New to saltwater tanks

geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
I have 3 freshwater tanks right now, a 10g, 30g, and a 50g. Have some small goldfish in the 10 & 30 and 1 large Koi in the 50g. I just bought a 24g nano cube with stand and wanting to know what is the best way to get it setup. The previous owner took the hood of and has this on it now "It will also come with a 70watt MH Sunpod with 8 built in moon lights".
Trying to get ideas on what kind of corral to start with and fish and how long does the water need to setup before i can start adding fish and corral and stuff. My goal once its all said and done is to have a colorful corral setup with brains and aneminies and fish.
THanks
 
extinct 1ne

extinct 1ne

Member
I would go get your salt, sand, and maybe a little bit of live rock to start with. You can stack the rock in the tank, add the sand, water (most people recommend RO/DI), and the salt (I recommend Instant Ocean). But you will either have to put in a Damsel, or a RAW piece of Shrimp during the cycle. Then from there on it's test, test, and more testing. Once your levels reach these levels you can add a fish & decide if you want to keep the Damsel or not.
Proper Levels To Have
Ph - 8.0-8.3
Nitrate - Building Up (Below 20 at least)
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
If you are going to add Corals, you will have to also test for Calcium, and Alkalinity at least. Keep Calcium around 500, and Alkalinity around 8. This is later though.
Also, a great starter Coral is a nice Colony of Zoanthids.
 
extinct 1ne

extinct 1ne

Member
That would be good enough to start with. Later on your going to want around 25-35 Lbs. Also, what do you plan on stocking in it?
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
Originally Posted by Extinct 1ne
http:///forum/post/3088155
That would be good enough to start with. Later on your going to want around 25-35 Lbs. Also, what do you plan on stocking in it?
alright thanks
any special way to stack it or just make it to my likeing
 
extinct 1ne

extinct 1ne

Member
No, stack it how you like, it's your tank. Zoanthids will love the Metal Halides
. When your stacking don't get frustrated, like my dad, lol. If you don't like your rock, trust me the Corals will take over.

What do you plan on stocking in it?
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
Originally Posted by Extinct 1ne
http:///forum/post/3088158
No, stack it how you like, it's your tank. Zoanthids will love the Metal Halides
. When your stacking don't get frustrated, like my dad, lol. If you don't like your rock, trust me the Corals will take over.

What do you plan on stocking in it?
haha, um i have no clue what ur talking about when u said Zoanthids and Metal Halides.

As far as stocking it, havnt even thought that far. Pretty sure 2-3 fish is gonna be the max in there for 24g's. Would like some colorful fish to go with the corral soon but i know my son wants a Nemo fish (clown fish)
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by geeteedan
http:///forum/post/3088151
how much live rock should work? 10lbs?

Welcome to SWF.com!
10lbs of rock is allot...The live rock does not weigh as much as regular rock...rather go for space.
You want room all around so you can clean algae off of glass, so set the rock in the center. Build it up and kind of lock it into each other to prevent rockslides that could kill critters and break the tank.
Be picky about the rock, find as much with purple coraline algae as you can get hold of. Try and have over hangs and ledges, lots of nooks and crannies for small fish to hide.
The ledges and overhangs are for coral to sit on later. Also you need a power head to create a current. Coral can't catch thier food, they wait until the food passes by. Koralia is the best ones, they stay in place and make a wave instead of just a jet stream of water. A #1 for a nano, I think they may make a Koralia just for nano tanks.
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3088165

Welcome to SWF.com!
10lbs of rock is allot...The live rock does not weigh as much as regular rock...rather go for space.
You want room all around so you can clean algae off of glass, so set the rock in the center. Build it up and kind of lock it into each other to prevent rockslides that could kill critters and break the tank.
Be picky about the rock, find as much with purple coraline algae as you can get hold of. Try and have over hangs and ledges, lots of nooks and crannies for small fish to hide.
The ledges and overhangs are for coral to sit on later. Also you need a power head to create a current. Coral can't catch thier food, they wait until the food passes by. Koralia is the best ones, they stay in place and make a wave instead of just a jet stream of water. A #1 for a nano, I think they may make a Koralia just for nano tanks.
Thanks
I have a local Aqua Main store here in town but im tring to find info to see if theres a local reef club in my area. I will check out that Koralia power head today.
 
aquaguy24

aquaguy24

Active Member
Please dnt start yr cycle with a damsel. Live rock is enough to start a cycle without having a huge ammonia spike. Test yr ammonia before and u add live rock. Once u see a jump n ammonia ur cycle has begun. Test for ammonia and ntries every. Others day till u see ammonia and nitrite at zero. Then test for nitrate. U can do a water change to Lower yr ntrates to 10-20. U can ghost feed the tank and test for ammonia and nitrites to keep the bacteria growng. If all levels stay at zero u can add a small cuc. A week later maybe u can add ur first fish. Add one fish per week so the bacteria can catch up with the bioload. I would add corals when ur. Tank is around 2 or 3 months old. I would start off with some mushrooms. But ur light can support all types of corals if placed correctly and tank given enough time to mature. Really do ur research on anemones. I would also look into using reef crystal salt or oceanic if u plan on a reef tank.
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
Originally Posted by aquaguy24
http:///forum/post/3088180
Please dnt start yr cycle with a damsel. Live rock is enough to start a cycle without having a huge ammonia spike. Test yr ammonia before and u add live rock. Once u see a jump n ammonia ur cycle has begun. Test for ammonia and ntries every. Others day till u see ammonia and nitrite at zero. Then test for nitrate. U can do a water change to Lower yr ntrates to 10-20. U can ghost feed the tank and test for ammonia and nitrites to keep the bacteria growng. If all levels stay at zero u can add a small cuc. A week later maybe u can add ur first fish. Add one fish per week so the bacteria can catch up with the bioload. I would add corals when ur. Tank is around 2 or 3 months old. I would start off with some mushrooms. But ur light can support all types of corals if placed correctly and tank given enough time to mature. Really do ur research on anemones. I would also look into using reef crystal salt or oceanic if u plan on a reef tank.
yea im not going to get ahead of my self. Luckly i have well water so it wont have the crap that the city puts in there public drinking water, hopefully that will help me out a little too
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by geeteedan
http:///forum/post/3088185
yea im not going to get ahead of my self. Luckly i have well water so it wont have the crap that the city puts in there public drinking water, hopefully that will help me out a little too

You can't use well water either...You need RO (Reverse Osmoses) water from wa-mart or buy your own unit. Otherwise you will be over run with algae problems.
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3088190

You can't use well water either...You need RO (Reverse Osmoses) water from wa-mart or buy your own unit. Otherwise you will be over run with algae problems.
alright, good to know that. I'llhave my wife check it out tonight (she works at wally world)
I didnt think they carried any salt stuff
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Originally Posted by geeteedan
http:///forum/post/3088197
alright, good to know that. I'llhave my wife check it out tonight (she works at wally world)
I didnt think they carried any salt stuff

They don't, you need reef salt from a fish store. Use a NEW tub mark it FISH ONLY
Fill it with RO water, use those 5g jugs..this helps to measure how much water when you add the salt...warm the water first with a heater and use the power head to stir it constantly. Add the right measure of salt according to instructions on the package and let it set for 24 hours before using it, so it is all well mixed....you need a hydometer so you can measure SG. They have a mark on them for the safe range..go for right in the middle of the safe range.
A good starter book that explains things like... Saltwater aquariums for dummies are very, very useful.
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3088207

They don't, you need reef salt from a fish store. Use a NEW tub mark it FISH ONLY
Fill it with RO water, use those 5g jugs..this helps to measure how much water when you add the salt...warm the water first with a heater and use the power head to stir it constantly. Add the right measure of salt according to instructions on the package and let it set for 24 hours before using it, so it is all well mixed....you need a hydometer so you can measure SG. They have a mark on them for the safe range..go for right in the middle of the safe range.
A good starter book that explains things like... Saltwater aquariums for dummies are very, very useful.
so mix the water in a tub before i put it in the tank or put the water in the tank and mix it like that and then add rock and sand later
 
extinct 1ne

extinct 1ne

Member
I recommend you add the rock first, it makes life easier, and you don't put your hands in the water. Then add the salt & sand.
 
aquaguy24

aquaguy24

Active Member
sounds like u have an aquapod 24g. I have the same tank. I'm using a karalia #2 with stock return pump and I feel flow Is perfect. I would also replace the MH bulb. An old bulb can give u algae problems.
 
geeteedan

geeteedan

New Member
Originally Posted by Extinct 1ne
http:///forum/post/3088226
I recommend you add the rock first, it makes life easier, and you don't put your hands in the water. Then add the salt & sand.
ok, so mixing it in the actual nano cube with the power head would be ok?
 
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