whats the next step

[muffins]

We were given a 55 gal tank with all the fixins:
emperor bio wheel
replacment filters
salt
thermometers
lights
gravel ( crushed coral?)
hood
stand
Now this tank has not been up & running in about 2-3 years. We wiped everything down ( didnt use any cleaning chemicals). We have the tank all set up ( no h2o in there yet). So what do we do next. our eventual goal is to have a reef tank, with LR, coral & fish. I had a saltwater tank before but it has been several years. Some things I remember - lots I dont.
thanks for all your help

 

[mcbdz]

:notsure: I'm still a newbie but I'll try to help.
First do a search on here. There are lots of threads on the cycling of your tank.
Since someone gave it to you, you may want to fill it up with regular water and make sure there are no leaks. Once you know that it doesn't leak dump that water and fill it back up with RO/DI water. Start you filter up, heater and add your salt. I would let it run 24hrs., or so.
Next add live rock( 1 & 1/2 lbs per gal). To save money you can use some base rock with live to make enough rock work. the live will seed the rest. Then add your live(or dead) sand. Now , through in a raw shrimp and let the cycle begin. Do not add any fish until your amm. nitrates, nitrites are all back to 0.

This should take you about 4-6 weeks to comeplete.

Make sure you visit and ask lots of ?'s and decide what you want. :notsure: You may also want to check into a skimmer, some power heads, and lights while you are researching. Good luck and have fun. :jumping:

 

[patandlace]

If you plan on doing a reef tank I would get rid of the crushed coral and get live sand instead. You will have a much eisier time controling the nitrates. It would also be a good idea to look into protein skimmers and a sump/refugium. They are both very beneficial to reef tanks.

 

[bill109]

yes as suggested loook into live sand. and cured live rock
what i woudl suggest it these 2 things
Research and be patient
nothing good comes quickly
while your tank is cycling read a few books and read online. patience and research are the key
-bill109

 

[muffins]

so can I add the LR & live sand at the same time or do I need to do the LR first & wait? when adding this shirmp --can you be more specific. Do I add brine shrimp or a raw shrimp from the grocery store ?????

 

[renogaw]

my first word of advise would be to fill up the tank and make sure it doesnt leak. the silicone may have shrunk.

 

[mcbdz]

shrimp from the grocery store is fine. Give it until your amm. starts going up then take it out if there is any left.

 

[bill109]

if your going to have fish tht burrow.. add the lr then the ls
but if your not then add the sand then the lr. then add the raw shrimp then wait for the cycle and do research

 

[renogaw]

i'd disagree--always try to have your rock on a hard base. plus, if you put your live rock on sand, the rock then has no possibility of watermovement under it, and it can form dead spots. not to mention, the powerheads can move the sand about and destabilize the rock.

 

[muffins]

So, LR FIRST so it sits on the glass of the tank? THEN LS? Now this shrimp....do I just leave it there to decay? then once my chemical levels stablize I can add fish? when can coral be added?