New Tank, need advice on cycling

anybodii · 08/07/2012, 03:09 AM

I will first start with what I have and then my questions will follow.

I have:
30 Gallon Tank
Canister Filter w/ media
Tetra air pump rated at 40g
Aqueon 150w heater ( not glass )
Coralife Super Skimmer w/ pump 65g
Instant Ocean Hydrometer
Instant Ocean bio-spira ( not used yet, says doesn't need to be refrig, but is )
API test kit, liquid

I have set the tank up with saltwater at 1.022, the skimmer ( 72 hr break in ), heater, air pump, and filter w/ media. I currently have nothing else going and nothing else in it.

My questions are what exactly do I need to cycle the tank. I know live rock and live sand and that isn't a problem. I know the rule is 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon, but with the skimmer, filter, and live sand do I really need 30 lbs?

How long until I can put fish in there? Does it have to be after the tank is cycled? ( I know there are spikes that can kill the fish ) What kind of fish should I start with? I've heard try the cheaper ones, but 1) I don't want them so they would eventually be pawned back on the fish store 2) they're usually aggressive 3) I want clownfish anyways, and have heard they're good to start with. ( of course I'd only start with 1-2 to see how they do )

I've heard to get snails and what not to help, is there anything certain that is better than the other? How many of what should I get? When should they go in? ( During or after cycling the tank?, Before or after fish? )

Can I used activated carbon in the filter, will it produce any benefit or issues?

Do I NEED any type of lighting? I know fish need light to replicate sunlight and sundown, is there anything special to get for them ( I don't plan on getting coral or anything that NEEDS light ) Also, does light from room not suffice? ( I plan on getting lights, just curious )

My background with fish and tanks:
I've had freshwater before, but nothing that was too difficult to take care of, I currently have 2 red ear sliders in a 55g tank so tank changes, filter changes, and the like are nothing new and if you've ever owned a turtle you'd know nothing makes more of a mess feeding or crapping then a turtle... but of course water quality is not a big concern as fish..

Any other useful input or advice that I haven't asked or is worth knowing is much appreciated. I've used this forum for research, but just recently joined and figured straight on advice would help better.

Thanks in advance for the input and any helpful advice of the forum or how to find good information on it would be great.

SaltyReefDog · 08/07/2012, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anybodii

I will first start with what I have and then my questions will follow.

I have:
30 Gallon Tank
Canister Filter w/ media
Tetra air pump rated at 40g
Aqueon 150w heater ( not glass )
Coralife Super Skimmer w/ pump 65g
Instant Ocean Hydrometer
Instant Ocean bio-spira ( not used yet, says doesn't need to be refrig, but is )
API test kit, liquid

I have set the tank up with saltwater at 1.022, the skimmer ( 72 hr break in ), heater, air pump, and filter w/ media. I currently have nothing else going and nothing else in it.What are you using the air pump for? If you are running a bubble wand or air stone, that is not really needed in a saltwater tank and would make a lot of fine bubbles.

My questions are what exactly do I need to cycle the tank. I know live rock and live sand and that isn't a problem. I know the rule is 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon, but with the skimmer, filter, and live sand do I really need 30 lbs? 30 lbs of live rock is not as much a you might think. In a FOWLR tank the live rock is your main source of biological filtration. There are many good ways to cycle a tank, just not using live fish. The die off from liverock and sand will cycle it, you can ghost feed the tank, using table shrimp, using filter media from an established tank ect. ect. ... There are many threads on the subject. Look up fishless cycling in the search bar, many good threads to read.

How long until I can put fish in there? Does it have to be after the tank is cycled? ( I know there are spikes that can kill the fish ) What kind of fish should I start with? I've heard try the cheaper ones, but 1) I don't want them so they would eventually be pawned back on the fish store 2) they're usually aggressive 3) I want clownfish anyways, and have heard they're good to start with. ( of course I'd only start with 1-2 to see how they do )Tank has to be fully cycled before adding livestock. Adding livestock to a tank that is not cycled is cruel and painful to the livestock and often leads to death. You could do a mated clownfish pair in that size tank. Do not add any small more aggressive fish like damsels or you will have to tear the tank apart when it comes time to get them out.

I've heard to get snails and what not to help, is there anything certain that is better than the other? How many of what should I get? When should they go in? ( During or after cycling the tank?, Before or after fish? )Get the clean up crew after the tank has cycled. I recommend going to reefcleaners(DOT)org for the CUC they are very helpful and have convenient packages according to your tank size. They also have great customer service.

Can I used activated carbon in the filter, will it produce any benefit or issues? You don't have to run it, but it helps remove colors, odors, and meds from the water.

Do I NEED any type of lighting? I know fish need light to replicate sunlight and sundown, is there anything special to get for them ( I don't plan on getting coral or anything that NEEDS light ) Also, does light from room not suffice? ( I plan on getting lights, just curious )If ambient lighting in the rooms works for you that is all you need in a fish only tank. The lighting is there strictly for your viewing pleasure. That being said a low watt t5 fixture with the right bulbs will make the colors of the fish pop and stand out.

My background with fish and tanks:
I've had freshwater before, but nothing that was too difficult to take care of, I currently have 2 red ear sliders in a 55g tank so tank changes, filter changes, and the like are nothing new and if you've ever owned a turtle you'd know nothing makes more of a mess feeding or crapping then a turtle... but of course water quality is not a big concern as fish..

Any other useful input or advice that I haven't asked or is worth knowing is much appreciated. I've used this forum for research, but just recently joined and figured straight on advice would help better. Read all of the stickys in the New to the Hobby section there is a wealth of information in them, and take things slow!

Thanks in advance for the input and any helpful advice of the forum or how to find good information on it would be great.The search bar is your friend, and this is a hobby so most of all have fun!

izzy123 · 08/07/2012, 06:41 AM

saltyreefdog, I couldn't have said it better

I totally agree with the advice you got, aspecially about reading the stickys

After you've read them all, take a look at SK8R's blog entrys, there is a lot of solid info to be found.

Hope this helps and welcome to the addiction

anybodii · 08/07/2012, 01:06 PM

I appreciate the advice and will check stickys and searching before asking too many basic questions!

Vince272992 · 08/07/2012, 01:28 PM

Maybe not exactly 30lbs but get pretty close to it, it will jus make it a better home for the life u put in it, u can put a fish in it as soon as all ur paraments drop to 0 but if u have cured rock in ur tank and liv sand in ur tank u will not see any paraments such as ammonia nitrates nd nitrites go up so u COULD actually add a fish the day u set it up if u get crued rock an live sand u could but I would not recommend it... I would still, wait a couple weeks,a good fish to star with is a clown fish or blue/green chromis, or goby of some sort, NEVER get a damasil as ur first fish, a lot of people who r new to the hobby get a damsel as there first fish because they are so cheap but u will regret it so no damsels, haha, get ur snails and crabs before the fish and u need one carb or snail per gallon to have a good CUC so I would get 1-2 mexican turbo snail, 13-14 Astraea snails, 5-6 blue legged hermits and 5-6 red legged hermits as a couple saw let hermits, that would be a perfect CUC. an yes I would use carbon in the tank it will help remove nasty stuff the water and if will make ur water crystal clear and make the tank good to look at, with our the carbon ur water Will get a yellow haze to it and makes the tank look like crap hagaha, yes always get light fo the tank since you Are not getting corals I would get just a simple 2bulb T5 fixture made by current USA its a good fixture and is simple to use and pretty cheap, plus with lights u can grow coriline alge which is very pretty on the rocks with out those lights ur tank will be bare,I would get those lights...

08/07/2012, 03:09 AM	#1
anybodii Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	New Tank, need advice on cycling I will first start with what I have and then my questions will follow. I have: 30 Gallon Tank Canister Filter w/ media Tetra air pump rated at 40g Aqueon 150w heater ( not glass ) Coralife Super Skimmer w/ pump 65g Instant Ocean Hydrometer Instant Ocean bio-spira ( not used yet, says doesn't need to be refrig, but is ) API test kit, liquid I have set the tank up with saltwater at 1.022, the skimmer ( 72 hr break in ), heater, air pump, and filter w/ media. I currently have nothing else going and nothing else in it. My questions are what exactly do I need to cycle the tank. I know live rock and live sand and that isn't a problem. I know the rule is 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon, but with the skimmer, filter, and live sand do I really need 30 lbs? How long until I can put fish in there? Does it have to be after the tank is cycled? ( I know there are spikes that can kill the fish ) What kind of fish should I start with? I've heard try the cheaper ones, but 1) I don't want them so they would eventually be pawned back on the fish store 2) they're usually aggressive 3) I want clownfish anyways, and have heard they're good to start with. ( of course I'd only start with 1-2 to see how they do ) I've heard to get snails and what not to help, is there anything certain that is better than the other? How many of what should I get? When should they go in? ( During or after cycling the tank?, Before or after fish? ) Can I used activated carbon in the filter, will it produce any benefit or issues? Do I NEED any type of lighting? I know fish need light to replicate sunlight and sundown, is there anything special to get for them ( I don't plan on getting coral or anything that NEEDS light ) Also, does light from room not suffice? ( I plan on getting lights, just curious ) My background with fish and tanks: I've had freshwater before, but nothing that was too difficult to take care of, I currently have 2 red ear sliders in a 55g tank so tank changes, filter changes, and the like are nothing new and if you've ever owned a turtle you'd know nothing makes more of a mess feeding or crapping then a turtle... but of course water quality is not a big concern as fish.. Any other useful input or advice that I haven't asked or is worth knowing is much appreciated. I've used this forum for research, but just recently joined and figured straight on advice would help better. Thanks in advance for the input and any helpful advice of the forum or how to find good information on it would be great.

08/07/2012, 06:41 AM	#3
izzy123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 504	saltyreefdog, I couldn't have said it better I totally agree with the advice you got, aspecially about reading the stickys After you've read them all, take a look at SK8R's blog entrys, there is a lot of solid info to be found. Hope this helps and welcome to the addiction

08/07/2012, 01:06 PM	#4
anybodii Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	I appreciate the advice and will check stickys and searching before asking too many basic questions!

08/07/2012, 01:28 PM	#5
Vince272992 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 651	Maybe not exactly 30lbs but get pretty close to it, it will jus make it a better home for the life u put in it, u can put a fish in it as soon as all ur paraments drop to 0 but if u have cured rock in ur tank and liv sand in ur tank u will not see any paraments such as ammonia nitrates nd nitrites go up so u COULD actually add a fish the day u set it up if u get crued rock an live sand u could but I would not recommend it... I would still, wait a couple weeks,a good fish to star with is a clown fish or blue/green chromis, or goby of some sort, NEVER get a damasil as ur first fish, a lot of people who r new to the hobby get a damsel as there first fish because they are so cheap but u will regret it so no damsels, haha, get ur snails and crabs before the fish and u need one carb or snail per gallon to have a good CUC so I would get 1-2 mexican turbo snail, 13-14 Astraea snails, 5-6 blue legged hermits and 5-6 red legged hermits as a couple saw let hermits, that would be a perfect CUC. an yes I would use carbon in the tank it will help remove nasty stuff the water and if will make ur water crystal clear and make the tank good to look at, with our the carbon ur water Will get a yellow haze to it and makes the tank look like crap hagaha, yes always get light fo the tank since you Are not getting corals I would get just a simple 2bulb T5 fixture made by current USA its a good fixture and is simple to use and pretty cheap, plus with lights u can grow coriline alge which is very pretty on the rocks with out those lights ur tank will be bare,I would get those lights...