A little too many questions from a newbie =]

[SLCarrillo]

Hello all! I am new to this but I have been cycling my 36 gallon tank since Jan 11th. I spent my first few days here researching my lingering questions but I have a few I can't quite get an answer on.
First I will give the details on my tank so my questions are more easily answered lol

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-20
Temp-78
Ph-8.4
Salinity not sure it's in my questions lol
Cycling day-32

Do the nitrates go back down naturally at the end of the cycle or do I need to do a large water change? I've looked pretty deep into this and have found a lot of mixed info.

Is It okay that I do not have a protein skimmer or a sump. I plan on having only a couple fish. And a clean up crew nothing fancy.

This is a big problem I know. I need a rodi filter for my water. I can't get one yet. I am currently using tap water. I know that this isn't good but will I be okay using tap water until I can. Is there anything I can do to make it okay if it isn't? Anything extra I can add to the water or do?

My salinity. Either my salinity is bad (I purchased my water from my LFS to start with) or my hydrometer is bad. I know they are unreliable but but close. It's between 1.026-1.028 it was higher but I added fresh water to bring it down quite a bit.

Powerheads and circulation pumps. Is there any special way to orient them? I currently have one it's 400gph it's broken. ( my wife decided it wasn't pointing in the right direction and broke it) so I am ordering new ones. I am planning on having 2 do I need a higher or lower gph in my tank?

I would love some opinions on this. Thank you guys so much!

 

[jsker]

Nitrates
water changes and run some carbon to bring down the nitrates.
Water
You can get away with it using a product call Prime to neutralize the chlorine, I did for year with my fish only system, but it is best to use RO/DI
Salinity
Invest in a real refractometer, they are not that much link
Poweheads
If you have live rock, which is also good for natural filtration have the power heads blow on the rock so that if left over food collects is will not settle and be filtered out.

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome to R2R

 

[SLCarrillo]

By run carbon, I have a hob filter with the carbon insert. Is this sufficient or not what you mean at all?
Also for the water I do use a dechlorinater, that should be enough for now for just fish and inverts?

 

[Betty1964]

By run carbon, I have a hob filter with the carbon insert. Is this sufficient or not what you mean at all?
Also for the water I do use a dechlorinater, that should be enough for now for just fish and inverts?

The tap water should not be in your long term plan for three reasons. The first is silicates. These will cause horrible outbreaks of algae in your tank. The second is the build up of heavy metals. The third is that you just don't know what is added to tap water before it reaches your house. There are several very affordable options for Rodi filters out there. Check Craig's list.

The carbon in the HOB will get you by briefly. However, they are not really designed to be in salt water. They will not last terribly long. Eventually you will want to buy a carbon reactor and some good quality carbon...BRS sells some decent stuff.

A dechlorinator will remove chlorine but not chloramines or ammonia. The biggest issue with adding fish is that you will see ammonia spike, especially if you are not using a protein skimmer. This is where Prime comes in. Prime will give you a little leeway between water changes. A protein skimmer is the ideal...again, check Craig's list.

I assume you are planning to use a QT tank before adding fish, inverts, or corals to your tank. Please, please, please do not skip this step. If you need help, we are here. We have all been beginners at one time.

 

[FishGuyBri]

As a beginner myself, I second all the comments so far. I took almost 6 months reading and researching before starting and my tank is now three weeks in. You will find so much information coming at you that it just doesn't seem to make any sense. The one thing that is crystal clear is that you should take each step slowly and take your time. The most incredibly important items for so far have been the QT, time to cycle, and read read read, ask ask ask.

 

[jsker]

By run carbon, I have a hob filter with the carbon insert. Is this sufficient or not what you mean at all?
Also for the water I do use a dechlorinater, that should be enough for now for just fish and inverts?

Yes to the carbon insert

Seachem prime removers more the just the chlorine, and there are other products out there that do the same. Do you have a home water filter?

 

[SLCarrillo]

To clear a few things up, I am 100% getting the rodi filter. I just have to wait until income tax. I promise it's not that I don't think it's important enough to get now, I physically can't get it until then. It is definitely not a long term plan. What I was wondering was if I can get my fish and invertebrates (and them survive and live) while still using the tap water or filtered or whatever you guys think is best. I am going to get the prime I didn't realize it removed that much stuff.

I don't have a home water filter we buy water. What type of water is best? Distilled or just purified. It's not a hassle to get they sell them at my work.

I am absolutely using a qt tank.

And getting a refractometer when I get the rodi filter.

 

[Roy 9121]

If you have to use tap water, which i wouldn't recommend, at least get a filter pitcher and filter it.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Can't wait to get wrecked by others for saying this but using tap water and adding Prime will 100% get you by...provided you live in an area with "good" water. I'm not a reef veteran by any means but I've been going 6 months with tap water and Prime. I think that answers your question. If you're going to buy jugs of water from the store then I think you want distilled but if you're going that route then why not go to your LFS and get their RODI? I think it's about the same price....maybe even cheaper for the RODI. Also good that you're planning on getting your own filter. I also plan on doing it but I've had a successful reef without it. Good luck with everything!

 

[Frop]

If you can't use RODI you may be able to use distilled. However I saw a post somewhere saying distilled may have leached copper in it.

 

[wilecyote007]

I am new to this also. Put in my first clown and 3 turbo snails 5 days ago and they are doing great so far. I am also grabbing a refractometer but have what you do for now. If its high just make sure no air bubbles are on your arrow wheel. They will loft it giving you high readings. I cycled for 4 weeks with live sand, live rock and never had ammonia spike.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I would remove that asterina star in your picture, from your tank. They multiply like crazy, they eat coralline algae and some might munch on coral. If they've multiplied already, look into a harlequin shrimp. They only eat starfish though. Might have to be a temporary arrangement as they can be difficult to keep alive.