new tank questions

[d00kie]

Well my tank has had the saltwater aging in it for a week now and i think it is time to put some live rock in it. A few questions though. My water is not crystal clear, it is a little cloudy, if i look up at the lights you can see a cloudy substance swirling around in the power heads, im not sure what this is buy i ordered up some activaded carbon and some mirco pads for my filstar xp3, it has the bio chem zorb in it right now which has some white and black sand type stuff mixed togethor which i think could be clouding it up but we will see. Well on to the live rock, how much should i get for a 75 gallon tank. I was thinking 40-50 lbs would be enough for hiding places and what not, it also would leave swiming room. THanks for the help

 

[d00kie]

could someone help me here?

 

[broomer5]

d00kie,
A little more info about your tank would be helpful.
What are you planning - fish only or fish with live rock or reef tank with corals ?
Most everyone on this board will offer help but the more you can describe up front, I'm sure you'll get more detailed replies.
Is this your first saltwater tank?
Tank size ?
Substrate ?
Water - declorinated tap, RO or what ?
S.G. and temp of saltwater ?
Planning to cycle with the live rock or fish or what ?
Got your test kits ?
Stuff like that helps others here that have a lot of experience get back to you with some meaningful advise.
What else can ya tell us about your tank and plans ???
Brian

 

[guppie]

All that was said in the prior post is true, We need all your info to help. But I think the activated carbon will help clear up your tank. Good Luck

 

[d00kie]

Originally posted by broomer5:
<STRONG>d00kie,
A little more info about your tank would be helpful.
What are you planning - fish only or fish with live rock or reef tank with corals ?
Most everyone on this board will offer help but the more you can describe up front, I'm sure you'll get more detailed replies.
Is this your first saltwater tank?
Tank size ?
Substrate ?
Water - declorinated tap, RO or what ?
S.G. and temp of saltwater ?
Planning to cycle with the live rock or fish or what ?
Got your test kits ?
Stuff like that helps others here that have a lot of experience get back to you with some meaningful advise.
What else can ya tell us about your tank and plans ???
Brian </STRONG>
From what i have been reading fish with live rock seems to be the route to go in order to have a good saltwater tank. This is my first tank i used to have piranas but im switching to saltwater. It is a 75 gallon tank, I will be using Crushed coral for my substrate, Im using Tap water. My SG is 1.021, i have all of the testing kits, im wating to get my live rock, im going on vacation tommrow for a few days and then i plan on getting live rock to cycle my tank. So i was wondering with a fish only and live rock tank, how much rock should i get? And also since this is my first tank what kind of fish should i get, i have excellent lighting the lfs hooked me up because i said i want live rock/anemomeas and what not. What are some great fish that look awesome and can live togethor peacefully in a 75gallon tank. Thanks for all the help.

 

[saltwater marauder]

First, if you plan on a reef tank use live sand for substrate and not cc, the reason being that cc will have to be vacuumed and will lead to high nitrates. Second, I would NOT use tapwater as the minerals, sometimes fluoride and other chemicals will aid in less than ideal water conditions. So, I would suggest using R/O water. Also , you say a fish only with LR tank but at the nbottom said your lfs hooked you up with lighting because you want to keep anenome's "and such" Using cc, you will have to vacuum as opposed to using a cleanup crew to maintain your tank, and high trates are no good for anenomes and corals, another reason to use sand, besides, IMO, it just looks better. As far as the fish, there are many , many choices and its really up to you, however, if you do a search on this bb for fish or fish selections you should get some help there as many people, myself included, have posted the same question. What is the excellent lighting? WPG and such, people here might be able to save you problems and give you an idea of what you will be able to keep and what to keep away from. I would also plan on getting about 75-80 lbs of rock...not cheap but add as much as possible as soon as possible to prevent mini-cycles in the future from adding new rock. Rule is generally 1.5 lbs of rock per gal.
[ May 22, 2001: Message edited by: Saltwater Marauder ]

 

[d00kie]

You would reccomed that much rock even though it is going to be a fish only tank? I was thinking more on the lines of 30 to 40. I think that will give enough hidding places and decoration while alowing plenty of room to swim. The anemome would just be for the clown fish. So with crushed coral i don't even get a cleaner crew? i thought i get one no matter what. I already bought all of the cc becaues that is what the fish store recommended

 

[krazykarel]

I would rethink the substrate...it might cost you more now but in the long run it could save you $$$. Having a dsb (deep sand bed) will help "filtration" of fish waste, etc. with the eventuall life you will have living in it. CC is too large and too sharp (?) for living creatures to sift through there.