I'm VERY new to the marine world and I was wondering...

ilovekiayah · 03/27/2008, 06:04 PM

Should I immediatly invest in a water test kit? I've had my tank up and running for 2 weeks now. I currently have live sand and added beautiful live rock (thanks gary

) today. Also, the lady at the aquarium shop told me to come back this weekend for a clean up crew. I though it was a little too early for this...is she just trying to get my money or is that legit? ALSO, (sorry for all the dumb questions) what is the best way to filter my tank? I've heard all kinds of stuff like add a few pieces of shrimp to get some fish and let them die in it, someone even told me to pee in a cup and pour it in there!!! What is the best way?

Thanks guys!

viowyn · 03/27/2008, 06:11 PM

I'd wait on the clean up crew for a couple of weeks. The test kit is a must though. Need at least Nitrate Nitrite Ammonia Phosphate and pH.

I'm confused about the filter part. Are you asking about a filter system or cycling the tank?

Just let the tank cycle with live rock and live sand already present in the aquarium. No need to add live stock to stress it out. URINE is probably not a good idea. Although thats creative. (I guess).

brians4671 · 03/27/2008, 06:13 PM

welcome..........

bertoni · 03/27/2008, 06:39 PM

To Reef Central

I'd wait for a cleanup crew, and be careful about the quantity. Stores tend to over-sell.

There's no need to add anything to produce ammonia, since there's live rock in the tank. I'd wait for the ammonia to hit zero for a few days, and then consider some very light feeding. So I'd suggest an ammonia test kit. The rest can wait a bit, in my opinion.

kmf507 · 03/27/2008, 07:09 PM

Whomever told you to get a fish and let them die should probably be kicked in the junk.

viowyn · 03/27/2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kmf507
Whomever told you to get a fish and let them die should probably be kicked in the junk.

I agree. Some people don't use their noodles when giving advice. Letting fish die is just as stupid as putting urine in the tank. Better yet maybe buy some fish and then pee in the aquarium! (Just joking obviously don't do this).

GregC · 03/27/2008, 07:53 PM

If you want it to help the cycle, go get a shrimp from the grocery store, put it in there and let it rot, it will help build up the live rock. Btw, I'm glad you like the rock, you got some nice piece's, and the name is Greg, LOL.

ilovekiayah · 03/27/2008, 07:58 PM

oopsie! I have no idea why I typed that! You know what they say...the mind is the first thing to go!!! SORRY GREG!!! I will get the shrimp tomorrow. I tested my ammonia awallago (oklahoma slang) just to satisfy my curiosity and it said that my ammonia level is a 1.! Why is it so darn high?

GregC · 03/27/2008, 08:08 PM

Brand new tank, You bought live sand, and its alive, but from shipping to the LFS, and then to your house, some of the bacteria dies. The die off causes the ammonia to spike. You have some very good live rock, that will help it even out in a couple of weeks, what is happening is normal. Just have patence, It will level out sooner than you think. BTW, I agree with KMF507, whoever told you to get a fish put it in there and let it die, needs to be kicked in the Junk!, lol A shrimp will do the same thing and its already dead.

bertoni · 03/27/2008, 08:15 PM

I wouldn't add a dead shrimp to a tank with live rock. The ammonia spike, if there is one, might kill animals I'd rather keep alive. The shrimp won't do anything useful, in any case.

Larah · 03/27/2008, 08:26 PM

Definitely wait on the Clean up crew.. at the moment there's nothing for there them to clean up!

I wouldn't get a phosphate kit.... There's goign to be a tonof phsophates as the tank cycles, why waste money onthe obvious? But that's just me.. If you want to get one please do , they're not terribly expensive...
Myself, I like a couple of Allen's Damsels if you can find 'em...
They're hardy, beautiful, pretty peacful for a damsel, inexpensive and can be a nice addition to your tank in the long run, not just for cycling....
But there are LOTS of people who say not to do that, and I'll probably get flamed now

but that's just my .02

ilovekiayah · 03/27/2008, 08:32 PM

Well I brought home some starfish with my new rocks today and I just noticed 2 of them dead laying by the rock. Is there anything I should do to save the rest of them?

chernandez · 03/27/2008, 08:49 PM

Are you testing you shouldn't be adding any live stock yet two early will lead to problem later

bertoni · 03/27/2008, 08:50 PM

You could try some water changes. That might help. You'd need to know the ammonia level to do much. If that's high, some Amquel would be useful.

chernandez · 03/27/2008, 08:52 PM

I cycled my tank with raw shrimp it just completed it cycle a week ago I had it cycling for 2 months to be sure

BLKTANG · 03/27/2008, 08:58 PM

Save the pee for the snow.

ilovekiayah · 03/27/2008, 09:08 PM

Lmao @ blktank!

NewFish3 · 03/27/2008, 09:18 PM

bertoni.....Tell me if Iam wrong....... API has 2 test kits out there.. A Saltwater kit & a Reef kit.... Every LFS store sells you the saltwater kit, maybe because they dont know what your doing.....BUT if you have a REEF tank....you want to buy the REEF test kit ???

03/27/2008, 06:04 PM	#1
ilovekiayah Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 65	I'm VERY new to the marine world and I was wondering... Should I immediatly invest in a water test kit? I've had my tank up and running for 2 weeks now. I currently have live sand and added beautiful live rock (thanks gary ) today. Also, the lady at the aquarium shop told me to come back this weekend for a clean up crew. I though it was a little too early for this...is she just trying to get my money or is that legit? ALSO, (sorry for all the dumb questions) what is the best way to filter my tank? I've heard all kinds of stuff like add a few pieces of shrimp to get some fish and let them die in it, someone even told me to pee in a cup and pour it in there!!! What is the best way? Thanks guys!

03/27/2008, 06:39 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* I'd wait for a cleanup crew, and be careful about the quantity. Stores tend to over-sell. There's no need to add anything to produce ammonia, since there's live rock in the tank. I'd wait for the ammonia to hit zero for a few days, and then consider some very light feeding. So I'd suggest an ammonia test kit. The rest can wait a bit, in my opinion. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/27/2008, 07:53 PM	#7
GregC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Del City, Oklahoma Posts: 1,373	If you want it to help the cycle, go get a shrimp from the grocery store, put it in there and let it rot, it will help build up the live rock. Btw, I'm glad you like the rock, you got some nice piece's, and the name is Greg, LOL. __________________ Just another fish in the pond.

03/27/2008, 08:08 PM	#9
GregC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Del City, Oklahoma Posts: 1,373	Brand new tank, You bought live sand, and its alive, but from shipping to the LFS, and then to your house, some of the bacteria dies. The die off causes the ammonia to spike. You have some very good live rock, that will help it even out in a couple of weeks, what is happening is normal. Just have patence, It will level out sooner than you think. BTW, I agree with KMF507, whoever told you to get a fish put it in there and let it die, needs to be kicked in the Junk!, lol A shrimp will do the same thing and its already dead. __________________ Just another fish in the pond.

03/27/2008, 08:15 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't add a dead shrimp to a tank with live rock. The ammonia spike, if there is one, might kill animals I'd rather keep alive. The shrimp won't do anything useful, in any case. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/27/2008, 06:11 PM	#2
viowyn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Weston, Oh/Tiffin, Oh Posts: 90	I'd wait on the clean up crew for a couple of weeks. The test kit is a must though. Need at least Nitrate Nitrite Ammonia Phosphate and pH. I'm confused about the filter part. Are you asking about a filter system or cycling the tank? Just let the tank cycle with live rock and live sand already present in the aquarium. No need to add live stock to stress it out. URINE is probably not a good idea. Although thats creative. (I guess).

03/27/2008, 06:13 PM	#3
brians4671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: miami fl Posts: 2,088	welcome..........

03/27/2008, 07:09 PM	#5
kmf507 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 669	Whomever told you to get a fish and let them die should probably be kicked in the junk.

03/27/2008, 07:58 PM	#8
ilovekiayah Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 65	oopsie! I have no idea why I typed that! You know what they say...the mind is the first thing to go!!! SORRY GREG!!! I will get the shrimp tomorrow. I tested my ammonia awallago (oklahoma slang) just to satisfy my curiosity and it said that my ammonia level is a 1.! Why is it so darn high?

03/27/2008, 08:26 PM	#11
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	Definitely wait on the Clean up crew.. at the moment there's nothing for there them to clean up! I wouldn't get a phosphate kit.... There's goign to be a tonof phsophates as the tank cycles, why waste money onthe obvious? But that's just me.. If you want to get one please do , they're not terribly expensive... Myself, I like a couple of Allen's Damsels if you can find 'em... They're hardy, beautiful, pretty peacful for a damsel, inexpensive and can be a nice addition to your tank in the long run, not just for cycling.... But there are LOTS of people who say not to do that, and I'll probably get flamed now but that's just my .02

03/27/2008, 08:32 PM	#12
ilovekiayah Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 65	Well I brought home some starfish with my new rocks today and I just noticed 2 of them dead laying by the rock. Is there anything I should do to save the rest of them?

03/27/2008, 08:49 PM	#13
chernandez Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Peoria Posts: 877	Are you testing you shouldn't be adding any live stock yet two early will lead to problem later __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: ADA 90-P

03/27/2008, 08:50 PM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You could try some water changes. That might help. You'd need to know the ammonia level to do much. If that's high, some Amquel would be useful. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/27/2008, 08:52 PM	#15
chernandez Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Peoria Posts: 877	I cycled my tank with raw shrimp it just completed it cycle a week ago I had it cycling for 2 months to be sure __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: ADA 90-P

03/27/2008, 08:58 PM	#16
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	Save the pee for the snow. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

03/27/2008, 09:08 PM	#17
ilovekiayah Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 65	Lmao @ blktank!

03/27/2008, 09:18 PM	#18
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	bertoni.....Tell me if Iam wrong....... API has 2 test kits out there.. A Saltwater kit & a Reef kit.... Every LFS store sells you the saltwater kit, maybe because they dont know what your doing.....BUT if you have a REEF tank....you want to buy the REEF test kit ??? __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC