First saltwater tank

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

So yesterday I finally started setting up my 40 gallon saltwater tank. VERY EXCITED.
All I have in there is live sand (Bahama oolite 40lbs) live rock (35lbs) my powerhead and my heater. My plan for now is to do a FOWLR tank. Would I need a filter or a skimmer? If I do what would be best? I plan on doing 15-20% water changes weekly. My other question is I want to get more live rock. Since my tank is barely set up could I just get the new rock in the tank while it starts the cycle or do I have to cure it in a bucket somewhere else?

Saltine · Mar 7, 2016

Welcome!! Just throw the rock In the tank.

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

So the rock would be curing and cycling at the same time???

twilliard · Mar 7, 2016

Agreed you sure can add more rock.
I personally would add filtration and possibly a skimmer depending on feeding habits to remove solids and DOC's.

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

Yeah I do plan on adding filtration? Would you recommend something? To give you a better idea I plan on having a lionfish in there.

Saltine · Mar 7, 2016

It'll cure/cycle with the other rock. As long as your bio load is relatively low, you can live with just water changes and no skimmer for now. But it will make it easier, and be cheaper to have a skimmer in the future. Salt isn't cheap

Salt

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

Yeah that's what I plan on doing water changes for now since no filtration. I'm looking at skimmers for now.

PaReeferJ · Mar 7, 2016

Do you have a sump or is the skimmer going to be a hob model?

twilliard · Mar 7, 2016

Torresj9 said:
So the rock would be curing and cycling at the same time???

People have different opinions on the word curing.
Let's say you get rock from Florida live rock. Full of life
Now people "cure" this to allow any dead or dying organics to be finished before adding the rock to a display.
In your case you may want some of this life to survive so you strive to make that happen.
Now if you buy dry rock there is no life and the word cure is void.

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

PaReeferJ said:
Do you have a sump or is the skimmer going to be a hob model?

I have a overflow inside the tank. So most likely will go in there

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

twilliard said:
People have different opinions on the word curing.
Let's say you get rock from Florida live rock. Full of life
Now people "cure" this to allow any dead or dying organics to be finished before adding the rock to a display.
In your case you may want some of this life to survive so you strive to make that happen.
Now if you buy dry rock there is no life and the word cure is void.

Awesome thanks!!!! Most likely this weekend I will be adding more rock!

ckozma · Mar 7, 2016

I think that a small skimmer is definitely the way to go for filtration. Even with regular water changes you will be amazed at the amount of stuff it pulls out.

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

ckozma said:
I think that a small skimmer is definitely the way to go for filtration. Even with regular water changes you will be amazed at the amount of stuff it pulls out.

Is there any you might recommend?

ckozma · Mar 7, 2016

Well I guess I still don't understand what type of skimmer you will be using. If your tank has an overflow, which it appears that it does, then it will have holes drilled in the bottom of the overflow which are designed for you to use a sump. Does it?

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

ckozma said:
Well I guess I still don't understand what type of skimmer you will be using. If your tank has an overflow, which it appears that it does, then it will have holes drilled in the bottom of the overflow which are designed for you to use a sump. Does it?

No not holes.. It has an overflow but it's more like a HOB type just so you can't see things.

Diesel · Mar 7, 2016

If you have a overflow you can plumb that into a small sump and just do a skimmer there.
You tank will look a lot better like that as everything is hidden.
Even your heater has a place in that.
You can add a piece of Liverock in the sump and you can cycle your dry rock that way.
Just a note to keep testing your water as cycling can take some time and we not talking a week here more like 4 or even more.

Torresj9 · Mar 7, 2016

Yeah thanks for the tip. I've read stuff about sumps but no to familiar with them honestly and I don't plan on having one maybe I don't know much about it but I will start looking into them. I guess it's gets a little confusing cause I see bunch of stuff going on down there lol.
and yeah i know right now all I got is PATIENCE and let everything just do its thing. I'm getting my test kits today to check nitrates etc.

Saltine · Mar 7, 2016

Torresj9 said:
Is there any you might recommend?

Might I recommend a Reef Octopus BH-50

, used it on my 36g with 8g sump and worked great!!! Just upgraded so I'm selling it but haven't posted it on the forums yet, if you're interested PM me.

Salt