Complete newbie here...

MirandaP · Dec 20, 2019

My husband has owned tanks for years but never saltwater. We decided to give it a try after discussions with the local marine aquatic store.

I have been reading books and doing research but still feel overwhelmed. Right now we have a 150 gallon fish tank and just had the aquatic store set us up with the live sand & salt water they make. We got 100lbs of live rock and started the cycling with the fritz turbo start last night. I have a list of things I *think* I should buy to have on hand and want to know others thoughts on if I need these items right away or not.

>api master test kit- should I start testing now and should it be once a week? local store is going to test after 4 weeks

>refractormeter

>ammonica search badge to just place on the tank

>metroplex, kanaplex, any other treatments?

>coppersafe

>prime?

Also, if we start a quarantine tank how do we know a fish is sick? Anything else besides signs of spots or slow movement?

Reefnman2 · Dec 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R and to reefing in general! Sounds like a nice set up.

S.Pepper · Dec 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R, Miranda.

arturoo1977 · Dec 20, 2019

Hi and welcome. Sounds like a good plan. Just be careful on what your LFS tell you to buy, specially buy! Some shops just want to invoice you more so anything that sound like too rush it because it probably is. Patience is the key, mainly at startup with your cycle and stocking.

Reefnman2 · Dec 20, 2019

You may want to upgrade your test kit after awhile but it's ok for the start, refractometer you'll need.

Reefnman2 · Dec 20, 2019

You might also consider buying your own ro/di unit much easier and saves money in the long run than getting water from your LFS.

MirandaP · Dec 20, 2019

Reefnman2 said:
You may want to upgrade your test kit after awhile but it's ok for the start, refractometer you'll need.

Thank you! I've read some mixed reviews on it but figured, like you said, it would be okay to start with it. What would be the next one you'd recommend?

arturoo1977 · Dec 20, 2019

+1 on RO/DI unit. I use mine for drinking (without DI) and reefing.

MirandaP · Dec 20, 2019

Reefnman2 said:
You might also consider buying your own ro/di unit much easier and saves money in the long run than getting water from your LFS.

Do you have any recommendations?

Reefnman2 · Dec 20, 2019

MirandaP said:
Thank you! I've read some mixed reviews on it but figured, like you said, it would be okay to start with it. What would be the next one you'd recommend?

I Use Red Sea now and the Hanah Checker for alk, Pinpoint for PH but you'll get a lot of different answers as everyone has their own "favorite".

crusso1993 · Dec 20, 2019

Welcome, to you and your husband, to

the salty side and also to R2R!

You'll soon discover that some of us are crazy for fish, some of us are crazy for coral, many of us are crazy for both but everyone is a little bit crazy!

Samina · Dec 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!

MirandaP · Dec 20, 2019

arturoo1977 said:
+1 on RO/DI unit. I use mine for drinking (without DI) and reefing.

Right now we're going to have the local store maintain it. This would be to filtrate if we were going to fill the tank ourselves? We had one of these in one of our homes for drinking water too.

Reefnman2 · Dec 20, 2019

MirandaP said:
Do you have any recommendations?

I use Kent Marine HighS Series and really like it but there are a lot of good options out there.

arturoo1977 · Dec 20, 2019

MirandaP said:
Right now we're going to have the local store maintain it. This would be to filtrate if we were going to fill the tank ourselves? We had one of these in one of our homes for drinking water too.

Yes, if you are going to mix salt water for water changes, this is the way to go.

lapin · Dec 20, 2019

Howdy
For test kits I use:
Nitrate - Red Sea Pro
Phosphate - Hana Ultra Low checker
Magnesium - Salfert
Calcium - Salfert
Alkalinity - Hanna checker

To make water I use a BRS 5 stage unit. Depending on what your water source is and what you want to keep in the tank you might get away with a 4 stage unit.

QT tank:
I do the TTM method. It takes 2 tanks and 14 days. I also treat with API General Cure. Other than that, another reason for qt is to be sure the fish is eating. I will use live food and frozen and maybe pellets depending on if the fish was tank bred or not. Once it is eating then I will use the General Cure

Also think about setting up a small reactor for carbon and a skimmer.

Water changes once cycled will keep up with any demand so no need to dose for a long while

scavdog · Dec 20, 2019

Lot's of options for RO/DI out there. Bulk Reef supply seems highly regarded these days. Realize you will be using this for evaporation makeup as well as water changes. You might want to consider a 50 gallon drum for storage / mixing station.

fl3xlinton · Dec 20, 2019

MirandaP said:
Do you have any recommendations?

Most are good. Elos test kits Red Sea hanna seachem is okay. Salifert

Silent · Dec 20, 2019

Welcome. You came to the best spot for information. Best advice is to just read everything you can on here and you will soon know what you need to achieve success. Start off with cycling threads so you know what to expect and go from there. Look at aquascapes so you can set it up the way you like it and then maybe equipment related stuff.

MirandaP · Dec 20, 2019

lapin said:
Howdy
For test kits I use:
Nitrate - Red Sea Pro
Phosphate - Hana Ultra Low checker
Magnesium - Salfert
Calcium - Salfert
Alkalinity - Hanna checker

To make water I use a BRS 5 stage unit. Depending on what your water source is and what you want to keep in the tnak you might get away with a 4 stage unit

We are on one of the largest aquifers in the country but our water is extremely hard. Constantly cleaning lime and calcium from it.