Starting My First Marine Aquarium

[Kurt Copeland]

I set up this 20-gallon tank yesterday afternoon and I'm wanting to add sand to it next.

I have some "Caribbean Live Sand" from CaribSea Ocean Direct. Can I just pour it in to the tank and let it settle? Do I just add the bacteria packet straight into the water after the sand?

Does this sand need to be washed first or would that be detrimental to it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[madtownguy]

You want what comes with the sand, don't wash it. You should be able to just pour the bacteria in once the tank is full. I would add any live rock or dry rock you plan to use as soon as possible. It is a great idea to ask here each step of the way what to do. Very good bunch of people here, I certainly would have probably been saved a couple tank catastrophes in the past. Live rock will help your tank cycle the fastest, otherwise you may be waiting awhile before it is ready.

 

[Russ265]

you can rinse the sand if you want to avoid the cloud but generally you can get rid of it with carbon.

those packets wont instantly cycle it, but will definitley speed things up.

live rock like madtown stated would be your best bet in the end as it cycles better and is your natural filter.

gl

 

[Kurt Copeland]

Thanks, guys!

That was probably such a common sense question but I just wanted to be sure before I screwed something up and ended up having to start over or spend more time and money fixing it.

I appreciate the help!

I'll be adding sand and rock over the next several days as I figure out how I want to arrange it.

This is a hobby I am reviving for myself after not having an aquarium for well over a decade. When I had freshwater tanks before, I had under-gravel filters with powerheads. Is that not something that is done any more? Would it be beneficial in any way? Do they even still make them?

 

[KJ]

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

 

[Kurt Copeland]

Any preference on the salt? The guide linked by KJ above says simply to research the different brands and that some of them have their flaws. What flaws (?!) and what brand of salt do you experienced people use?

Also, I assume it is important to have salt in the water before adding live sand, right?

 

[Kurt Copeland]

Alright! I picked my salt and will start dissolving it in here shortly. Hopefully, I will introduce some sand tomorrow.

 

[Russ265]

Alright! I picked my salt and will start dissolving it in here shortly. Hopefully, I will introduce some sand tomorrow.

make sure you get about 15 lbs of LR or dry when you can. you can be 75% of the gallon per lbs rule ime.

 

[scardall]

With the rock, build to where you have smallest foot print touching the bottom you can. Use Rock that is the Most porous you can Find. Bulk reef supply has a Video on choosing rock. Please watch it before you buy. Now Have FUN!!!

 

[Kurt Copeland]

Thanks, Russ! I will be adding the rock in the days to come when I've let it settle in and tested the levels the hundredth time to be sure I don't screw anything up.

Thanks, Scardall! That makes sense in trying to expose as much surface area as possible. Thanks for the Bulk Reef Supply suggestion. I'll go check it out.

I just finished adding the salt and am content in having it right in between 1.025 and 1.026

I'm going to check it again in a few hours (just to be certain) and I may go ahead and add some of the living sand. This is getting exciting and each step I take is getting closer to having a functional ecosystem and a cool little reef tank!

Thanks, everyone for all your help!

 

[Russ265]

Thanks, Russ! I will be adding the rock in the days to come when I've let it settle in and tested the levels the hundredth time to be sure I don't screw anything up.

Thanks, Scardall! That makes sense in trying to expose as much surface area as possible. Thanks for the Bulk Reef Supply suggestion. I'll go check it out.

I just finished adding the salt and am content in having it right in between 1.025 and 1.026

I'm going to check it again in a few hours (just to be certain) and I may go ahead and add some of the living sand. This is getting exciting and each step I take is getting closer to having a functional ecosystem and a cool little reef tank!

Thanks, everyone for all your help!

if you are using a hydrometer and you have a reading between 1.025 and 1.026 you are too high.

i usually target 1.023 with my instant ocean hydrometer. which is 1.0255 with my refractometer

the reason being that the calibration temp (generally 60-65f) could be different than your actual tested temp. (78?)

refractometer will be the route to go

js

 

[Shep]

Make sure you start a build thread so we can see the tank as it gets set up!

 

[Kurt Copeland]

if you are using a hydrometer and you have a reading between 1.025 and 1.026 you are too high.

i usually target 1.023 with my instant ocean hydrometer. which is 1.0255 with my refractometer

the reason being that the calibration temp (generally 60-65f) could be different than your actual tested temp. (78?)

refractometer will be the route to go

js

Honestly, one of the reasons I have been checking it repeatedly is because I have been getting different readings without making changes to the water. The "tap it lightly with a pencil" trick in the instructions on the hydrometer gets me an entirely different reading then if I give it a slightly more firm tap on the towel-draped table top. It seems the needle settles a little lower depending on the strength of the tap. I am NOT liking that kind of "accuracy".

I thought to myself that the water was still dissolving the salt but, if that were the case, it would steadily increase. It seems to land in different places from time to time.

Question: Could there be a different variation from hydrometer to hydrometer as well? Have you tested other hydrometers against your refractometer? Just wondering if that may be factor or if hydrometers in general are all actually lower than refractometers.

Edit: Oh, wait, I just re-read what you said and now I understand the reason for the difference between the readings of your hydrometer and refractometer.

Thanks for the information!

 

[Russ265]

anytime. keep us posted

 

[Kurt Copeland]

Ok. I took a break. I fixed dinner and watched a movie on Netflix and went back and tested it three more times in a row.

1.022
1.026
1.024

All within about two minutes.

The needle is not getting stuck and against the wall of the hydrometer and it has sway back and forth before it rests on it's final measurement. I always rest the hydrometer in the same place on the countertop when I read the measurement. The counter top is built into the wall and there is no rocking, sway or looseness of any kind.

What am I doing wrong?

Or are these hydrometers always this inaccurate?

 

[Kurt Copeland]

Now discovering I could by a refractometer from Amazon for only $10 more than I spend on the $12 hydrometer.

I will be ordering one of THOSE pretty soon.

 

[Russ265]

1.025 is what in guessing (you gotta average)

but you are more than likely 1.027 with the refractometer

 

[Kurt Copeland]

I'm sure you're right and I'm in no rush.

Before I'm ready to add anything really important, I will have received a refractometer from Amazon.

(I might even get my money back for the hydrometer.)

Again, thanks for the help!