New To Saltwater... A Couple Questions.

ds450x

ds450x

Member
I have had many freshwater tanks but I want to start a saltwater tank. I have a 75 gallon tank with plenty of filltration. I found some base rock cheap so I bought about 40 pounds to start. I also have 40 pounds of live sand and 30 pounds of this other sand I bought at my local store that I was told that will work but it isnt live.
Im using the pure ammonia technique to cycle my tank. For my base rock to become live I guess you would call it, I would just have to add some live rock to the tank and give it time? And to start off what kinds of fish should I add but keeping this a community tank? I want to take my time and get everything right before I start adding good fish.
Is there anything else that I should be doing or I could do that would help?
Any advice will help... Thanks Branden
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
actually, if you are adding ammonia to the tank, the rock should become live on it's own. adding established live rock will add whatever you see on live rock, like coralline algae, and pods/worms....
i think all the fish you should add should be your "good fish". don't add some damsels or other cheap fish early on, because you will have a heck of a time getting them out, and chances are, you will want to badly.
as far as starting the bacteria, you could use a piece of raw shrimp or something of that nature to start it. you don't need any of the sand to be live. it will become live eventually, no matter what. you see, live sand it nothing more than sand with bacteria in it. bacteria utilizes the surface of sand granules to colonize on as well as the live rock.
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
So your saying to add some raw shrimp from a supermarket into the tank? How long should I leave it in there and should I put it in my filter? I have the ammonia up to 5 ppm right now. But I will probly go buy a couple small pieces of live rock to help the tank faster and help growth.
Thanks for the information!
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i would just toss a single raw shrimp in the tank for a few days...right in the display. it will rot real good where ever it's placed!
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
Okay thanks for the information. I will go get raw shrimp tomorrow and stick it in the tank for a couple days then. I will probly start off by buying some snails and crabs after my tank is finished cycling. I am taking my time setting my tank up so it will be a long time before I will have fish in there.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by ds450x
http:///forum/post/2725839
So your saying to add some raw shrimp from a supermarket into the tank? How long should I leave it in there and should I put it in my filter? I have the ammonia up to 5 ppm right now. But I will probly go buy a couple small pieces of live rock to help the tank faster and help growth.
Thanks for the information!
Just let it run its course if your ammonia is at 5 ppm. You'll develop plenty of bacteria at that height. Let it cycle. Then start off with some more hardy fish. SW is just like FW you just don't have the margin of error.
 
aquaguy24

aquaguy24

Active Member
after ur cycle wait a week or so then add a clean up crew..some snails, hermit crabs if u want..i personally don;t like hermit crabs cuz they kill snails for shell or to eat.. i like emarald crabs..cleaner shrimp..etc...add as needed..wait another week or two then u can add ur first fish..clowns are great first fish, be carefull they can become territorial..but they should be fine in a 75g.. good luck..
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
Thanks everyone... I was going to wait a week then add a couple snails and crabs and let them be in there for a week or 2 by themselfs and then a fish and see how it is for a couple weeks.
 
kanima

kanima

Member
You could add a cleaner shrimp or pepermint they are fairly cheap and Inverts will be the first to go if there is a water quality problem.
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
If your ammonium is at 5 ppm, stop adding ammonium chloride now, and wait until the ammonium and nitrite levels fall, do a small water change (10%), then begin to stock your tank.
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
I dont have any live rock but I bought live sand, this will be enough to do the cycle right? Should I get a used filter from my lfs?
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by ds450x
http:///forum/post/2726563
I dont have any live rock but I bought live sand, this will be enough to do the cycle right? Should I get a used filter from my lfs?
The sand from the other tank will help seed the base rock, (I'm assuming the pourous type of base rock) and the 40 pounds of "live sand" is like argomax or a bag of sand from the store right? I'd really consider quickly getting real live rock b/c most likely you'll have another cycle when you move the rock to your tank anyway.
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
Im going to buy some more live sand tonight and I already have the base rock in my tank. I set the rock up before I filled it so I could get it secure. Im going to look to see if they have a couple small pieces of live rock. The only lfs isnt that big and the buy is an ass but I dont feel like driving an hr just for a couple little things.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kanima
http:///forum/post/2726467
You could add a cleaner shrimp or pepermint they are fairly cheap and Inverts will be the first to go if there is a water quality problem.
or you could use a test kit and not risk your money and the innocent animal.
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
I went out and bought all my test kits and my tank is cycling like it should.
I was just wondering where most people keep their salinity because some keep it a little lower and some keep it higher?
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
Im just gonna have a fish only tank right now so I should still keep it the same as you said? And I just got a red sea prism skimmer from my friend for free. It says that it does up to 90 gallons and I have a 75 gallon tank so im gonna use it for now but I heard they arent good? I guess I will upgrade a little later, but when should I start using it, when my cycling is done or should I start it now?
 
doodle1800

doodle1800

Active Member
You don't have to expense wildlife to see if your water is free from ammonia. I am mildly against that practice. Shrimp are hard enough to keep alive and damsels that live stay in your tank - maybe unwanted and almost impossible to catch. Some people buy live rock to cycle their tank. Live rock does start dying the minute you take it out of the water, so that starts the cycle. You could buy live rock in a pet store thats not fully cured. Or order from Saltwaterfish.com. It comes wrapped in newspaper, ready for cycling your tank. You should buy a test kit anyways and watch it.
And don't buy expensive shrimp from a grocery store. But some frozen krill or frozen shrimp from the pet store if you go that way.
IMO....
Buy a lot of base rock to start out - cheap stuff, then build your reef with some live rock. After time the base will be "live rock".
 
ds450x

ds450x

Member
Originally Posted by doodle1800
http:///forum/post/2733750
You don't have to expense wildlife to see if your water is free from ammonia. I am mildly against that practice. Shrimp are hard enough to keep alive and damsels that live stay in your tank - maybe unwanted and almost impossible to catch. Some people buy live rock to cycle their tank. Live rock does start dying the minute you take it out of the water, so that starts the cycle. You could buy live rock in a pet store thats not fully cured. Or order from Saltwaterfish.com. It comes wrapped in newspaper, ready for cycling your tank. You should buy a test kit anyways and watch it.
And don't buy expensive shrimp from a grocery store. But some frozen krill or frozen shrimp from the pet store if you go that way.
IMO....
Buy a lot of base rock to start out - cheap stuff, then build your reef with some live rock. After time the base will be "live rock".
You have me confussed..... My tank has already been cycling for over a week now? I have tons of base rock in there and its working fine.
 
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