Starting Over what should I do?

drizcol

drizcol

Member
I have a 90 gal fish only tank that I have had for a couple of years. My wife and I bought our first house this summer and I transported the water from my tank in buckets with lids. I admit that I have been neglecting the tank for a while and have not kept up on water changes. recently i had my last 2 fish die. I have now decided that I want to pretty much start over. So Im trying to decide if I should empty all the water out or should I keep some of the water and only empty like 75% of it. I always seem to get high nitrates and I belive thats from the lack of water changes.
How often should I be doing water changes and how many gals should I change? I wold like to set up a calander reminder so that I am always sure to stay up to date on changes.
I have also never had a Proten skimmer, an sugestions on a fairly good but cheap hang on the side style skimmer. I was thinking about a seaclone 100 skimmer. any ideas?
Thanks in advance for any help!
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
First off, I would empty the entire tank and truly start over. Cycle the tank over again and start on the right foot. First question is do you have live rock? And if so, how much? If you do not have any, the first thing you want to do after you fill your tank with water again is to buy 80-100 lbs. of live rock. That is neccessary if you want a healthy tank.
Secondly, don't buy a SeaClone. They are a waste of money. Invest the money and either buy a Remora or Excalibur. Both of those work very well.
 
drizcol

drizcol

Member
I definatly dont have $800+ to spend on live rock. what exactly qualifys on live rock anyway?
I have large peices on coral in the tank and thats about it.
any other sugestions?
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Look around for deals on live rock. I know I have found places locally and online that sells it for $4 a lb., which would only be $320.
 
nofish4u!!

nofish4u!!

Member
are you anywhere near the Sacramento area? If so, the LFS I go to has LR for $3.79 lb. I spent $550 on it and was an incredible investment. It came with crabs, all kinds of worms, clams, sponges, purple algea, green algea, etc. Every day I am discovering new things.
 
drizcol

drizcol

Member
Im from Milwaukee Wisconsin
I have been to LFS in this area and have seen cheap live rock that seems completly lifeless. how do I know what is good and what isnt?
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
It's okay if it is brown and ugly. It will develops colors in your tank. The only rock you do not want is rock that is all white, because that signifies that the majority of it is dead.
For a new tank, you want to get rock that has a pretty bad odor to it, because that means it is uncured.
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Yes, that skimmer is a good one.
As for the live rock, I would try to get it all before you finish cycling or put any fish in the tank. That way, you do not have to cure it in a separate container. You could cure it in your tank..
 
drizcol

drizcol

Member
anyway, how long is the curing process, and can I have damsels in the take while curing?
should I wait for the tank to becycled before I add the skimmer?
 
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