New with questions

[Ricky1066]

I have had a 75 gallon freshwater tank for 4 years and have decided to switch to salt .I got my new nice homes and went to my fish store Adventure Aquarium.They were hel[pful and gave me what I hope I needed
Blue box of salt Natural sea salt mix(oceanic)
Hydrometer
and two bags of live sand
fluval 405 filter

I added what the man is the store said for the salt for 75 gallons 35 cups Well the hydrometer went through the roof and stayed there al night So after two removals of water and adding water i got it to put just about where the red is ok.

i then added the two bags of live sand welll it went through the roof again IS THAT OK?

I have no choice but to let it filter right now because it is totaly unseable in the water. I do keep hearing the pump make a noise like it is sucking air then then come back on anyone knwo why?


I guess my first few questions would be is it ok to have the hydro up here after adding the live sand ? or should I drain water again?
it is all the way up

second what doI have to do next ?
How long before I add fish?The store said 6 weeks but the live sand bag said right away..

Thank you in advance
Rick

[Ricky1066]

on the oceanic it says on the boc 1/2 cup for every gallon that is why I used the 35 cups ..I had to tak water out and put water in twice ..I had it just right and then I added the live sand (Carib sea Arag alive Live aragon reef sand .The man in the store said if the numbers on the hydrometer were not in the middle the sand would die .. So after getting the number right I added the sand Well the numbers went through the roof again I just took out about 1/4 water and refilled I will let filter now.. They never mentioned in the store if the number would shoot up after adding sand. So I wasnot sure what to do.

I am not sure yet about the live rock I hear they are excellent for keeping tanks but alot of work and could be a pin I am looking into some colorful fish and live plants maybe..Nothing fancy right now I figure I could let it circulate now Even though the numbers are high now after adding sancd shold I let it circualte or keep doing water changes until the number stabilize? or wil lthey do that on their own after a few days

[reefhead165]

Look into a skimmer and a RO/DI

[spike78]

The first thing I would do is stop for a second. Read all the information in the sticky at the top of this forum.

I'm not sure you are getting off on the right foot.

1. Did you use tap water to fill your tank? Probably not the best idea.

2. Hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate. You would be better served with a refractometer.

3. The canister filter may not be your best choice. A combination of Live Rock/Live sand is most often used for natural filtration. I'm not sure where you got the information that these increase maintenance, but that is not the case. If anything they will reduce maintenance over using a cannister filter.

Take some time and decide what you want to keep, and then do some research to design the system from there.

Good luck and be patient!

Steve

[Reef of Eden]

before you get RO/DI or a skimmer, get a refractometer, ditch the hydrometer.
I'm running a fluval 305 on my 55 gallon, I found it works best if the only things you have in the filter boxes are filter floss. also have heard of success just filling it with sand, but I'm not really with that.

[Ricky1066]

Thanks I got the info from Adventure Aquarium .I explained to him I wanted to do saltwater fish and he said No rock as it is hard I have heard since then it is alot of fun and very easy .

I amnot sure wat you mean by no filter I thought you have ato have a filter no what matter what...

I am concerned right now with getting the levels right. AsI said they told me to be in a certain range It was fine until I added the live sand They never said it would spike but it did I removed some water and it is ok now but very cloudy I assume from the sand being put in so i wil llet it filter .. Other then that I guess I should just let it sit for a few weeks .OR do you think I should add anythng to build up bacteria ?

[otrlynn]

As Spike78 said above, it would be a good thing for you to stop at this point and do a lot of reading. It sounds like the person at the local fish store may not be a good source of information. You really should invest in a hydrometer (about $45.00 online) so that you can accurately measure the specific gravity of the water. There is no reason that I know of for the S.G. to go up dramatically when you added the sand. Here is a link to starting up a salt water aquarium. Yes, there is a lot of information on it, but yes, you really need to know how to set things up properly or you will make a lot of expensive mistakes.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1038919

[Ricky1066]

OkI will read that I have A hydometer It is live sand in SALT WATER It is not dry sand Maybe that is why.

The water as I said is cludy That as far as I know shold be fairly normal till the water fo;ters in the 75 gallon tank at leat 8 hours am I correct

[Ricky1066]

OkI will read that I have A hydometer It is live sand in SALT WATER It is not dry sand Maybe that is why.

The water as I said is cludy That as far as I know shold be fairly normal till the water fo;ters in the 75 gallon tank at leat 8 hours am I correct

[Ricky1066]

OkI will read that I have A hydometer It is live sand in SALT WATER It is not dry sand Maybe that is why.

The water as I said is cludy That as far as I know shold be fairly normal till the water fo;ters in the 75 gallon tank at leat 8 hours am I correct

[Reef of Eden]

i think he meant to say refractometer not hydrometer.

you'll like it much better either way.

lets say your refractometer is like the tires on your car.
the only thing keeping you gripped to the road, should not be the cheapest piece of equipment your car. you follow?

[Ricky1066]

Good idea I will get one Does anyone knwo anything about this live sand ? I have had it in the tank about 5 hours now Still very cloudy .With the fluval 405 going Should I just leave it And It will clear up

[scram2]

after you add the sand your water will be cloudy for at least 24-48 hours....and your salinity should not have gone up by adding sand though. i would say to wait for your tank to clear up and then check your salinity. As for the hydrometer i use it and its ok but i do agree with the refractometer its a lot better i need to get one myself but i havent had any problem with my hydrometer.
Dont add fish for at least 4-6 weeks and what i did when i started is i asked ? on here and then would read on it also but i wouldnt listin to a lot of Stores. have fun with your new salt its a lot of fun

[otrlynn]

I meant to refer to a refractometer to measure specific gravity. I should have proofread my post. Sorry! Anyway, they are more accurate than a swing arm hydrometer. Here is a link to what I was referring to. I did not have one when I first set up my tank, but it was a worthwhile purchase.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...57&pcatid=9957

[Ricky1066]

Ok thanks I wil let the filte run and will wait I asked about adding things because again Iread some of the posts and not alot of people knwo about the new live sand It says no waiting just add Fish.

Now to clarify i was not lookingto add fish But i was told by the guy in the store to *** some reefs to help build up the water he said in about 2 weeks add some small fish he gave me a name but I forgot he said they will pee in the water and they will help.

But again thank you for all your advice I am sure I will need more
i will be doing alot of reading but just wanted to make sure there is nothing else I should have added or should add in the next few weeks

[scram2]

what ever they said dont listin dont put any fish in your tank for 4 weeks or so and then i wouldnt start it with damsels thats the fish they recamended. whats bad about damsels is they are aggressive plus you may not want them in there eventually and they are really hard to get out of your tank! i did that and i had to take out all of my LR ot get them out so i wouldnt do that. just wait about 4 weeks and then pick fish you actually would want

[Deb91]

Everyone knows about that sand,it's been around for years. You still have to cycle your tank before you add fish. Did you buy a test kit so you can see when your tank is done cycling? You can add a raw shrimp to speed up the process. The fish he was talking about is a damsel.use the shrimp instead. Do you have a heater and a thermometer? While you are waiting for your tank to cycle read as much info as you can, ask as many questions that you can think of,so you'll be ready to roll (a little roll) in 6 weeks or so.


To Reef Central

[Ricky1066]

Yes I have a heater water is at 80 degress per the store. I have a test kit I bought yesterday and I have a thermoter As I posted I had a freshwater tank for many years .

The salt level according to my hydrometer is ok .I amnot looking to add ish right away I know it has to cycle I just did not know if there was something I had to do while it was cycling .That is why I started the tank I figured why It was cycling I could read.

So I read live shrimp anything I should ask for or just go and ask for live shrimp also Is that now or ;ater.
LAst question . I read also that added a reef to the water is very good as a start off to help build bacteria.

Please remember I don't want to sound dumb but salt water fish and equipment is all new to me so when you guys use shortcuts for words I have no idea what you mean.

[Ricky1066]

Powerheads Skimmers ,Reefs ,Shrimp what to buy and when I read the whole article thing it mentions a reef for curig and amonia and Nitrogen cycle ?

[Ricky1066]

All I think I need t knwo right now is what do I do while I am waitng do I need the rock or the reef for cycling? I have a 75 gallon tank with two bags of live sand added one fluval 405 pump a heater and thermoter is there anything else I should add NOW Or withing the next week or just let it sit I am reading but there are ten different ideas they offer

[Deb91]

Yes it is better to add your live rock now so you don't go threw two cycles. You need about 1 to 1/2 lbs. per gal. The shrimp I was talking about was the kind you buy at the deli.(you just need one) If you are going to add the live rock right away then you don't need it. Test your water every with your saltwater test kit so you can follow the cycle of your tank. I don't know what the reef is,could you explain? Also it is not good to use tap water. You need an ro/di unit,but you should be able to buy water from your lfs local fish store until you get one. Tap water has all kinds of junk in it that saltwater tanks hate. The Filter Guys are one of many that carry the ro/di units.They take the junk out of the water and leave you with 99% good water.I don't know the correct lingo so I call it junk.

[Ricky1066]

Ok I already added the tap water too late For that I have to go back to the store and buy the rock I guess should I ask for anything special or just add a rock of my choosing

[scram2]

just get the rock you like the best all work about the same and are good.... i like the look of figi rock but deffinitly get the rock in your tank it may cycle agian if you dont have the rock in there that is not cured.