new tank setup need advice

dockmasterjc · 01/14/2006, 07:20 AM

I just got my 46 bow front. I am using nova t5 lights and a seio 620 gph powerhead, and Won 75 protein skimmer. I wanted to set up some base rock and add LR as well. Can I use the lava rock and limestone and then some LR on top? Do Istart testing for nitrates now? My gravity and ph are perfect. When can I add the rock to system? I have no fish and am not in a hurry. Thanks everyone.

Avi · 01/14/2006, 07:37 AM

dockmas...not all lava rock is reef safe and unless it was obtained in a good, reputable marine fish store you may want to look into that further before you go ahead and use it. Limestone is frequently found in reefs but, again, unless it was obtained specifically for a reef I'd hesitate to use it.

But, if these rocks were obtained from a reliable source for your marine tank, you can put it into the tank now and, with it, the live rock. By putting the live rock in with the inactive rock, you'd be accomplishing a few things....First you'd initiate a cycling of the tank which is precisely what you want to do. Also, you'd be "seeding" the other rock since living organisms will spread into the "non-live" rock that's in there with it (making it "live rock") and coraline algae will spead onto it also. That will take a while though, and things will generally develop faster with the more live rock that you put in there. I'd recommend that you have a total of from about 50 to 70 pounds of rock total in the tank.

I ran my skimmer from the very beginning and I'd suggest that you do too. You should begin testing so you know how the cycling is progressing as soon as the tank is full of water and has the live rock in it. It's important to test for ammonia and nitrates along with the other things you are testing for, with an emphasis on the ammonia and nitrates for the cycle. You didn't mention testing for alkalinity and that's something you should watch consistenly when you run a marine tank and keep it in proper measurements. You don't mention coral, so you needn't place too much emphasis on testing for calcium and magnesium but if you do intend to have a reef in that tank, you will have to test for those, as well. You might find the info about water qualities here useful:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Also, if you intend to have a reef, in fact, even if you don't and will keep fish only in your tank, I'd increase the flow in the tank with at very least, another Seio 620. That will keep the rock cleaner and healthier so it will be more in doing what it's intended to do in your tank. Hey, good luck with this.

01/14/2006, 07:20 AM	#1
dockmasterjc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fairhaven Massachusetts Posts: 16	new tank setup need advice I just got my 46 bow front. I am using nova t5 lights and a seio 620 gph powerhead, and Won 75 protein skimmer. I wanted to set up some base rock and add LR as well. Can I use the lava rock and limestone and then some LR on top? Do Istart testing for nitrates now? My gravity and ph are perfect. When can I add the rock to system? I have no fish and am not in a hurry. Thanks everyone.

01/14/2006, 07:37 AM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	dockmas...not all lava rock is reef safe and unless it was obtained in a good, reputable marine fish store you may want to look into that further before you go ahead and use it. Limestone is frequently found in reefs but, again, unless it was obtained specifically for a reef I'd hesitate to use it. But, if these rocks were obtained from a reliable source for your marine tank, you can put it into the tank now and, with it, the live rock. By putting the live rock in with the inactive rock, you'd be accomplishing a few things....First you'd initiate a cycling of the tank which is precisely what you want to do. Also, you'd be "seeding" the other rock since living organisms will spread into the "non-live" rock that's in there with it (making it "live rock") and coraline algae will spead onto it also. That will take a while though, and things will generally develop faster with the more live rock that you put in there. I'd recommend that you have a total of from about 50 to 70 pounds of rock total in the tank. I ran my skimmer from the very beginning and I'd suggest that you do too. You should begin testing so you know how the cycling is progressing as soon as the tank is full of water and has the live rock in it. It's important to test for ammonia and nitrates along with the other things you are testing for, with an emphasis on the ammonia and nitrates for the cycle. You didn't mention testing for alkalinity and that's something you should watch consistenly when you run a marine tank and keep it in proper measurements. You don't mention coral, so you needn't place too much emphasis on testing for calcium and magnesium but if you do intend to have a reef in that tank, you will have to test for those, as well. You might find the info about water qualities here useful: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm Also, if you intend to have a reef, in fact, even if you don't and will keep fish only in your tank, I'd increase the flow in the tank with at very least, another Seio 620. That will keep the rock cleaner and healthier so it will be more in doing what it's intended to do in your tank. Hey, good luck with this. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR