LongIslandFirearms
Reefing newb
Hello!
Thank you for viewing my post. I am new to saltwater. I have read and read online and in books. What's my goal? Im looking to house some fish, live rock and anemones
So.. here's a complete setup of what I am doing with pictures along the way to document and show other newbies what to expect. I will check in daily with pictures and water conditions. This (should be) a great way for all newbies to see what will happen when you setup a new tank. I've read all over the place, however cannot seem to find someone that did a documentary throughout the process. So, I found this site to be friendly and signed up :)
Setup / Equipment:
Filter (with rock and carbon which came with system) is up and running. I used about 2/3 of the salt and waited about 5 hours for it to mix into the 37 gallon tank (used 30 gallons of my tap water). My tap water had ZERO traces of anything and I have been using it for 10+years in aquariums; with no issues (knock on wood).
I installed the heater that came with the new tank (hopefully my hydor will come soon, this ones cheap). The water is 78.8.
Five Hours Later:
I removed some water after the salt mixed well with the tap water using a fish net to use the tank as a mixing bowl. Checked with the hydrometer and its 1.025. (I made sure I washed the hydrometer once I was done testing). I added all the Reef Substrate and Sand. At this time the tank was really cloudy, which I've read is normal. *Do not add and live substrate until all the salt is dissolved.
One Day Later:
I've read that getting Liverock (LR) from your LP (Local Petstore) is best in the beginning because you will start the 'cycling' faster. However, rock at a local store isn't cheap (9.99 a pound!). So I bought 3 pounds. (BTW TIP: Ask the LP if they have LR in small pieces; they charged me 2.99 a pound!) So I got 2 pounds of the LR small pieces. Total in tank: 5 gallons.
Newbie salt water tip:
A "true" reading on those is based on water that is 60 degrees. For each 10 degrees rise, you subtract .001. So if your reading is 1.025 at 80 degrees, the real specific gravity in your system is 1.023. And I would take my sample from the middle of the tank, not just skimming the top.
Thank you for viewing my post. I am new to saltwater. I have read and read online and in books. What's my goal? Im looking to house some fish, live rock and anemones
So.. here's a complete setup of what I am doing with pictures along the way to document and show other newbies what to expect. I will check in daily with pictures and water conditions. This (should be) a great way for all newbies to see what will happen when you setup a new tank. I've read all over the place, however cannot seem to find someone that did a documentary throughout the process. So, I found this site to be friendly and signed up :)
Setup / Equipment:
- 37 Gallon Tank (30x12x22) (Marineland 37 gallon)
- EHEIM 2232 Wet/Dry Filter
- Hydor ETH200 200 Watt External In-Line Heater for 1/2" Hose (not delivered yet, using 200W Intank heater for now)
- Seaclone 100 Protein Skimmer
- Digital Water Thermometer
- MarineLand Hydrometer
- 20 pounds Nature's Ocean Bio-Active Aragonite Reef Sand
- 16 pounds Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Reef Substrate
- 5 pounds Fiji Live Cured Rock from Local Pet Store
- 22 pounds Premium Fiji Rock from Dr. Foster's and Smith (to be delivered today!) -ON SALE at Dr. Foster's! ($4.31 DELIVERED)
- 50 'gallons' Instant Ocean Salt
- Standard Light (for now)
- Salt Water API testing Kit
- Hydor Koralia 2 Circulation Pump/Powerhead UL 600 gph (purchase, not received yet).
Filter (with rock and carbon which came with system) is up and running. I used about 2/3 of the salt and waited about 5 hours for it to mix into the 37 gallon tank (used 30 gallons of my tap water). My tap water had ZERO traces of anything and I have been using it for 10+years in aquariums; with no issues (knock on wood).
I installed the heater that came with the new tank (hopefully my hydor will come soon, this ones cheap). The water is 78.8.
Five Hours Later:
I removed some water after the salt mixed well with the tap water using a fish net to use the tank as a mixing bowl. Checked with the hydrometer and its 1.025. (I made sure I washed the hydrometer once I was done testing). I added all the Reef Substrate and Sand. At this time the tank was really cloudy, which I've read is normal. *Do not add and live substrate until all the salt is dissolved.
One Day Later:
I've read that getting Liverock (LR) from your LP (Local Petstore) is best in the beginning because you will start the 'cycling' faster. However, rock at a local store isn't cheap (9.99 a pound!). So I bought 3 pounds. (BTW TIP: Ask the LP if they have LR in small pieces; they charged me 2.99 a pound!) So I got 2 pounds of the LR small pieces. Total in tank: 5 gallons.
Newbie salt water tip:
A "true" reading on those is based on water that is 60 degrees. For each 10 degrees rise, you subtract .001. So if your reading is 1.025 at 80 degrees, the real specific gravity in your system is 1.023. And I would take my sample from the middle of the tank, not just skimming the top.
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