Sand vs pebbles, live vs not, new vs old???

[meemo]

Hi,
I'm starting my first saltwater aquarium and feeling like 30 gallons may be too small. It's all I have for now though. I'm on a budget and getting into this gradually. My LFS just recommended aragonite pebbles and a few pounds of live rock. From what I have read here, that is not really the best way to go. I ordered the C. Marine Aquar. book but haven't received it yet. So I need some advice in the meantime. I'm just going to have fish and an anemone for the clownfish. I MUST get a little Nemo fish for my toddler who affectionately calls him "Meemo".
1. I got my tank and parts used and am hoping they will be ok until I can slowly buy new parts. Can someone read what I have and tell me if some of my items are unacceptable or if there are some other must haves I need to purchase? I have a whisper 20-40 power filter, a 115 watt heater, an air pump with stones, and a hood with a plain flourescent light.
2. Please tell me why sand is better and how much live or not live sand would be recommended for a 30 gallon (36x12x16deep)? Or how do I calculate? And I am on a budget so any help with ideas to save money would be helpful too.
3. Same question for rock/live rock
The only thing I have done so far is clean the tank, it used to be freshwater. So I want to be sure to start out right even though I am starting out small.
Thank you!

 

[meemo]

I found some of the aragonite play sand at Home Depot for 2.99 (50 lbs) here in KY! It has a little green in the corner from being wet, they all did. Will that hurt anything? Now I need to figure out how much of it to put in my 30 gal tank and how much live sand. Any suggestions?
I think I will try asking my lfs for a cup of "junk" from the bottom of their live rock tank like someone suggested. How much live sand would I need in addition to that if any?

 

[moprint]

I have 75 pounds of sand in my 55 and 15 in my 15 gallon nano. Good to hear you were able to find the aragonite sand I had mine shipped. I would put the play sand in with the live sand, if you can get a cup of it and all the live rock you can afford and then let it cycle, this takes 4-7 weeks or so. Then you can add the clownfish, I would suggest a pair aquacultured perculas. The anemone I would wait about 8 months only then after you upgraded your lights. Your filter I would not use I would get an Emperor 280, check on that auction site that you can't mention here, I got one for $28 shipped for my 15 gallon. Good choice on the book purchase. Good luck!!

 

[diddley]

what he said. oh, and you might need a powerhead or two and test kits to monitor water conditions.

 

[meemo]

So I should put the whole 50lbs play sand and just a cup of live sand? The live rock will make it good enough? How much live rock would be a minimum? I will check into that filter.
By the way what are good brands and places to get water test kits, food etc? There are so many to choose from!

 

[diddley]

i've got 35 lbs. of live sand in my 30, i didn't want to use a bunch of space with a deep sand bed. it's personal preference really. i'ld skip the cup of live sand unless it's the same color and grain size of sand and just use live rock. the minimum for rock is what you can afford. most people suggest 1 to 2 lbs. per gallon (depending on the density of the rock. less dense/more holes = less rock and vice versa) buy a saltwater magazine and look at all the advertising for equipment, it will get you started. good luck.

 

[meemo]

You guys are so great, thanks so much for the help. I feel better already. This is pretty daunting for a first timer. I am thinking that I will put at least 30 lbs of the sand in and see how it looks. That's a lb per gallon. Since my tank is 16" deep maybe I can put in more up to the 50 lbs I bought.
Here's my next question. I've been reading a lot about curing sand and am a little confused. Am I right in thinking I don't have to cure it since this is a new setup? Or would it be better to cure it anyway?
Also, what are your opinions about using plain tap water with the salt? What should I look out for in my local water supply? I can't afford expensive water purifying.
With the live rock I guess I should shoot for 30+ lbs but it will take me a while to get that much ($$). Would I be better off to buy more live rock and wait on buying a better filter and a power head? Could I let the live rock and sand cycle (the dead shrimp drop?) with using only my old whisper 20-40 filter, and a 115 watt heater? Then before I get any fish I could get the better filter and power head and adjust. What do you think?
Oh, and about the clownfish, will they be happy without an anemone?
I seem to have too many questions but I want to be careful.

 

[zap800]

well i read on the bad of the aragolive sand and gravel bags that the sand is good for shallow beds where as the bigger stuff (it looks like little flakes of rock ) are better for deep beds. thats what the manufacture says.

 

[moprint]

Since this a new setup you do not have to cure the sand. Tap water you looking for silicates and ammonia and other stuff. A lot of people use tap water alot don't. This has been disscussed in depth on here and it depends on your local water supply. I would buy Kent Marine Ammonia Detox if I was gonna use tap water, anything made by them is good stuff. You could cycle with your old filter and even use it put when you change the pads you will need to cut off part of the old pad so you do not take all your bacteria out that has grown on it, just place it in front of the new pad. I would buy at least one powerhead like a 400 Maxi-Jet and all the rock you can afford then you can slowly add rock as you go. The clownfish could care less about the anemone, they might not even host in it. The sand depth is up to you just do what suits you it is your tank.

 

[meemo]

That helps a lot! Thanks so much for addressing my different questions. I am starting to feel like I am ready to do this!

 

[bobbyzat]

Hey Meemo, welcome, and good luck. One piece of advice I want to stress to you is READ. READ. READ. I learned a lot by asking questions, adn getting responses. But the most valuable stuff I have learned here is by reading other peoples posts too, and old historical ones, cuz they had allready started to address stuff I ahd not come across yet, adn it saved me a ton of trouble. So read, and be patient, and you will do fine.

 

[wakeskater]

if you are on a budget and are new at the hobby a 30g sounds good. about the sand vs. pebbles situation, sand is always better because it carries bacteria that is good for the tank but on the other hand you are able to clean the alge off of the pebbles if you are thinking about getting gravel. hope this helps