1st time reefer.... Need help/direction

[Jus4pd11417]

I don't know a lot about the chemistry aspect if SW tanks or all this terminology that's used. I'm kinda lost at this point and need some direction. My set up 55 gallon w/se mix inside added 30lbs of live sand fluval 406 for filtration and a blower to move the water. my light be here any day it's a aquatic 48 inch T5 waiting for my tank heater to arrive and tomorrow in gonna by some rock from a guy on the forum. At this point what should I be doing preparing for what direction should I be going in do I need a protein skimmer - a roi filtration system. How often do I do water changes when I'm not using a roi and I only have live rock sand and a few fish. What fish do I buy etc man I need a lot if help

 

[nycdominicanreef]

Ask yourself do you want fish only?
Fish and coral?
if you are going to have just fish, protein skimmer isnt essential, if you are going to have fish and coral, then a protein skimmer will be your best friend
You will NEED LIVE ROCK, it will be your filtration, not the fluval, fluval will trap dirt in the cartridges, making your nitrates rise.

DO NOT RUSH, NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS FAST IN A SALTWATER TANK

READ,READ, READ

 

[cmantis]

Don't start with tap water you either want to buy RODI water or get your own.

 

[Jus4pd11417]

Coral & fish

I know initially I will be doing the sand, live rock and just fish and w/in a few months start adding coral. So for now what essential items do I need at my present state can I continue using the fluval, what chemicals do I use in the water. Today I'm buying some live rock to go in my tank and w/in a few days if the levels are ok gonna add a few fish. Any suggestions on the the type and where to buy them ? Need a lot of help thank you so much

 

[KathyC]

I know initially I will be doing the sand, live rock and just fish and w/in a few months start adding coral. So for now what essential items do I need at my present state can I continue using the fluval, what chemicals do I use in the water. Today I'm buying some live rock to go in my tank and w/in a few days if the levels are ok gonna add a few fish. Any suggestions on the the type and where to buy them ? Need a lot of help thank you so much

The most essential thing you need is patience.


You cannot add sand & rock to a tank and toss fish in there a few days later


SW tanks need to go through the nitrogen cycle BEFORE adding ANY livestock to them. Are you familiar with this process? (before I spend time explaining it)


The most important thing a person needs to do before starting a SW tank - is a lot of reading. At the top of the Reefs for Beginners Forum (you can find it on the blue menu bar on the home page) are a bunch of 'stickies' that contain very important info. If you haven't read them, you are starting off with far less info than you should have at this point!


Some facts for you:
-->you can't mix SW properly if you don't have a heater..the salt mix won't dissolve properly


--> if you start your tank off using tap water, you WILL have major algae issues down the road as your new rocks & sand WILL adsorb all of the garbage that is in our local tap water.


You asked what you need to get started - at an absolute minimum you need:
--Test kits for Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH
--a refractometer to properly measure your salinity
--a Ro or Ro/di unit to make your water - or a tap water filter (not really recommended but acceptable if you can find an RO yet)
--a heater that is the correct size for your tank
--a thermometer
--either a skimmer or a filter that will help oxygenate the water (assuming you have no sump attached to this tank?) A canister filter will not add enough oxygen to the tank and are only useful on a reef tank as a vessel to add media to (like carbon or GFO). You'd be better off with a HOB filter for the meantime before you get a skimmer
--a good book on this hobby (the BEST $ you will ever spend in this hobby!!) I suggest The Conscientious Marine Aquarist By Robert Fenner


...I'm certain I am leaving something off of this list...

 

[nycdominicanreef]

And some ppl may take this as a given but...

Use AQUARIUM Salt, (such as Instant Ocean), we have read before, when ppl use table salt because its "cheaper"

 

[Moneymaks24]

Really table salt? Never heard of that but lol

 

[jdnumis]

Kathy hit the nail on the head

the most essential thing you need is patience.


You cannot add sand & rock to a tank and toss fish in there a few days later


sw tanks need to go through the nitrogen cycle before adding any livestock to them. Are you familiar with this process? (before i spend time explaining it)


the most important thing a person needs to do before starting a sw tank - is a lot of reading. At the top of the reefs for beginners forum (you can find it on the blue menu bar on the home page) are a bunch of 'stickies' that contain very important info. If you haven't read them, you are starting off with far less info than you should have at this point!


some facts for you:
-->you can't mix sw properly if you don't have a heater..the salt mix won't dissolve properly


--> if you start your tank off using tap water, you will have major algae issues down the road as your new rocks & sand will adsorb all of the garbage that is in our local tap water.


You asked what you need to get started - at an absolute minimum you need:
--test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph
--a refractometer to properly measure your salinity
--a ro or ro/di unit to make your water - or a tap water filter (not really recommended but acceptable if you can find an ro yet)
--a heater that is the correct size for your tank
--a thermometer
--either a skimmer or a filter that will help oxygenate the water (assuming you have no sump attached to this tank?) a canister filter will not add enough oxygen to the tank and are only useful on a reef tank as a vessel to add media to (like carbon or gfo). You'd be better off with a hob filter for the meantime before you get a skimmer
--a good book on this hobby (the best $ you will ever spend in this hobby!!) i suggest the conscientious marine aquarist by robert fenner


...i'm certain i am leaving something off of this list...

+++++++1

 

[Clink51]

i also have never heard of table salt, but i wont doubt it has come up LOL

to add to the salt. make sure its either marine or reef, regular aquarium salt wont carry enough of the nutrients needed

 

[Bigbpro916]

Table salt really? If you're that cheap you should not be in this hobby lol