okay, so I've made a mistake...but I'm stuck now.

[ntvflgirl]

Sorry my first post was in a panic...newbie's can be so irritating, can't they? So, now that I've spent 100.00 on cc for this new tank, I can see I should have asked someone other than the guy at the fish store. Anyway, I'm stuck with it for now. Hubby will not let me ditch the cc. 2 questions. Do I have to rinse it? If you look at my earlier "Help" post, I just put it in a clean tank, and started adding salt water. Secondly, I was told that I could use filtered tap water for initial set up. I must have a flashing sign that says "Lie to me...I like it"on my forehead. My fish store has reverse osmosis water, but I don't have any way to transport it. (Where would I get 55 milk cartons anyway?) Isn't there some kind of water conditioner or something? Also, If I do keep the crushed coral, what else am I going to have to have to make my tank thrive? I don't have the money right away for the lighting I know is required for LR. Do you really have to have $300.00 worth of lights for a 55 gal. tank to support live rock? This is a work in progress, so I know patience is key.
Please let me know about the rinsing of the cc. I guess I'll need that info, along with the water info first.
One more question..If I don't get live rock right away, what is this I am reading about a dead shrimp?
Thanks, so much
Rory

 

[theamburgerler]

I'm pretty sure I can explain the shrimp thing. To start off cycling your tank, instead of putting damsels in it (because they can be agressive and difficult to catch if you want them out), you can go to, like, a deli or somewhere and get a dead raw shrimp. See when seafood isn't cooked (or cooked improperly, or rotten) it gives off ammonia, the same thing that's in fish waste, and coincedentally the same thing you need to cycle your tank. So you take this shrimp, I guess one or two should be fine, and you toss it in your tank for a couple days, by then the water should have enough ammonia to at least get things started. But be forewarned, I have not tried this, but many people on the board have and I guess it works just fine for them. I'm sure I can help with your other questions but I would definatley (I mangled that word, didn't I?) not know how or where you would find 55 milk jugs, sorry. HIH at least a little.
<3 Good Luck,
Amber

 

[theamburgerler]

That was supposed to be I'm sure I can't help with your other question.
Sorry.
<3Amber

 

[fshhub]

ok, the water, many of us use tap water for the initial set up, b/c as you mentioned buying and trasport oculd be a pai, if you have no minerals, you can use a dechlorinator to remove chlorine if you live in town
the shrimp was pretty well covered
for live rock, IMO the lighting is not the most important, the intensity will only help with your inverts like corals sponges and clams, as for the rock it wil help to contribute to some colors of coraline algae(different colors like different light)
standard flos can work with lr, but are not recomended because you will probably change later on, if you want a fairly inexpensive set up for a 55(unless you are after some delicate corals that really need high intensity lights, hen you could probably use PC lighting which you can get for a little over $100 in most areas(with 10,000 K or 50/50 bulbs, your lfs or any aquarium lighting supplier will know what you are saying if you ask for it)
HTH and welcome aboard

 

[donkeykong]

Rubbermaid makes a great 20gl bin, actually think it is 18gl. Either way it works good for mixing your own water for monthly changes or if you are purchasing change water then they are easy to move around.

 

[azrile]

As suggested above, use raw shrimp instead of a damsel. It is not as exciting to watch, but you will eliminate two problems. 1. the damsels will be stressed when cycling a tank, which may cause it to die. 2. Many people do not like damsels in their tank, especially as the first fish. They are very terretorial and may cause problems down the road when you try to add more things. I used a damsel to cycle (didn't read enough first), the damsel did not die, but he does give any new fish a couple days of headaches, then he backs off (thankfully). From what I've heard, some damsels are not so nice. If you really like damsels ( they are actually one of the prettier fish), add them after you have other fish in the tank, let them be the newbie.
About the Crushed Coral. The latest fad is to have DSB, but many many people have long term healthy tanks without them. I've heard enough people say that they do fine with CC, that I went with it. To me 4-6"s of sand at the bottom of the tank is too ugly. I do however plan on having alot of LR and already have a refugium with macroalgae and LR to help with water quality.
As far as I know, you don't need special lighting for live rock, unless you happened to get some with some corals on it. Most of the cool things in live rock only come out at night anyway. Algae will grow under normal lights without a problem. IMO, you only need to get into the special lighting if you plan on keeping corals.
Don't worry too much about the water. I guess the two main bad things in tapwater are chlorine and phosphates. Chlorine will evaporate in a few days, so as long as you don't ad a fish right away, it will be no problem. As far as I know, phosphates are not too bad for fish, but are bad for corals. Phosphates also cause certain types of algaes to bloom. I wouldn't worry about it now, but once you start doing top-offs and regular water changes, use R/O water from the grocery store. It is fairly cheap (walmart is .59/gallon).