New Tank

blue eye

blue eye

Member
[hr]
Hello everyone i am new to the salt water world of fish keeping. I have set up a 30 gal tank. I have 10lbs of live rock and also 30lbs of live sand. I am running a fuval 205, along with a Whisper HOB 40, and 30. I have 2 Damels in the tank. My lighting is 2 30inch T-5 lamps running about 10 to 12 hours a day.
My question is i have a Seaclone Protein Skimmer for up to 100gal. When will i need to add the skimmer to the tank. The person at my local fish store said not yet and to wait about 1 month before i add it. I also what to add some coral in the tank with the live rock that i have in there. What kind of coral is good to start with and also when can i add it in the tank. Also is there any supplements that i should be puting in the tank for the live rock and coral.
P.S Sorry for all the questions. Any adivce is greatfull. Thanks
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
ok well first off leave your lights on from 8 to 10 hours max. next you wont need a skimmer at all. as long as you do proper water changes weekly your good. you really can add any type of coral except sps (i think
) but not yet!!!!!!!!!!! test your water weekly till your lfs or us tell you its ok to add anything. some good corals to start with are zoas, mushrooms. well for me they are
 
blue eye

blue eye

Member
Ok what should the water parameters be for PH, nitrite, nitrate, etc.... I just bought a master test kit today. Also for the coral only add it when the parameters are on point.
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
Originally Posted by Blue Eye
http:///forum/post/2811782
Ok what should the water parameters be for PH, nitrite, nitrate, etc.... I just bought a master test kit today. Also for the coral only add it when the parameters are on point.
ph should be at 8.3 nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia should be at 0ppm. test the water in 2 weeks. cause the water now will show that is good but it has to spike. and when the water is good you could add zoas and mushrooms
 
happitylogan

happitylogan

Member
sps are hard coral, small stony polyps or somthing...:D
Paramets should all be at 0, salinity between 1.022 and 1.025, although some corals like more salinity. You wont need a skimmer, even if you dont do weekly water changes, maybe every two weeks or so will be good, just keep an eye on your levels.
Ph should be 8.2-8.4, and dont forget to top off with ro fresh water every week, you dont want your salinity to rise, and evaporation just takes the waterout and leaves the salt.
I would start with zoas and then work my way up to the "harder" corals
You need to have your basic elements in the tank before you put corals in, you can buy chemicals to speed the process up, or just wait it out.
Anything I left out or need to correct guys?
Good luck and keep us updated
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
Originally Posted by happityLogan
http:///forum/post/2811803
sps are hard coral, small stony polyps or somthing...:D
Paramets should all be at 0, salinity between 1.022 and 1.025, although some corals like more salinity. You wont need a skimmer, even if you dont do weekly water changes, maybe every two weeks or so will be good, just keep an eye on your levels.
Ph should be 8.2-8.4, and dont forget to top off with ro fresh water every week, you dont want your salinity to rise, and evaporation just takes the waterout and leaves the salt.
I would start with zoas and then work my way up to the "harder" corals
You need to have your basic elements in the tank before you put corals in, you can buy chemicals to speed the process up, or just wait it out.
Anything I left out or need to correct guys?
Good luck and keep us updated
what i just said lol
 
happitylogan

happitylogan

Member
Also, dont worry about algae, its going to break out once your tank is cycled (diatom), and will take care of itself after a while. Post pics anytime you have a question, and they usually get a better response :)
yeah, nissan, I was typing it all when you posted your reply :D
 
happitylogan

happitylogan

Member
a few advice abbreviations
lr- live rock
ls- live sand
sps- small polyp stony
lps- large poplyp stony
lfs- local fish store
lots more, these are the basics
 
blue eye

blue eye

Member
When you say i need to have my basic elements first before i add coral, what do u mean, and also what chemicals, is that for the coral or just like trace elements for the general tank and live rock
 
happitylogan

happitylogan

Member
yeah, trace elements, thats what I meant :D You dont have to add them if you wait long enough, I dont use them because I dont have the test kit for trace elements, and they can throw your tank back into cycle if their is too much, so I opted out. All of my coral are doing fine too. Flourishing already actually
You'll need to get food for the coral when you get them, a majority of lps will survive off of phytoplankton....
 
blue eye

blue eye

Member
Ok i saw that at the store today, but i did not know that it was food for the coral. Also should i add an other power head to the tank. i already have an aqua clear 30 in there.
 
nissan577

nissan577

Active Member
Originally Posted by happityLogan
http:///forum/post/2811811
a few advice abbreviations
lr- live rock
ls- live sand
sps- small polyp stony
lps- large poplyp stony
lfs- local fish store
lots more, these are the basics
DT-display tank
fts-full tank shot
cbs-coral banded shrimp
dsb-deep sand bed
citb-carlos is the best

hrot-happity rocks our tanks
 
blue eye

blue eye

Member
I checked my PH today and it was 7.8, should i add something to get it up higher or just let it cycle first and check it again in like a week. Also my freind told me about something called Bio Spria. Is that something i should add to my tank. What does it do for it if anything.
 
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