broomer5
Active Member
sggavin
The preferred way to mix the salt with the freshwater is to ALWAYS use a hydrometer.
If yours is not working right - get a new one.
You can not count of the 1/2 cup per gallon of freshwater to give you the results you want.
Temperature will affect it.
Your freshwater mineral concentration will affect it.
If you use tap vs RO vs RO/DI will also affect the final salinity of a newly mixed batch.
Instant Ocean is excellent salt in my opinion - but I've found that it most always mixes up to a very low S.G.
Somewhere around 1.020 by using the 1/2 cup / gallon estimation.
I always must ADD more salt to get it to the desired range of 1.023 to 1.026
Don't guess - get the tools to do it right. Save you headaches later.
When setting up a new tank - and you plan to mix the saltmix and the freshwater IN THE TANK - it best to do this first .... THEN ADD THE SUBSTRATE.
It's best to get the freshwater up to temperature around 78 F, then add the salt.
Mixing freshwater, saltmix while the substrate is already in the tank can affect how the saltwater mixes - especially pH and alkalinity. Mix saltwater first - then add substrate to this tank of saltwater.
I like to let the tank run a few days with filtration and/or water circulation at correct temperature. This allow all the chemical reations to take place as they should - with respects to carbon dioxide and oxygen reaching the right levels.
Adding live rock after a couple few days is IDEAL - and will intiate the nitrogen cycle.
Adding all or most of the live rock is normally preferred when cycling the tank. It's okay to add small amounts later after cycle - but you gotta watch the ammonia levels to make sure you don't add too much. Too much die off at one time drives the tank into cycle again - and you gotta wait it out again.
DO NOT ADD ANY LIVING CREATURES TO THE TANK YET - INCLUDING CRABS OR OTHER CLEAN UP CREW CRITTERS !
This tank is brand spank'n new - and is not ready for life forms yet. Other than the critters that come in on the live rock - dont' go tossing in a bunch of crabs yet .... chances are they will die.
This tank is A FAR WAY OFF from adding an ANEMONE !
Doing so too soon - you reduce the chance of the anemone from living. I would not consider adding an aneome until you ALREADY have sufficient lighting in place for several months.
Your tank must go through several stages - appearace of algaes and most likely diatoms, and you need to wait for the substrate to become established with bacteria and critters from the live rock.
Adding an anemone before the TANK IS READY - is most certain doom for the anemone. It will most likely DIE.
Harlequin shrimp - They are indeed very cool to look at, but man you are asking about a difficult shrimp to keep. They have a very specific diet - a diet that consists primarily of STARFISH !
These shrimp are only recommended for advanced hobbyists that can take care of them properly.
Buying one now - without the knowledge or food source - it will most likely die.
DDT makes a great point !
The MOST IMPORTANT parts of setting up a saltwater tank are two fold.
Set it up and let if fully complete the initial nitrogen cycle.
There are very few SHORTCUTS here.
You MUST wait before adding living creatures - or they will DIE.
Planning is the second part. You're in the planning stage, and this is great. Selecting the "right" critters and fish for what you want to end up with say 6 months to a year down the road - is the key.
Rushing into it - and making impulse buys at the LFS is almost a sure fire way to end up with dead animals and a very frustrating experience.
Read ~ Cycle ~ Wait ~ Test ~ Select ~ Add 1 fish ~ Wait ~ Test ~ Test ~ Wait and then continue to follow your plan.
It will take months before you feel like you're really getting anywhere. This is the most difficult part of the hobby - but by far the most important for long term success.
The tank will most likely look pretty bare, and may even appear crappy compared to others. Tough way to go - but that's the way it works.
There are very few shortcuts here as well.
Keep reading.
Keep asking quesiton here on the board ~ there are tons of people that know good stuff - and are always willing to help out.
Take it slow - very slow. This will increase your success more than most anything.
Plan out what you want your tank to be in a year from now.
What are your plans for this tank ???
Good luck on your new set up !
The preferred way to mix the salt with the freshwater is to ALWAYS use a hydrometer.
If yours is not working right - get a new one.
You can not count of the 1/2 cup per gallon of freshwater to give you the results you want.
Temperature will affect it.
Your freshwater mineral concentration will affect it.
If you use tap vs RO vs RO/DI will also affect the final salinity of a newly mixed batch.
Instant Ocean is excellent salt in my opinion - but I've found that it most always mixes up to a very low S.G.
Somewhere around 1.020 by using the 1/2 cup / gallon estimation.
I always must ADD more salt to get it to the desired range of 1.023 to 1.026
Don't guess - get the tools to do it right. Save you headaches later.
When setting up a new tank - and you plan to mix the saltmix and the freshwater IN THE TANK - it best to do this first .... THEN ADD THE SUBSTRATE.
It's best to get the freshwater up to temperature around 78 F, then add the salt.
Mixing freshwater, saltmix while the substrate is already in the tank can affect how the saltwater mixes - especially pH and alkalinity. Mix saltwater first - then add substrate to this tank of saltwater.
I like to let the tank run a few days with filtration and/or water circulation at correct temperature. This allow all the chemical reations to take place as they should - with respects to carbon dioxide and oxygen reaching the right levels.
Adding live rock after a couple few days is IDEAL - and will intiate the nitrogen cycle.
Adding all or most of the live rock is normally preferred when cycling the tank. It's okay to add small amounts later after cycle - but you gotta watch the ammonia levels to make sure you don't add too much. Too much die off at one time drives the tank into cycle again - and you gotta wait it out again.
DO NOT ADD ANY LIVING CREATURES TO THE TANK YET - INCLUDING CRABS OR OTHER CLEAN UP CREW CRITTERS !
This tank is brand spank'n new - and is not ready for life forms yet. Other than the critters that come in on the live rock - dont' go tossing in a bunch of crabs yet .... chances are they will die.
This tank is A FAR WAY OFF from adding an ANEMONE !
Doing so too soon - you reduce the chance of the anemone from living. I would not consider adding an aneome until you ALREADY have sufficient lighting in place for several months.
Your tank must go through several stages - appearace of algaes and most likely diatoms, and you need to wait for the substrate to become established with bacteria and critters from the live rock.
Adding an anemone before the TANK IS READY - is most certain doom for the anemone. It will most likely DIE.
Harlequin shrimp - They are indeed very cool to look at, but man you are asking about a difficult shrimp to keep. They have a very specific diet - a diet that consists primarily of STARFISH !
These shrimp are only recommended for advanced hobbyists that can take care of them properly.
Buying one now - without the knowledge or food source - it will most likely die.
DDT makes a great point !
The MOST IMPORTANT parts of setting up a saltwater tank are two fold.
Set it up and let if fully complete the initial nitrogen cycle.
There are very few SHORTCUTS here.
You MUST wait before adding living creatures - or they will DIE.
Planning is the second part. You're in the planning stage, and this is great. Selecting the "right" critters and fish for what you want to end up with say 6 months to a year down the road - is the key.
Rushing into it - and making impulse buys at the LFS is almost a sure fire way to end up with dead animals and a very frustrating experience.
Read ~ Cycle ~ Wait ~ Test ~ Select ~ Add 1 fish ~ Wait ~ Test ~ Test ~ Wait and then continue to follow your plan.
It will take months before you feel like you're really getting anywhere. This is the most difficult part of the hobby - but by far the most important for long term success.
The tank will most likely look pretty bare, and may even appear crappy compared to others. Tough way to go - but that's the way it works.
There are very few shortcuts here as well.
Keep reading.
Keep asking quesiton here on the board ~ there are tons of people that know good stuff - and are always willing to help out.
Take it slow - very slow. This will increase your success more than most anything.
Plan out what you want your tank to be in a year from now.
What are your plans for this tank ???
Good luck on your new set up !
