10hrs and 44 min i just finished

[jcegt87]

so right now i have my power heads and the drizzle filter running im keeping my fingers crossed that i didn't break the return pump (yeah i plugged it in to see if it work OUT of water then i read the back of it and it says SUBMERSIBLE ONLY ....oops stupid mistake)

so if everything is fine and dandy tomorrow and i dont wake in a puddle i shall go and

DUN DUN DUN

heres my Question

should/can i

1) just to be safe buy a new return pump
2) go and buy some live sand and a SMALL doze of live rock say 5lbs to start cycle
3) just let tank sit for about a week alone to be sure that all salt is dissolved ,reading right now is 1.020

[Piggy]

I would go ahead and buy live sand and as much LR you can afford and let the cycle begin. Did you test the pump underwater to be sure it still works? I've done that same mistake before and never had a problem with my pump. As long as it was only for a few sec I really don't think it damaged it.

[jcegt87]

Originally Posted by Piggy

I would go ahead and buy live sand and as much LR you can afford and let the cycle begin. Did you test the pump underwater to be sure it still works? I've done that same mistake before and never had a problem with my pump. As long as it was only for a few sec I really don't think it damaged it.

yeah the pump is still working

what happened was i thought it was broken so i kept turning it on and off LOUD SCREECHING NOISE kinda gave me a headache the when i read it was submersible i unplugged and put in water and it worked right now my tank is really well "foggy" is that norm since i have the power head running

[jcegt87]

also should i plug the skimmer and UV sterilizer in right now or wait i just have the sterilizer with water from the filter running threw it with no light

[Piggy]

Did you take the pump apart and check the impeller area to make sure nothing broke? If all you have is your water in tank I would wait until you add your sand and rock to turn on the skimmer. Let the power head run it'll keep water movement and will be sure all salt is dissolved. What type of salt are you using?

[jcegt87]

Originally Posted by Piggy

Did you take the pump apart and check the impeller area to make sure nothing broke? If all you have is your water in tank I would wait until you add your sand and rock to turn on the skimmer. Let the power head run it'll keep water movement and will be sure all salt is dissolved. What type of salt are you using?

yep i took apart nothing broke the salt was instant ocean

what about the sterilizer

the sterilizer that came with it is the same as this one
Tetra TetraPond GreenFree UV1 9 Watt UV Clarifier

[Piggy]

That's the one I run on my pond. Can you use that one for saltwater? I don't have my manual to check to see if it says. No need to run it now anyway all you have is water in the tank.

[hotimportknight]

Once the saltwater is mixed and in the tank I would buy all the live sand you want, or non living sand and seed with live sand, and as much live rock as you want to put in the tank. Each time you add live rock in any decent amount it will restart the cycle. If you put in 5 lbs of rock and let it cycle for a month, then add more rock you will be waiting all over again. I doubt running your return pump out of water would have hurt it, unless it ran for a minute or so dry and over heating. But if it was for a few seconds it should be fine as long as its still moving water when submerged.

[jcegt87]

how long should the "fogginess" of the water last

[hotimportknight]

I wouldn't run the UV sterilizer until you get it stocked, i don't know if it would slow down the cycle or not, but it would do no good and just wear out the bulb for nothing.