hi,
I wish I had found this site earlier! about 10 days ago I decided I would finaly take the plunge and give SW a try! I was so excited, I had just moved and had an empty Eclipse tank ( 30 gallon tall) sitting around. The LFS assured me this system would be fine for a fish only tank, and pointed me in somewhat of a direction. I purchased 25lbs of live sand(4 days prior to the LR), and 5 lbs of live rock ( apparently it was uncultured). I left my FW bio-wheel in the hood, and set up the tank. my Specific gravety is at about 1.021, nitrate and nitrite are 0, temp is 76, pH is 8.5, and amonia is present but low. after reading more I am concerned that I do not have enough LR and sand in my tank. I found a store that sells already "cured" live rock for cheaper then I bought my uncured for. My question is, will it be safe to add the cured rock to my tank? The uncured rock has been in there for 6 days.
my second question is should I buy more live sand? currently my sand bed is about an inch and a half. since it is a 30 tall, it doesnt have as much surface area on the bottom to cover. I also have 75lbs of aruba shells and crushed coral sitting in my garage from a 50gallon A. cichlid tank that broke about 2 years ago, would it be a bad idea to add that to deppen the substrate on the bottom.
lastly should I wait until the tank has fully cycled before adding any type of "Cleaner crew" or would a couple of these fellas help in the cycling process.
I have kept almost every kind of freshwater set up, and some brakish, but saltwater in new to me. I would like to put damsels, clown fish, or dotty backs in my tank ( or combination) although I have to admit I love puffers, are there any small species of puffer that could live in a 30 gallon? also I have been told that I need a protein skimmer and different lighting to have anemonea's or corals, but then others have said I dont need it, what do you think? I have to admit, I love to watch the clowns hanging out with the anemones at the FS, ever since I could remember I have wanted a tank with both in it.
thanks for your help, I kinda came up with way more questions as I was typing! I am so excited to start this tank, I am kinda a fish freak, when I lived in the dorms for college, people would knock on my door to see my wall to wall fish tanks.. they called me the fish girl, lol
Thanks again!
Kristen
I wish I had found this site earlier! about 10 days ago I decided I would finaly take the plunge and give SW a try! I was so excited, I had just moved and had an empty Eclipse tank ( 30 gallon tall) sitting around. The LFS assured me this system would be fine for a fish only tank, and pointed me in somewhat of a direction. I purchased 25lbs of live sand(4 days prior to the LR), and 5 lbs of live rock ( apparently it was uncultured). I left my FW bio-wheel in the hood, and set up the tank. my Specific gravety is at about 1.021, nitrate and nitrite are 0, temp is 76, pH is 8.5, and amonia is present but low. after reading more I am concerned that I do not have enough LR and sand in my tank. I found a store that sells already "cured" live rock for cheaper then I bought my uncured for. My question is, will it be safe to add the cured rock to my tank? The uncured rock has been in there for 6 days.
my second question is should I buy more live sand? currently my sand bed is about an inch and a half. since it is a 30 tall, it doesnt have as much surface area on the bottom to cover. I also have 75lbs of aruba shells and crushed coral sitting in my garage from a 50gallon A. cichlid tank that broke about 2 years ago, would it be a bad idea to add that to deppen the substrate on the bottom.
lastly should I wait until the tank has fully cycled before adding any type of "Cleaner crew" or would a couple of these fellas help in the cycling process.
I have kept almost every kind of freshwater set up, and some brakish, but saltwater in new to me. I would like to put damsels, clown fish, or dotty backs in my tank ( or combination) although I have to admit I love puffers, are there any small species of puffer that could live in a 30 gallon? also I have been told that I need a protein skimmer and different lighting to have anemonea's or corals, but then others have said I dont need it, what do you think? I have to admit, I love to watch the clowns hanging out with the anemones at the FS, ever since I could remember I have wanted a tank with both in it.
thanks for your help, I kinda came up with way more questions as I was typing! I am so excited to start this tank, I am kinda a fish freak, when I lived in the dorms for college, people would knock on my door to see my wall to wall fish tanks.. they called me the fish girl, lol
Thanks again!
Kristen
