New dummy here-help me please!

[jumpfrog]

I don't normally respond in these types of posts because I usually just stick to sharing my personal experiences, not knowledge.
But; what was the initial subject of this post?
DCR, you started by telling us you didn't know much and wanted help. Please continue that search without doubting every response you get. You'll be less frustrated and learn more.
I speak for many when I say "Been there, done that."
my $.02

 

[wamp]

My turn!!!
DCR,
If you want to listen to the LFS and travel that path, thats cool. If you want to allow us, people that do not make a DIME off this and just try to help, thats cool. But, when you ask a question, get a Unaminious answer and still choose not to hear what we are saying, well, you have already chosen your path. Nothing wrong with that. Just follow one. Don't try and start battles between us and the LFS. This is not a knowledge bowl.
We don't care what they have to say about us here. I too had a LFS that sold me whatever they wanted too. I SOON learned, they are in it for the money just as any other buisness is. Most still use UGF and crushed coral filters and call them state of the art. They work (bareley IMO) but are far from industry standard these days.
They need to make money also, so I don't faught them.
My whole point is this: Don't ask the questions if you arn't ready to hear the answers. I get told ,all the time, things I don't like but, I listen. I learn. I share.
P.S. I'm happy to hear your fish are still alive. I don't think you have a healthy enviroment for them, but I guess if their alive, your happy. Good Luck with the tank.

 

[broomer5]

I would consider yourself lucky, and your fish/inverts even luckier.

 

[dcr]

I don't think that I shot down any advice-the tank is set and all I can do is wait and tend to it the best I can. All I heard in the earlier posts is"Bring the fish back, the owner of the LFS must be an idiot." How else do you cycle a tank? You put in some strong creatures and let it go, right?

 

[donkeykong]

DCR most here have cycled with fish. Many have switvhed over to using a fishless method. They both work and I have personally used both. With the fishless method (I.E. shrimp or LR and LS) you dont risk any lose of fish life or put any fish thru extreme stress. It is up to you to decide which way you will do things.
P.S. you may have opened another can of worms with that question

 

[fshhub]

let's try this again, your questions have been answered and responses ignored, which is fine b/c I will quote broomer here
"your tank, your choice"
anyhow the reasoning you gave, is that the "LFS OWNER" has been in business for 30 yrs. Fine again. I simply pointed out that means ZERO. And then when asked, I responded to another question directed at me.
I have seen more than one instance of this and gave a simply example. Now I never said he was an idiot. But know this, being a business owner does NOT mean he/she knows naything. Bein in business for such a long period of time emans one thing, THEY ARE BUSINESS MEN and effective business people who know how to keep their busines alive. That is all. NOthing more Nothing less. One thing I can say is that as pointed out by others, WE HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN, except the satisfaction of helping out others who are learning the same mistakes we have made. and most of us have learned it the hard way. So listen to who you want, just bear in mind that we are the ones who do NOT profit anything in helping you and do NOT care personally if you succeed or fail. We just hope that your fish succeed, b/c we care.
and as for your questions, i feel the same as those who have responded.

 

[bobby & kari]

the best thing to do is buy the book called the new marine aqurium before you even get ready to set up your aqurium

 

[buzz]

I am one of those rare people whose tank never cycled, but I still played it as if it was going to cycle any day, and waited on adding anything.
I started out with Catalina Ocean Water, and used RO to cut the salinity down to 1.023, and used stresszyme. I added live rock, and a tomato clown, and went from there. The next thing I added was 1 hermit crab a few weeks later, and actually questioned whether THAT would live, but my levels never spiked.
I also cheated. I started out with a mechanical filter, and no skimmer (since went with a skimmer and no mechanical filter) and took some established bio ceramics from a friends filter and added them to mine.
The point is, play it safe. You may find that your tank never cycles, but why take the chance? What's a few weeks?
Incidentally, my Tomato is just fine, and the hermit is still around too!
One final thing...add things slowly to your tank. Don't add a lot all at once. You'll regret it.

 

[dcr]

OK-I would like to apologize to any one that I offended. I was expecting some very immature posts and flames in response to some of my posts and I really didn't get any, and I am impressed. All the points made are recognized and valid, and I would like to begin again with a new attitude if I would be allowed to do so. Since many of you have a ton of experience and really want to help, I have another question-and I will listen and won't argue. I want a bigger tank already(you knew this would happen) and my limit is a 20 gallon high or tall type. I want to have 4 or 5 fish and my fiance' will not allow anything bigger than the 20h we looked at, so at least I can double my fish count. I found a great deal on a Penguin wet/dry biowheel filter -170gph I believe. How should I transfer the 10 into the 20? I searched some posts and saw some opinions, but I am a little unclear if I should use all of the original gallons of water, or just fill the tank with new water and let it cycle first-then drop in the critters-or what would be the best method?

 

[bobby & kari]

miw sea water use yours and your sand it should cycle your new tank out

 

[slick]

Ok I will try to give you advice as long as you listen and follow. If you go and get a new tank don't rush it. Set it up and let it COMPLETLY cycle before you add ANYTHING. Go buy some good books and read read and read. Visit this board often and read the many posts. Ask questions and listen to the answers. These people have nothing to gain by helping you and can get you out of a jam. Main thing on this board is respect. You have to show it to recieve it. and if you come in here with a bad attitude you will NOT get the help you need.

 

[dcr]

OK-bought the tank and filter. I don't have live sand, I just have live rock and marine gravel. The tank is clean and empty, waiting for me to get enough advice and knowledge. I don't have RO water this time, so how can I mix the new salt water with tap water? Should I fill the tank like 1/3 and let it sit for a week, or boil the water?

 

[slick]

ok first throw your marine gravel away. You want to use live sand. now you will need enough sand for 4-6 inches for a deep sand bed. As far as water goes you can go to the grocery store and they should have ro water for sale. To mix it just fill up your empty tank leaving enough room for the sand and whatever then dump in your salt with a power head and a heater. You don't want to use tap water it has to many bad things in it. once your salt is disolved add your sand and live rock if you use it. Then put on your filter and protien skimmer. hook all this up and go get some shrimp from the store throw them in and let it cycle usually takes at least 4 weeks. Let it finish till you amn and nitrates and nitrites are all 0. Then you can SLOWLY add fish one at a time.

 

[donkeykong]

One, you do not need sand or live sand, They are the best in most peoples eyes and will help with bio filtration. Many use crushed coral and some still use gravel. you can do a search on LS vs. CC and get some very good info. When I switched up to a larger tank I wanted to do things right from the start. So I let it cycle then moved things over. you can move things over using same gravel, rock, and water, then just add 10 more gallons of premixed saltwater. But you may have a small cycle. Either way will work but switching everything now may cause some problems. It is up to you on whether or not you want to risk it. What ever you decided just let us know and we can give you some good pointers on how to get it done.