New to the hobby. First ever saltwater tank

brev87 · 01/05/2011, 09:36 AM

Total noob here, so bare with me as I try to explain my tank and adventures on getting started.

75 gallon tank
60 pounds of base rock
20 pounds of live rock (just added last night)
2 Koralias
Aquac EV-120 skimmer
Mag 7 return pump, undecided if I should use the Mag 9 that I have
pH - 8.2
salinity - 1.023

proflex sump with a 4 inch sand bed and um I think that's it.

Just added the live rock last night, should I throw in a cocktail shrimp to speed up the process? Or should I just let this cycle process do it's own thing?

Anything else I need to know?

timistim · 01/05/2011, 09:41 AM

The live rock will need to cycle. You need to measure you ammonia levels until they fall and you have a rise in no3, also what do you plan to keep in it? 1.023 is a little low for corals should be 1.026. 1.023 is fine for fish though.

brev87 · 01/05/2011, 09:46 AM

I'm looking to have a full reef experience, so definitely corals. Should I test everyday? Or do I test once a week?

And thanks for the heads up on the salinity.

epic.exposures · 01/05/2011, 10:03 AM

Well 1.023 is a good amount if your at a high altitude 6,000 + feet. Most people don't realize that the higher in altitude you are, the greater the change in SG. so depending on his elevation 1.023 may be just fine.

brev87 · 01/05/2011, 10:46 AM

I'm located in NY. But what is the perfect salinity for a reef tank? Confused now.

Sitaga · 01/05/2011, 11:14 AM

Do 1.026 - You are at or close to sea level, so you will want to be higher (1.026) than people keeping reefs above 6000 ft altitude.

stingythingy45 · 01/05/2011, 11:18 AM

1.025-1.027 S.G. is good for corals.
Fish only can be lower.
I'd go the dead cocktail shrimp route.It helps to get the cycle kick started to have sometime organic to add ammonia.And by all means,test every day.Even keep a journal of where the levels peak at.

SwampyBill · 01/05/2011, 11:48 AM

+1 ^^^^^^ & welcome to Reef Central!

brev87 · 01/05/2011, 12:46 PM

Ok, cool. Great info guys!! I'll probably post some pics when I get a chance. Getting excited.

scuba guy ron · 01/05/2011, 12:58 PM

CockÞail shrimp isn't actually necessary to geT the bacteria going. You can reach the same goal with a little fish food and with a lot less stink. I keep my sg at 1.025 due to evaporation. As your water evaporates the sg will rise so to make up for this I keep it at the above.

brev87 · 01/07/2011, 09:48 AM

Still no signs of ammonia. I did throw in a very small cocktail shrimp, because I had a frozen bag in the freezer.

Im starting to wonder if I will ever get any ammonia spike.

sasharotty · 01/07/2011, 10:07 AM

You will, its only been 2 days lol.Patience grasshopper, if your going to succeed in this hobby this will be your #1 attribute.It might take a week or two so be patient.

brev87 · 01/07/2011, 10:32 AM

LoL. I know, I know. It's like watching paint dry

thegrun · 01/07/2011, 10:38 AM

Expect the full cycle to take 4-5 weeks. You might as well add a second shrimp to get a stronger cycle. You only need to test for ammonia until you see the ammonia levels start to rise, then start testing for both ammonia and nitrite. When both ammonia and nitrite fall back to zero your initial cycle is complete and you can add your clean-up crew. I don't test often anymore (maybe once a week if that) when I set up a new tank, just wait the process out, but it is a good learning experience to test daily on your first tank to better understand what's going on in the tank.

brev87 · 01/11/2011, 12:19 PM

Ok, so last night when I got home I checked the ammonia levels. Nothing, nada. So I threw in another shrimp and turned on my skimmer, because for some reason the water level in my sump is really low.

I checked my salinity and that has risen, so I added some RO water.

Another thing that is mind boggling, I can't seem to get my display tank water level to where the black rim is. And if I add more water, my sump will definitely overflow.

Any suggestions on keeping my water level at a safe amount?

DanEnglish · 01/12/2011, 01:40 AM

How is the overflow mounted? Is it built in or hang on back? Adjusting the height of the overflow changes the height of the water in the tank.

brev87 · 01/12/2011, 05:44 AM

No overflow, it's a bulkhead with flex tubing to the sump. My friend told me that because of the bulkhead, I probably will never get my water level up in the display tank.

mgoblue · 01/12/2011, 12:11 PM

At what level is the bulkhead mounted? Is it just a bulkhead with no overflow box at all? If that is the case, I would install an overflow box. Depending on the size of the hole for the bulkhead and where it is positioned, you may be able to install something like a glass-holes overflow.

brev87 · 01/13/2011, 05:50 AM

Yeah, I'm going to check them out. Thanks

brev87 · 01/13/2011, 08:11 AM

Also, I tested my water this morning and Ammonia is zero, Nitrites are zero and Nitrates are zero.

It's been 8 days since the live rock has been in the tank. Also have two shrimps decomposing.

This tank is not cycling by the books. Any thoughts?

mgoblue · 01/13/2011, 12:05 PM

Continue testing every couple days and be patient. You should see some numbers eventually.

Watercity101 · 01/13/2011, 04:43 PM

i wouldnt start so early on the live rock... start slowly by adding 2 at first. But that would be a good idea. And for the Amonia to raise keep waiting for at least one more week... u should be seeing the results

01/05/2011, 11:18 AM	#7
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	1.025-1.027 S.G. is good for corals. Fish only can be lower. I'd go the dead cocktail shrimp route.It helps to get the cycle kick started to have sometime organic to add ammonia.And by all means,test every day.Even keep a journal of where the levels peak at. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

01/05/2011, 11:48 AM	#8
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	+1 ^^^^^^ & welcome to Reef Central! __________________ I love me some wrasse... & laissez les bon temps rouler! Current Tank Info: 120 gal Vizio

01/05/2011, 12:58 PM	#10
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	CockÞail shrimp isn't actually necessary to geT the bacteria going. You can reach the same goal with a little fish food and with a lot less stink. I keep my sg at 1.025 due to evaporation. As your water evaporates the sg will rise so to make up for this I keep it at the above. __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef

01/12/2011, 12:11 PM	#18
mgoblue Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Grand Junction, MI Posts: 149	At what level is the bulkhead mounted? Is it just a bulkhead with no overflow box at all? If that is the case, I would install an overflow box. Depending on the size of the hole for the bulkhead and where it is positioned, you may be able to install something like a glass-holes overflow. __________________ 1 kenya,1 toadstool, 1 branching frogspawn, 1 very small candycane, sinularia, GSP, Xenia, 2 firefish, pair of perculas. Current Tank Info: 75g, 20g sump, 15g fuge, 80# sand, 60# rock, 6x54w Aquaticlife T5HO, Oct 110-DNWB, Mag 9.5, 2xKoralia 1050, JBJ 300W htr, GFO reactor, grnd probe

01/13/2011, 12:05 PM	#21
mgoblue Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Grand Junction, MI Posts: 149	Continue testing every couple days and be patient. You should see some numbers eventually. __________________ 1 kenya,1 toadstool, 1 branching frogspawn, 1 very small candycane, sinularia, GSP, Xenia, 2 firefish, pair of perculas. Current Tank Info: 75g, 20g sump, 15g fuge, 80# sand, 60# rock, 6x54w Aquaticlife T5HO, Oct 110-DNWB, Mag 9.5, 2xKoralia 1050, JBJ 300W htr, GFO reactor, grnd probe

01/05/2011, 09:36 AM	#1
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	New to the hobby. First ever saltwater tank Total noob here, so bare with me as I try to explain my tank and adventures on getting started. 75 gallon tank 60 pounds of base rock 20 pounds of live rock (just added last night) 2 Koralias Aquac EV-120 skimmer Mag 7 return pump, undecided if I should use the Mag 9 that I have pH - 8.2 salinity - 1.023 proflex sump with a 4 inch sand bed and um I think that's it. Just added the live rock last night, should I throw in a cocktail shrimp to speed up the process? Or should I just let this cycle process do it's own thing? Anything else I need to know?

01/05/2011, 09:41 AM	#2
timistim Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 113	The live rock will need to cycle. You need to measure you ammonia levels until they fall and you have a rise in no3, also what do you plan to keep in it? 1.023 is a little low for corals should be 1.026. 1.023 is fine for fish though.

01/05/2011, 09:46 AM	#3
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	I'm looking to have a full reef experience, so definitely corals. Should I test everyday? Or do I test once a week? And thanks for the heads up on the salinity.

01/05/2011, 10:03 AM	#4
epic.exposures Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 102	Well 1.023 is a good amount if your at a high altitude 6,000 + feet. Most people don't realize that the higher in altitude you are, the greater the change in SG. so depending on his elevation 1.023 may be just fine.

01/05/2011, 10:46 AM	#5
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	I'm located in NY. But what is the perfect salinity for a reef tank? Confused now.

01/05/2011, 11:14 AM	#6
Sitaga Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 51	Do 1.026 - You are at or close to sea level, so you will want to be higher (1.026) than people keeping reefs above 6000 ft altitude.

01/05/2011, 12:46 PM	#9
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	Ok, cool. Great info guys!! I'll probably post some pics when I get a chance. Getting excited.

01/07/2011, 09:48 AM	#11
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	Still no signs of ammonia. I did throw in a very small cocktail shrimp, because I had a frozen bag in the freezer. Im starting to wonder if I will ever get any ammonia spike.

01/07/2011, 10:07 AM	#12
sasharotty Moved on to my couch Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: se michigan Posts: 1,065	You will, its only been 2 days lol.Patience grasshopper, if your going to succeed in this hobby this will be your #1 attribute.It might take a week or two so be patient.

01/07/2011, 10:32 AM	#13
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	LoL. I know, I know. It's like watching paint dry

01/07/2011, 10:38 AM	#14
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Expect the full cycle to take 4-5 weeks. You might as well add a second shrimp to get a stronger cycle. You only need to test for ammonia until you see the ammonia levels start to rise, then start testing for both ammonia and nitrite. When both ammonia and nitrite fall back to zero your initial cycle is complete and you can add your clean-up crew. I don't test often anymore (maybe once a week if that) when I set up a new tank, just wait the process out, but it is a good learning experience to test daily on your first tank to better understand what's going on in the tank.

01/11/2011, 12:19 PM	#15
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	Ok, so last night when I got home I checked the ammonia levels. Nothing, nada. So I threw in another shrimp and turned on my skimmer, because for some reason the water level in my sump is really low. I checked my salinity and that has risen, so I added some RO water. Another thing that is mind boggling, I can't seem to get my display tank water level to where the black rim is. And if I add more water, my sump will definitely overflow. Any suggestions on keeping my water level at a safe amount?

01/12/2011, 01:40 AM	#16
DanEnglish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 360	How is the overflow mounted? Is it built in or hang on back? Adjusting the height of the overflow changes the height of the water in the tank.

01/12/2011, 05:44 AM	#17
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	No overflow, it's a bulkhead with flex tubing to the sump. My friend told me that because of the bulkhead, I probably will never get my water level up in the display tank.

01/13/2011, 05:50 AM	#19
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	Yeah, I'm going to check them out. Thanks

01/13/2011, 08:11 AM	#20
brev87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 11	Also, I tested my water this morning and Ammonia is zero, Nitrites are zero and Nitrates are zero. It's been 8 days since the live rock has been in the tank. Also have two shrimps decomposing. This tank is not cycling by the books. Any thoughts?

01/13/2011, 04:43 PM	#22
Watercity101 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 34	i wouldnt start so early on the live rock... start slowly by adding 2 at first. But that would be a good idea. And for the Amonia to raise keep waiting for at least one more week... u should be seeing the results __________________ Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish. -Ovid Current Tank Info: starting new tank! moving on to a predatory fish tank-50 gallon

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: 100G Saltwater Tank, Sump, 2 Tangs, 1 Foxface , Misc. Items	SS21CA	Southern California Reefers	12	04/23/2012 10:34 PM
What are the best fish or creatures to have in your tank to clean the sandbed?	aquariumkeeper2	New to the Hobby	34	08/08/2010 08:50 PM
New to the Hobby with 90 gal tank	New90Gal	New to the Hobby	5	05/04/2010 07:08 PM
Brand new to the hobby!	Violet27	New to the Hobby	6	05/02/2010 09:38 PM
out of the saltwater tank hobby	ngilbert	Central Ohio Reef Aquarists (CORA)	8	03/08/2008 11:39 AM