New Guy, with New Tank! (Photos)!!!

outcastjra

outcastjra

Member
Hello To All,
My name is Joel and I just got a new hobby started this afternoon. After doing fresh water tanks for 5 years or more, I decided to get into saltwater! I always loved the colors better than freshwater, but was scared to jump in. Now I have made the first step with a 24 Gallon cube. It came with the right lights and filters, and so I said screw it and bought it. I also bought Live Sand, and Live Rocks (16 Pounds Worth). I also bought some boxed saltwater to fill it up. Now its time to cycle this baby before I add fish, then coral. Here is a pic. Please tell me what you think, and I will be updating my progress with more pics! Thanks to all!
Joel


 
marka1620

marka1620

Member
Looks good and welcome. Add a little more live rock (10 lbs.) and you will be on the road. Warning, I'm also new and this hobby is addictive!
Get yourself a test kit and a refractor...not a hydrometer.
 
outcastjra

outcastjra

Member
Thanks for the responses!
I want to get another 16 pounds of LF...
Will that be too much for my tank? Is there even a such thing as too muck LF?
I will be getting a good test kit and refractor.
As for a rich Girlfriend, well that would be GREAT if my Wife would allow it!
LOL....
Thanks to all!
Joel...
One Quick Question- How long should I wait for fish and coral?
 
rcdude1990

rcdude1990

Active Member
u gotta get a test kit, first try to getr the 10 more lbs.
add it and then the next day test the water, after that every other day test the water, wen u c a spike (the tests r off the charts) u jus wait, after u c the tests r good then add fish, this hobby takes time so dont think tomrro it will b ready
 
marka1620

marka1620

Member
Originally Posted by outcastjra
Thanks for the responses!
I want to get another 16 pounds of LF...
Will that be too much for my tank? Is there even a such thing as too muck LF?
I will be getting a good test kit and refractor.
As for a rich Girlfriend, well that would be GREAT if my Wife would allow it!
LOL....
Thanks to all!
Joel...
One Quick Question- How long should I wait for fish and coral?
I think another 16 pounds would be fine. Just don't turn it into a living rock tank. Fishy needs room to swim!
Refractor is the way to go. I wasted 15 bucks on a hydro and the thing wasnt even close to the actual reading (refractor).
....don't tell her....I don't!

YOu have to wait til your tank cycles. That why you need the test kit. Ammonia needs to spike and everthing needs to go to zero first. Then you can add fish. Corals you might want to wait til it is established a little before you add that.
Cycles times vary....month....two months. You can ghost feed your tank or add a dead shrimp to jump start it.
 
imfsub12

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by helpme74
and a rich girlfriend to pay for all you stuff :cheer: :happyfish

My GF is hooked
 
txmedic1

txmedic1

Member
i'm a noob too, please read my last post, but i've had my tank for 4 weeks, cycled 20% of the water x 4, and finally got my ammonia to zero. took a water sample to the local fish store, and got approval for my first fish which i got the other day. as far as i can tell, the only thing you can do for your tank is watch it and find some patience!
 
marka1620

marka1620

Member
Just be patient like TXmedic said. Can be tough...but it pays off in the long run. My tank cycled just under a month.
 
outcastjra

outcastjra

Member
Patience os the hardest part I think!
I want to see fish and coral right now. But I understand its a process to enjoy after the wait. So I need to do water changes even if I have no fish? I would have thought there would be 0 ammonia being a Brand New Tank, Fresh Live Sand, LR, and 24 Gallons of Fresh Saltwater.
Please let me know if I need to do some water changes! Also I plan to take my water samples in to be tested until I can get all the info I need to know!
Thanks for the help! And my water is clearing up quickly!
Thanks!
Joel
 
nigerian

nigerian

Member
LFS are pretty cool about helping and checking your water. Everyone I've been to doesn't charge for that service and they shouldn't cause we spend a lot of freakin money there! lol Keep us posted!
 
outcastjra

outcastjra

Member
*Bump*
Do you have to do water changes with the brand new set up?
I would have thought everything would be a 0 reading???
Thanks
Joel
 
aquaguy24

aquaguy24

Active Member
hey im kinda new also with a 24g.. mine took only 2weeks to cycle.. but i wait another week to add a clean up crew then two more weeks to add my first fish which was a true perc. clownfish. patiance is the biggest thing like these ppl said..and money too..but its alot more interesting then freshwater tanks..while u wait u can think of fish to put in..what kind of fish u plan on getting..my tank is gonna be a friendly tank with some corals and maybe some sps when i upgrade my lights and powerhead.but good luck.. lookn good already..
oh yeah..don't do a water change untill the tank is finished with the cycle..
 
outcastjra

outcastjra

Member
Great! Thanks for the help!
I will update this post with photos!
My water is all CLEAR in less than 24 hours! Good Start!
Thanks
Joel
 
outcastjra

outcastjra

Member
Okay... Today was shopping day for me!
I bought another powerhead, a test kit, hydrometer until I can get the refractor on order, 10 pounds more rock, and 2 little redleg hermets.
I did a water test and my readings were as followed-
Water temp- 78
Water/Salt mix- 1.026
PH- 8.2
NH-3- 0
N0-2- 0
NH2/NH4- 0
So thouse readings are good right? With that in mind it seems my tank is under way. I dod not realize how much 10 more pounds of rock would change EVERYTHING. This thing looks full now. Have a look at the pics and tell me what you think!
Thanks for reading and helping!
Joel
Pic of Nice and Clear this Morning!

And Pics of it nice and Full Looking!


 
rebelprettyboy

rebelprettyboy

Active Member
your tanks looks nice. keep up the good work and keep us updated!!! And how long have u had the tank? If everything is at 0 already just wait until it starts to spike. Ghost feed it or put a piece of raw shrimp in it until the ammonia spikes and take it out and do water changes until everything goes back to 0.
 
reefer545

reefer545

Member
Originally Posted by helpme74
and a rich girlfriend to pay for all you stuff :cheer: :happyfish

I had that for a while adn then she quit her job. LOL
 
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