Getting started

charles5261 · Apr 15, 2018

I have had salt water in the tank since about april 10 and live sand i got was ocean direct and its been in the tank since about april 12 and got some live rock and base rock on april 14. The test have had no ammonia and no nitrite my ph is at 8.0 and water temp is 80° on one side of the tank. And around 84°on the other side of tank. (temp took close to the heater) i put a shrimp from the grocery store in the tank to. What else is stuff i need to know to help tank grow and base rock to grow.

NinnJinn · Apr 15, 2018

Welcome to R2R!!

If you want to speed up the process by a couple of weeks you might want to get some dr. Tim's one and only and dr. Tim's ammonium chloride. However if you want to go the natural way that is totally fine using the shrimp it will just take longer from what I have learned.

Other members will be chiming in soon

jsker · Apr 15, 2018

Welcome to R2R, good start.

charles5261 · Apr 15, 2018

NinnJinn said:
Welcome to R2R!!

If you want to speed up the process by a couple of weeks you might want to get some dr. Tim's one and only and dr. Tim's ammonium chloride. However if you want to go the natural way that is totally fine using the shrimp it will just take longer from what I have learned.

Other members will be chiming in soon

I dont mind the wait but i just want to help it grow. And help the base rock turn to support live. And turn from white to the purple

reef lover · Apr 16, 2018

Welcome to r2r!! Time and patience for the rock...you can seed it with pods and corraline.

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

reef lover said:
Welcome to r2r!! Time and patience for the rock...you can seed it with pods and corraline.

I may buy some seed. Last night i seen were you could buy some. And break it up to have it float around in the tank to help it grow faster. And i saw some really nice corals on coralust.com i guess starting out everyone. Has a reef tank lol and then add fish. Im just trying to understand it more.

NinnJinn · Apr 16, 2018

If you are going to have corals, be sure to check out the compatibility of fish and invertebrates because some will wipe out your Coral

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

NinnJinn said:
If you are going to have corals, be sure to check out the compatibility of fish and invertebrates because some will wipe out your Coral

I want corals. But the fish will be like clown fish and Nemo for my son. Not sure on the rest. I really like the mushrooms that have a lot of different colors. But have not seen them sold small. Always bigger ones and they sell for couple 100.00

PatW · Apr 16, 2018

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef. Temp in your tank should be constant. You need to get some powerheads to get some waterflow in your tank.

Ruben's Reef · Apr 16, 2018

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

PatW said:
Welcome to Reef 2 Reef. Temp in your tank should be constant. You need to get some powerheads to get some waterflow in your tank.

Yes I agree I need to get some power heads I spent too much money Saturday on Rock so I waited. The temp is consistent on the far side away from the heater it's at 81 degrees close to the heater it's around 84 the only way I know to make it more consistent and maybe put two heaters in there

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

spyder813 said:
!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

Thanks I have watched a bunch of YouTube videos I believe is from the same people that's how I found out about the form

HotRocks · Apr 16, 2018

Welcome to R2R, great place, great people, and tons of great info.

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

HotRocks said:
Welcome to R2R, great place, great people, and tons of great info.

Thanks!!! The info is what im after. I did take a water sample and will try and get it tested tonight. Just because im new and to make sure im reading stuff right

HotRocks · Apr 16, 2018

charles5261 said:
Thanks!!! The info is what im after. I did take a water sample and will try and get it tested tonight. Just because im new and to make sure im reading stuff right

Sure thing, IMO (once you have good flow in your tank) you will want to make the 81 degree mark your max for temp (I keep my tank 78). I am sure there are people that keep temps above this. Keep in mind the higher your temperature the lower your oxygen saturation will be. Algae can also thrive in warmer tanks.

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

HotRocks said:
Sure thing, IMO (once you have good flow in your tank) you will want to make the 81 degree mark your max for temp (I keep my tank 78). I am sure there are people that keep temps above this. Keep in mind the higher your temperature the lower your oxygen saturation will be. Algae can also thrive in warmer tanks.

I got a multi-use water pump. And a digital thermometer. Will install tonight.

charles5261 · Apr 16, 2018

charles5261 said:
I got a multi-use water pump. And a digital thermometer. Will install tonight.

I was told that pump was to big for a 50gal tank

HotRocks · Apr 16, 2018

charles5261 said:
I was told that pump was to big for a 50gal tank

You should see consistent temps.

NinnJinn · Apr 16, 2018

When you get a chance search for turnover rate here on the forums. It will give you a better idea of what to get and what not to get.

Jesterrace · Apr 17, 2018

charles5261 said:
Yes I agree I need to get some power heads I spent too much money Saturday on Rock so I waited. The temp is consistent on the far side away from the heater it's at 81 degrees close to the heater it's around 84 the only way I know to make it more consistent and maybe put two heaters in there

Your tank is too warm. Generally speaking 78 degrees is considered the sweet spot for fish, corals and inverts.