reefnut
Active Member
Originally posted by jay knows
Does LS require special lighting or anything to keep it alive?
Is it easy to clean with a vacuum?
I am just trying to do the right thing form the beginning..
I totally appreciate all of your information.
No special lighting needed. No vacuuming needed or recommended.
jay knows
Member
Awesome and thanks....
Last questions bc you all helped change my mind...
Is special lighting needed for the LS, and when should I add the live sand, after the 1st cycle, or before I load the tank with water.....?
Also can tap water be used for the first fill, or should distilled only be used, or a mix of both?
Thanks
Jason
Last questions bc you all helped change my mind...
Is special lighting needed for the LS, and when should I add the live sand, after the 1st cycle, or before I load the tank with water.....?
Also can tap water be used for the first fill, or should distilled only be used, or a mix of both?
Thanks
Jason
evilbob22
Member
Originally posted by jay knows
So for a 55 gal tank, go for like 60lbs of ls or should i go for more...?
If you are going for a deep sand bed (which has anerobic bacteria, that completes the Nitrogen cycle, near the bottom) you need around 4" of sand. That usually equates to around 2lb / Gal. As ReefNut said you can put "Play sand" from Lowes/Home Depot under the live sand for bulk. It comes in 50 lb bags for about $2.50 a bag.
ctgretzky9
Member
Originally posted by jay knows
Some people have told me the CC is the only way to go, other say sand... Maybe a mixture of both? I am so new to this and Jay doesnt know all that much about the SWF. [/B]
One thing you must understand in this hobby, some will tell you one thing, others another, and each will be sure their way is best. Take all of it with a grain of salt (pun intended.)
I have had salt water tanks for about 20+ years now, done the sand, done the cc in many tanks along the way. For my PERSONAL cleaning habits, the way I like to maintain my tanks-and i have to say in 20 years ive had maybe 2-4 fish die from something other than old age or "their time to go"-I like the cc.
It could be my maintenance practices, good luck, or the creatures that inhabit this ecosystem that make the difference, I don't exactly know. I have friends who have had the complete opposite experiences with cc, and as well know people who will die singing the mantra of the cc.
Point is this. On a subject like this one, go with what you like and see if it works for you. Frankly, no matter what, you aren't going to lose fish because of a cc base. There are many many many many many many many many many other factors (did i mention many?) that will kill your fish. Worry about the important stuff.
Some people have told me the CC is the only way to go, other say sand... Maybe a mixture of both? I am so new to this and Jay doesnt know all that much about the SWF. [/B]
One thing you must understand in this hobby, some will tell you one thing, others another, and each will be sure their way is best. Take all of it with a grain of salt (pun intended.)
I have had salt water tanks for about 20+ years now, done the sand, done the cc in many tanks along the way. For my PERSONAL cleaning habits, the way I like to maintain my tanks-and i have to say in 20 years ive had maybe 2-4 fish die from something other than old age or "their time to go"-I like the cc.
It could be my maintenance practices, good luck, or the creatures that inhabit this ecosystem that make the difference, I don't exactly know. I have friends who have had the complete opposite experiences with cc, and as well know people who will die singing the mantra of the cc.
Point is this. On a subject like this one, go with what you like and see if it works for you. Frankly, no matter what, you aren't going to lose fish because of a cc base. There are many many many many many many many many many other factors (did i mention many?) that will kill your fish. Worry about the important stuff.
evilbob22
Member
Shallow sand beds look nicer to some people, they don't like to see 3+ inches of sand at the bottom of the aquarium glass. From my understanding, when you have a deep sand bed, the advantage that you get is being able to grow the anerobic bacteria at the bottom (and that's it). IMHO it is worth it to have the deep sand bed... the anerobic bacteria converts Nitrate to Nitrogen, which means less water changes needed.
jay knows
Member
Ctgretsky, and everyone....
Thank you for responding to this with your advise.
I am now posting two more beginner questions....
1. With the water, can I buy like 5 gallon jugs or something of distilled water? Would like water from tap, filtered with a brita or water treatment system work as well?
2. I want to do some live rock, should I add this to the tank after setting it up or should I wait a week or so?
Thank you for responding to this with your advise.
I am now posting two more beginner questions....
1. With the water, can I buy like 5 gallon jugs or something of distilled water? Would like water from tap, filtered with a brita or water treatment system work as well?
2. I want to do some live rock, should I add this to the tank after setting it up or should I wait a week or so?
evilbob22
Member
1. I'm not a water expert, but I'll tell you that I ended up getting a RO/DI unit. It is supposed to give you the best kind of water for a SWA. I don't remember the exact price, but it was $200 or $300. Both distilled and Brita water are much better than tap, but I think I remember hearing somewhere that the distilled water can sometimes have metal in it, depending on how it was distilled, and Brita isn't as good at removing stuff as a RO/DI.
2. Add it right away. Live rock has stuff on it that will die basically right away and release amonia. Just like the shrimp, this will help the tank get started. If you already had it up and running for a while, you would want to only add a little live rock at a time to avoid releasing too much amonia.
Of course there is also cured live rock... that is live rock that has been in a saltwater bucket, or something similar, long enough that all the dead stuff should be gone. You can usually add cured live rock at any time.
2. Add it right away. Live rock has stuff on it that will die basically right away and release amonia. Just like the shrimp, this will help the tank get started. If you already had it up and running for a while, you would want to only add a little live rock at a time to avoid releasing too much amonia.
Of course there is also cured live rock... that is live rock that has been in a saltwater bucket, or something similar, long enough that all the dead stuff should be gone. You can usually add cured live rock at any time.
woodymdt
Member
Ctgretsky, and everyone....
Thank you for responding to this with your advise.
I am now posting two more beginner questions....
1. With the water, can I buy like 5 gallon jugs or something of distilled water? Would like water from tap, filtered with a brita or water treatment system work as well?
For now, I purchased three 7 gallon water jugs from the hunting/fishing department at Wal Mart. They're blue jugs that have spouts you can turn on and off for the water flow. With those I take them to Wal Mart and buy the Currigan R/O water for .33 cents a gallon. Eventually we'll setup an R/O D/I unit at the house.
2. I want to do some live rock, should I add this to the tank after setting it up or should I wait a week or so?
Go ahead and add your LR to the tank. As posted earlier, the LR will help with the cycling of the tank.
Thank you for responding to this with your advise.
I am now posting two more beginner questions....
1. With the water, can I buy like 5 gallon jugs or something of distilled water? Would like water from tap, filtered with a brita or water treatment system work as well?
For now, I purchased three 7 gallon water jugs from the hunting/fishing department at Wal Mart. They're blue jugs that have spouts you can turn on and off for the water flow. With those I take them to Wal Mart and buy the Currigan R/O water for .33 cents a gallon. Eventually we'll setup an R/O D/I unit at the house.
2. I want to do some live rock, should I add this to the tank after setting it up or should I wait a week or so?
Go ahead and add your LR to the tank. As posted earlier, the LR will help with the cycling of the tank.
jay knows
Member
you guys are seriously helping me out and I appreciate it....
I am planning on converting my tank tomorrow to saltwater, and I think I will go an buy like a 5 gallon jug of distilled water if I can find it.... Worse comes to worse, I am just gonna go and buy a tap water cleaner fliter that connects to my faucet and use that as a source....
I didnt realize how much work is really involved with the SWT.
I am planning on converting my tank tomorrow to saltwater, and I think I will go an buy like a 5 gallon jug of distilled water if I can find it.... Worse comes to worse, I am just gonna go and buy a tap water cleaner fliter that connects to my faucet and use that as a source....
I didnt realize how much work is really involved with the SWT.
ctgretzky9
Member
Ok, I see a lot of questions about water. I don't like to give advice per se except to let you know what I do, and what works for me.
First off, I have a well, so chlorine etc isnt a problem for me.
I run all of my swf tank water through a high end filtration system (once it has already gone through the whole house system that removes metals and is a softener as well etc) that consists of UV light (kills any bacteria/virus etc) ozone process, and 2 chambers with a 1 micron carbon filter in each.
These countertop units are awesome, and if you have a well (or even city water) is highly recommended for your OWN health as well. Cost of the unit is around $375, but is well worth it!
First off, I have a well, so chlorine etc isnt a problem for me.
I run all of my swf tank water through a high end filtration system (once it has already gone through the whole house system that removes metals and is a softener as well etc) that consists of UV light (kills any bacteria/virus etc) ozone process, and 2 chambers with a 1 micron carbon filter in each.
These countertop units are awesome, and if you have a well (or even city water) is highly recommended for your OWN health as well. Cost of the unit is around $375, but is well worth it!