New to RC

croskin · 02/17/2015, 10:32 AM

Hi everyone! We are in the process of converting our 29G freshwater to saltwater. So far we have the sand, water, several live rocks...although not enough yet. We are using a Aquatop CF400UV filter system. It's been set up for about a week and looks clear and ready for fish. Will test the water today. Is is ok to put fish in before adding more rocks/coral or should we wait on the fish till the reef is set?

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 10:37 AM

the water looking clear is not a good sign that the tank is fish ready

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 10:38 AM

Do you have water test kits yet?

Once you have live rock it is important you keep an ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive.

test the water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates.

you are currently waiting for the nitrogen cycle to complete

ammonia then nitrites then nitrates.

once your ammonia goes to 0 and nitrates go to 0 then technically your tank is invert ready.

start small. add some snails and crabs and "ghost feed" the tank.

also adding fish should be a slow one by one process. please try to refrain from adding 10 fish all at once.

also check teh stickies for fish selections and compatibilities. stay clear of damsels in a 29g unless you just want one fish =P

FraggledRock · 02/17/2015, 11:15 AM

I hope I didn't scare you =P

croskin · 02/17/2015, 04:35 PM

Thanks for the advice! Will get the testing kit and figure this all out

croskin · 02/18/2015, 11:50 PM

Just tested the water and everything is great! Ordered a light and a few other supplies from Amazon as is was MUCH cheaper than LFS. Getting fish tomorrow! Thanks for your help!

Savant · 02/19/2015, 08:12 AM

Welcome!!!

sarens · 02/19/2015, 08:27 AM

welcome to RC, never be in too big of a hurry, Salt Water requires more patience than Fresh, make sure you tank actually cycled, you should monitor to see the increase in ammonia and Nitrite and then the decrease

FraggledRock · 02/19/2015, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croskin

Just tested the water and everything is great! Ordered a light and a few other supplies from Amazon as is was MUCH cheaper than LFS. Getting fish tomorrow! Thanks for your help!

what does great mean?

can you tell me the numbers?

if everything is a 0, that is worse than everything being high.

croskin · 03/09/2015, 01:06 AM

All tests are now good...had a bit of an issue with salinity....our hydrometer was off a bit from several LFS, but now after 2 weeks we seem to be on target (bought a refractometer). Our water tests agree with the LFS test kits. Have added 3 small fragments of soft coral, have 2 fish, 2 crabs...one was a stow away in a live rock we got

Wondering what the opinion is on buying fish from online sources....I've found a couple local salt water specialty shops...not really LFS...seem a bit better...but still researching online fish/coral supply from online.

Kentech5 · 03/09/2015, 01:10 AM

Online stores are great, sometimes,but you're going to want to let what you have now settle in. Add too much at once and the bioload could cause a crash. When you do start looking online look for reviews of the stores you are considering. Some have stellar reputations while others are infamous.

scooter31707 · 03/09/2015, 07:42 AM

@croskin. I would not add any fish for at least another 3-4 weeks. Maybe add a small clean-up crew. IMO you are going to fast. do you have a quarantine tank setup. It's best to quarantine saltwater fish for 4-6 weeks before they go into your main display tank.

FraggledRock · 03/09/2015, 07:50 AM

Hope everything is going well for you =)

02/17/2015, 10:32 AM	#1
croskin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 4	New to RC Hi everyone! We are in the process of converting our 29G freshwater to saltwater. So far we have the sand, water, several live rocks...although not enough yet. We are using a Aquatop CF400UV filter system. It's been set up for about a week and looks clear and ready for fish. Will test the water today. Is is ok to put fish in before adding more rocks/coral or should we wait on the fish till the reef is set?

02/17/2015, 10:37 AM	#2
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	the water looking clear is not a good sign that the tank is fish ready __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 10:38 AM	#3
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	Do you have water test kits yet? Once you have live rock it is important you keep an ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive. test the water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. you are currently waiting for the nitrogen cycle to complete ammonia then nitrites then nitrates. once your ammonia goes to 0 and nitrates go to 0 then technically your tank is invert ready. start small. add some snails and crabs and "ghost feed" the tank. also adding fish should be a slow one by one process. please try to refrain from adding 10 fish all at once. also check teh stickies for fish selections and compatibilities. stay clear of damsels in a 29g unless you just want one fish =P __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 11:15 AM	#4
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	I hope I didn't scare you =P __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/17/2015, 04:35 PM	#5
croskin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 4	Not scared yet Thanks for the advice! Will get the testing kit and figure this all out

02/18/2015, 11:50 PM	#6
croskin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 4	Just tested the water and everything is great! Ordered a light and a few other supplies from Amazon as is was MUCH cheaper than LFS. Getting fish tomorrow! Thanks for your help!

02/19/2015, 08:12 AM	#7
Savant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: N.E. Pa Posts: 402	Welcome!!! __________________ ____________ Will Tank Info: 105g DT l 100g sump l remote fuge 40g l Photon 48V2 LED l Diablo XS200 l APEX to run the show

02/19/2015, 08:27 AM	#8
sarens Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Commerce, Michigan Posts: 214	welcome to RC, never be in too big of a hurry, Salt Water requires more patience than Fresh, make sure you tank actually cycled, you should monitor to see the increase in ammonia and Nitrite and then the decrease

03/09/2015, 01:06 AM	#10
croskin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 4	All tests are now good...had a bit of an issue with salinity....our hydrometer was off a bit from several LFS, but now after 2 weeks we seem to be on target (bought a refractometer). Our water tests agree with the LFS test kits. Have added 3 small fragments of soft coral, have 2 fish, 2 crabs...one was a stow away in a live rock we got Wondering what the opinion is on buying fish from online sources....I've found a couple local salt water specialty shops...not really LFS...seem a bit better...but still researching online fish/coral supply from online.

03/09/2015, 01:10 AM	#11
Kentech5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Hudson Falls, NY Posts: 368	Online stores are great, sometimes,but you're going to want to let what you have now settle in. Add too much at once and the bioload could cause a crash. When you do start looking online look for reviews of the stores you are considering. Some have stellar reputations while others are infamous.

03/09/2015, 07:42 AM	#12
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	@croskin. I would not add any fish for at least another 3-4 weeks. Maybe add a small clean-up crew. IMO you are going to fast. do you have a quarantine tank setup. It's best to quarantine saltwater fish for 4-6 weeks before they go into your main display tank.

03/09/2015, 07:50 AM	#13
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	Hope everything is going well for you =) __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.