need some help/advice

[rphman]

hi..i am new to saltwater..i recently bought a 36 gallon bowfront..
added live sand 10 pounds with 20 pounds of non live
came with a 40 gallon filter that hangs on backside of tank and a medium spectrum light...
added some "grunge" fron garf...to introduce some bacteria and start our eco system..that is why it is cloudy..from the sand/grunge we added today..
we also added our clean-up crew..about 40..half kermit crabs and snails...
so i am not sure what to do next..take out water and add new...check nitrate levels...
need suggestions for makes and manufactures for a better filter system and what lighting i will need...
planning on putting 4 fish max in tank and a little coral...
thanks
Wade

 

[invertcrazy]

Well first welcome to the boards.
OK next, SLOW DOWN---- Few questions;
how long is the tank been set up? Did it go through a cycle( ammonia-nitrites-nitrates )? The cycle usually takes 4 to 6 weeks and nothing should be put in until the nitrites peak and come back down. As the nitrates start to rise now is when a clean up crew should be added. Are you testing your water? How did you start your cycle?

 

[salt210]

as invert said above slow down. patience will save you a lot of money and headaches. as for the lighting depending on what you want to keep you might want to look into T5 lights. for the filter you probably want to look into a sump system.

 

[sepulatian]

Welcome to the boards!!! Did you add all of that the same day that you set the tank up? If so then your LFS really did a number on you. I am so sorry to tell you that, but they did. Did they sell you any test kits while you were there? You will need to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH, and SG. Buy a refractometer for the salt test. Don't buy a $10 hydrometer. They are not worth the plastic that they are made with.
40 inverts are way too many for a tank with absolutely no growth for them to eat. My 55 is over three years old, and I don't have 40 hermits and snails. Take them back to the LFS. They should give you store credit, at the very least. They should apologize for the bad advice too.

 

[rphman]

i have the kit to test for ammonia,nitrites and nitrates...
so what is the "cycle" ????
how do you tell when cycle begins...how often should i check water? im going to do a water change in a few days...specific gravity is fine...
what should i do about the clean up crew? feed them?
plesse give me some brand names and models of filter and lights please..

 

[meowzer]

Can you take the clean up crew back? They will surely die once your ammonia and trites begin to spike.
As asked earlier...did you add everything all at once?