New to the hobby!

[Torresj9]

So I'm pretty new at this saltwater stuff and I'm pretty excited just need some tips/advice. I started a 40 gallon tank. So far I only got about 30-35 lbs of live rock. 40 pounds of live sand (bahama oolite) for my equipment I got to power heads and one heater. I ordered the coralife protein skimmer 650. I did some research and it seemed pretty good. Anyone used one or have experiences?
Would it be safe to put in the skimmer once it gets here? (It's been shipped)
Now my tank has been set up for 2 weeks now. The water I first got it from my local pet store and then I bought a RODI unit and made my own water and I did water change 15% this past weekend. ( I also just ordered a TDS meter)
Now I been noticing I been getting some brown spots on my sand and I read it looks like diatoms.. Should I be worried?
Now about a week ago I bought some rock from a guy and went I put in the rock In my tank some snails appeared (he had crabs and snails in his) should I just leave him there??
And my last thing before i ever though about saltwater tanks I use to go to pets store and I would always be fascinated about the little shrimps since they would always be so active.. My girlfriend actually bought me one and had in the tank before I got home (she thinks it works sort same way as a freshwater) now the shrimp (coral banded shrimp) has been there for 5 days now and it seems really active. Should I leave him there as well?? I bought the API saltwater test kit and for my PH I got 7.8, ammonia .25ppm , nitrite 0ppm and nitrate 0ppm...
Thank you!!!

 

[RAD01]

Welcome to the forum.
Just put the skimmer to work or give it a vinegar bath both have work just fine in my experience.
Let your tank cycle, mature and enjoy your new tank.

 

[Torresj9]

Thanks! I was also looking at my rock and found a hitchhiker.. It sort of looks like a centipede.

 

[RAD01]

The centipede looking thing you can also just leave it in the tank but be careful because it can sting you if you touch it.

 

[Torresj9]

Okay thank you.. And what do you think about the shrimp should I just keep him there even though my tank is not even cycled??

 

[Bob Escher]

How does vinegar work in Place of a skimmer? My big tank isn't here yet but my little ten gal has matured and I took some live rock out to cycle the dry rock. And I added two clown and a Chromis they are doing good. Everything is down to zero. I have a fluval C2 HOB filter but also bought a aquatic life skimmer (rated up to 30 gallons) and it's not doing anything except clear water. The fish have been in there now for five days. Should I worry or just do a water change and maybe vinegar?
Thanks more curious about the vinegar than anything will start posting things soon I hope

 

[Torresj9]

How does vinegar work in Place of a skimmer? My big tank isn't here yet but my little ten gal has matured and I took some live rock out to cycle the dry rock. And I added two clown and a Chromis they are doing good. Everything is down to zero. I have a fluval C2 HOB filter but also bought a aquatic life skimmer (rated up to 30 gallons) and it's not doing anything except clear water. The fish have been in there now for five days. Should I worry or just do a water change and maybe vinegar?
Thanks more curious about the vinegar than anything will start posting things soon I hope

I have a friend he starting a 20 gallon tank.. Would you recommend the aquatic life skimmer?

 

[Bob Escher]

I hate to say it but I really haven't had broken in it. The water output I believe is too high up ( air input is on one side of cup and water output is on other side hard to explain. But it's sturdy enough pump output is good I just needs some goop

 

[Torresj9]

I hate to say it but I really haven't had broken in it. The water output I believe is too high up ( air input is on one side of cup and water output is on other side hard to explain. But it's sturdy enough pump output is good I just needs some goop

Oh okay I know what you mean.. Because he is looking at that one and the coralife nano skimmer

 

[antoniolps]

My 45g is been cycling for about a month with live rock ,live sand , the second week cycling ammonia was super high ,the third week since then parameters are perfect and already have 2 fish in it with skimmer running and carbon in one of the chambers , I'm doing a water change tomorrow ... What else should I expect during the cycling process ?

 

[Torresj9]

My 45g is been cycling for about a month with live rock ,live sand , the second week cycling ammonia was super high ,the third week since then parameters are perfect and already have 2 fish in it with skimmer running and carbon in one of the chambers , I'm doing a water change tomorrow ... What else should I expect during the cycling process ?

Did you add shrimp or anything when you first started cycling? My ammonia is not very high yet.. So I'll just let the tank do its thing other then water changes..

 

[Wicked5oh]

I don't think you should worry about water changes right now, probably prolong the cycle. I waiting until I had 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 20 nitrates before I did a 20% water change.

 

[Torresj9]

I don't think you should worry about water changes right now, probably prolong the cycle. I waiting until I had 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 20 nitrates before I did a 20% water change.

Thanks for the reply!! I read somewhere else to treat the tank as if there was fish and stuff. And would you recommend setting up the skimmer while cycling?

 

[Wicked5oh]

If you treat your cycle like you have fish it was my understanding that it would take longer. I don't think it's necessary to purchase a skimmer or even run one until your cycle is complete. Skimmer removes waste produced by fish. The fastest way that I under stand to cycle is to use as good quality live rock. There's lots of additives you can buy but I didn't use any and my cycle went daily quickly with established live rock. My tank is maybe a month an a half to two months old and I already have pod population.

A route you can take is adding small doses of ammonia (Google correct brand)

 

[Torresj9]

Okay awesome. Thanks for the reply. I got 20 lbs of live rock but it was dead since the guy had it storage somewhere and I bought about 10lbs of cured live rock (tank was stablished) and put it up on my tank so hopefully that rock can help the others as well.

 

[Wicked5oh]

Throw in a piece of shrimp from the grocery store for a couple days should get the cycle going too.

 

[Torresj9]

Yeah that's what read.. I even read people urine as well!!

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Torresj9]

Welcome to R2R!

Thanks!!