surly lose in the long run.

 

[the_bandit]

I am in the process of buying LR and a test kit this weekend. I know that I need more live rock, I'm just not getting it all at once.
I've added some fish flakes and pellets for saltwater fish to the aquarium so can that be used as well?
I've also got to 800GPH powerheads on the way.
Just thought I would ask for help. If you can give any beginner advice I'd appreciate it.

 

[deejeff442]

now your talkin

you should be good to go after you get those things.
might want to look into a skimmer .
you definitly cant keep good water without a test kit.

 

[the_bandit]

Yeah probably Sunday I'm going to buy a saltwater master's kit off ----. Just can buy anything pricey because Prom

is today and Ive already dropped $400 for everything but I may get some live rock today.
Just once again, any sort of advice, recommendations, or help is always welcome.
trying to gain my knowledge back

 

[reefer tom]

Welcome!
Nice, post pictures please. I second the skimmer. The better the skimmer the happier your fish are. In the future if you have some extra money you can get a sump. Good luck.

 

[the_bandit]

Can't get any pictures at the moment. My camera is not functional at the moment. Yeah eventually Im going to get a protein skimmer and sump but not for awhile. Im just trying to start small and add up in time. Since I added fish flakes and pellets and got live rock and added the salt, has my cycle started now?

 

[deejeff442]

wont knw about the cycle without a test kit.
by the time it comes from the bay should be time for the first test anyway.
some words are automaticlly baned like ----.
skimmers are pricy so i think just keep putting more rock as the money comes in for now.
prom? should have made the girlfriends dad pay

 

[the_bandit]

"some words are automaticlly baned like ----."
??
Is purple coraline algae good for the tank? That's what my LR has on it at the moment and it will spread to the other dead rock as well, correct?

 

[oceansidefish]

The live rock will allow the bacteria population to increase in your tank and the critters will spread...Coraline algae will grow in a healthy tank with good lighting. Sounds like a good start!

 

[the_bandit]

Okie Dokie. So now I just wait for my test kit, test the water, and wait till Nitrate, Nitrite, and PH are all near zero?

 

[deejeff442]

ph around 8-8.4
ammonia and nitrite at zero
nitrates will almost always be around a new tank for months but a reading around 20 is ok.
nitrates dont bother the fish so much as it does corals.
just let the tank go untill the test kit comes in.
bites looking at an empty tank but needs to be done.

 

[the_bandit]

True. Ok thank you very much for everyone's information