Starting out

[timt6379]

i have just gotten the salt level correct. The temp is 80F, and the water is very cloudy. ( i put crushed coral as my floor in my tank) how long will it take for the filter to clear up the cloudiness??
Also i have 2 live rocks i have bought, the woman told me they will be fine for up to 48 hours. Will it be O.K. to put them into the tank the way it is or what?

 

[torno]

As everthing settles and the filter runs, your water will start to clear up. I'd put the rock in now, to help aid the cycle. Do you currently have a source for ammonia to start your cycle?

 

[timt6379]

Originally Posted by Torno
As everthing settles and the filter runs, your water will start to clear up. I'd put the rock in now, to help aid the cycle. Do you currently have a source for ammonia to start your cycle?
I bought some bacteria droplets and some calcium droplets, and some stuff i put in the 1st 7th and 14th day, not quite sure what it is though.

 

[torno]

Well in order for a cycle to occur, turning ammonia into nitrite, then into nitrate, you're going to need a source of ammonia. The bacteria you added will help convert the ammonia to these, as will the live rock, but you need something in the tank to create waste. It doesn't have to be live, it actually isn't recommended. I suggest you take a chunk of frozen fish food, (I've used krill), and put it in the tank to rot and let the cycle take its course. You can removed it once ammonia, nitrites, are at 0, and nitrates start to build, but don't use too much food, or the cycle could take longer than a few weeks. Maybe two pieces of shrimp/krill or 3-4 cubes of food.

 

[sepulatian]

For starters, take the crushed coral back out and see if you can return it to the LFS(probably not, but if they recomended it then argue with them) CC, unless properly cared for, can cause severe nitrate problems in about 6 months. It happens all too often on here. For a new hobbiest I strongly recomend that you get rid of it now and get some sand.