Newbie Here! First Saltwater Aquarium

Ruben's Reef · Jan 2, 2018

Welcome to R2R, Snyder. A lot to read, a lot to learn and a lot of good reefers waiting to help you on this forum.

Snyder1456 · Jan 2, 2018

spyder813 said:
Welcome to R2R, Snyder. A lot to read, a lot to learn and a lot of good reefers waiting to help you on this forum.

Thank you

Snyder1456 · Jan 2, 2018

So I ordered about 60 lbs dry rock and I was hoping to use Splash Zone (because I already have a bunch) to put it together and create an Aquascape. I should mention this is a completely new tank with no water yet. So I'll have time to let it cure and dry completely. I read on another forum that it was ok. This person said they work at SeaWorld and use the stuff there all the time to attach frags and rocks. Anyone have any experience with splash zone? Also, in this case should I begin an entirely new thread???

sfin52 · Jan 2, 2018

One more suggestion for that fluval. Have an extra set of gaskets on hand just in case. I had some gaskets go bad about 4 months ago and had to shut my filter down for 2 days. ;NailbitingI was waiting on new ones from amazon.;Facepalm It seems places carry the filter but not the parts.

Snyder1456 · Jan 4, 2018

So I've decided to install a sump and drill my tank. It seems the more I read about this, the more I feel that I'll be doing this down the road anyway and regret not doing it from the beginning. Can anyone tell me what size overflow I should go with a 60 gallon tank???

Fudsey · Jan 4, 2018

This is what I put in my 90 and you can always dial it back with pump or valves

http://www.glass-holes.com/1500-gph-Overflow-Box-Complete-Kit-gh1500kit.htm

Snyder1456 · Jan 4, 2018

I like that. And what about the return? I found one on amazon but they "suggest" a 3/4 inch return bulkhead. Is that typical???

Snyder1456 · Feb 2, 2018

ok so its been a month and I now have water in the tank. Doing a fishless cycle... ANY INPUT/SUGGESTIONS?

I have dosed with DR Tims ammonia and his one and only bacteria three days ago.

Ammonia was zero today, but nitrites were at the max 5PPM with the API test kit

Dr Tim says to do a watewr change to reduce nitrites to below 5 or I will stall the cycle, but ive read on here that theres no need to even measure nitrites during a cycle

I just wanna know if I should change water or be patient... And I wanna know NOW! LOL just kidding

sfin52 · Feb 2, 2018

Did you use any lr rock to seed the tank. It would speed up the cycle.

Snyder1456 · Feb 2, 2018

I used dry carib sea life rock and one piece of Tonga shelf dry rock. So no o didn't buy any live rock

Snyder1456 · Feb 2, 2018

sfin52 said:
Did you use any lr rock to seed the tank. It would speed up the cycle.

I went to two LFS by me and their "live rock" weren't exactly what I thought they should be. they were just piled up rock in water with no signs of life or bacteria. Not that I know what to look for but one of the employees actually told me not to buy their rock to seed my rock...

Fudsey · Feb 4, 2018

Buying live rock from a LFS is a gamble anyways. You never know what is in it. I bought a beautiful piece from a guy I go to all the time with no signs of aiptaisia on it. 3 weeks later it showed it's ugly head. From then on it was a battle

acabgd · Feb 4, 2018

Snyder1456 said:
Ammonia was zero today, but nitrites were at the max 5PPM with the API test kit

Be patient, don't make any water changes.
Do top off for evaporation with fresh (non-salt) water.
Drop the API test kits (unreliable) and get something like Salifert.
Did you drill the tank at the end? Do you have a sump now?

Ruben's Reef · Feb 4, 2018

Snyder1456 said:
ok so its been a month and I now have water in the tank. Doing a fishless cycle... ANY INPUT/SUGGESTIONS?

I have dosed with DR Tims ammonia and his one and only bacteria three days ago.

Ammonia was zero today, but nitrites were at the max 5PPM with the API test kit

Dr Tim says to do a watewr change to reduce nitrites to below 5 or I will stall the cycle, but ive read on here that theres no need to even measure nitrites during a cycle

I just wanna know if I should change water or be patient... And I wanna know NOW! LOL just kidding

Snyder, I use the same DR.Tim Bacteria and ammonia to cycle my tank. First, get a Salifert test kit for Nitrite and Nitrates. API didn't give me an accurate results. Few members here give me the advice to use Salifert and is good. Also what help me with the ammnia to check was the Seachem Ammonia batch. I have one on my DT and one on my QT. Do not dose more than once ammonia, the bacteria will work with the first dose and you will see an increase on Nitrites and then when the Nitrates get to zero you will see and increase on Nitrates, then you can do a 10% water change and add one fish only. Also, to keep the balance with the bacteria, you can add a dose of Stability. I got mine cycled in 3 weeks but I wait another week to add fish.

reef lover · Feb 5, 2018

Little late but welcome to the salt life!

Snyder1456 · Feb 6, 2018

spyder813 said:
Snyder, I use the same DR.Tim Bacteria and ammonia to cycle my tank. First, get a Salifert test kit for Nitrite and Nitrates. API didn't give me an accurate results. Few members here give me the advice to use Salifert and is good. Also what help me with the ammnia to check was the Seachem Ammonia batch. I have one on my DT and one on my QT. Do not dose more than once ammonia, the bacteria will work with the first dose and you will see an increase on Nitrites and then when the Nitrates get to zero you will see and increase on Nitrates, then you can do a 10% water change and add one fish only. Also, to keep the balance with the bacteria, you can add a dose of Stability. I got mine cycled in 3 weeks but I wait another week to add fish.

Thanks will do. Add the one fish before CUC?

Snyder1456 · Feb 25, 2018

acabgd said:
Be patient, don't make any water changes.
Do top off for evaporation with fresh (non-salt) water.
Drop the API test kits (unreliable) and get something like Salifert.
Did you drill the tank at the end? Do you have a sump now?

Yes I did. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner! I only get notifications for a couple threads. I just installed the R2R app. Anyways I found a used eshopps RS100 and I set up a QT tank for a pair of clownfish. So far so good. I'm loving this! I wanna try and use this forum more cause MOST of what I've learned thus far has been from reading everyone else's experiences... [emoji106]