Salt Water Newbie

[biglou]

10 years in FW, now converted a 75g Oceanic to SW. I have a Fluval 400 series, 2 powerheads, a protein skimmer, 250w heater. 80lbs of crushed coral, and 10lbs of live sand on bottom. Mixed the seawater to 1.022. My FW ph test kit shows above 8.0, so I know I need a high range kit. Lighting is from 2 48" fixtures, one with a Triton 40W and the other with a Moon glo (bluish)40W.
The water is crystal clear now for 3 days, temp is 76. I want to have a non reef set-up, but want to add live rock. I am thinking of adding 50-70lbs of live rock. Do I need to wait any longer before adding the LR? Should I add a damsel or other small inexpensive fish to help the cycle start? Do I need to upgrade the lights even though I am not going to keep any coral?

 

[dugan]

With the LS and LR you won't need to use damsels to cycle your tank. You might want to consider more LR also.
Katie

 

[nm reef]

If it was mine to do.....I'd make the sand bed a lil deeper....may 4 inch or so......I'd use a combination of carib sea and natures ocean live sand........from 60-80 lbs of live rock(or more if affordable).....set it the way you like and let it cycle slowly and patiently.....those lights would be adaquate for a fowlr/ls.....
sounds like ya know what you're gettin into....gl and keep us posted......

 

[biglou]

Yes, the crushed coral is CaribSea, and the live sand is Nature's Ocean (20 lbs, not 10 as I said above). The bed depth appears to be about 3-4". I have added about 50 lbs of large granite pieces that I have used in my FW tanks as a base, and have piled on another 50 lbs of lace rock. Now I want to add a "coating" of live rock on top of this. Should I add all the lr at once, or should it be added gradually?

 

[amphiprion]

You might want to double think the use of the granite - it can have heavy metals in it that will leach into the water - this could dratically effect any clean up crew or shrimp that you might want to keep in there.