Advice for a new reefer, please :)

[cd77]

After having success with various freshwater tanks, including freshwater plant tanks, and various south american cichlid tanks, I've decided to start a saltwater reef tank and a friend told me that reefcentral was the place for good information -- I've got a few questions if you don't mind my asking. I'd like to get off to a good start with some solid advice

I bought a 70 gallon tank, pre-drilled with a sump/refugium/pump/skimmer and a single powerhead. The tank is stocked with live sand, about 50lbs of live rock, and I plan to add another 40-45 more pounds of rock this Thursday. I plan to cycle the tank with the live rock.

My questions/concerns are the following:

1. The tank seems to be steady at about 80° -- is this OK? Once the tank has cycled (according to the guide I recently read on this site) I plan to add some live corals, and tank "janitors". The reef keeper at the local pet store (I'm in the midwest, so good saltwater shops are few and far between) If 80° is too high, what do you suggest the proper temp be? any suggestions for cooling the tank besides a chiller? I'm running the lights on a 12 hour cycle during daytime, with the refugium lights on 12 hours at night.

2. When I add the new live rock, I plan to re-organize the rock that is already in there. I've read to make sure that the rock does not touch the glass and to minimize dead spots and allow for plenty of circulation. How far from the glass should I keep it? I'd prefer the rock to be towards the back of the tank as I plan to add nice fish later down the line. Any other suggestions on rock placement?

3. I've read that the plastic hydrometer I bought is worthless and that I need a good glass one calibrated for water temp (?) If so, any suggestions on what to get and where to purchase it?

4. How soon before I should think about adding corals? I planned to wait until ph/amon/nitrite/nitrate is stabilized and then add the corals -- or should I wait until everything has settled and watch for a slight spike in nitrate before adding corals?

5. What exactly are "tank janitors"? What species should I get?

6. Any suggestions on what types of corals to start with?

7. Any other starter suggestions? resources? books?

I've added a few pictures at http://www.christopherandlena.com/ga...2_itemId=30854 -- including a picture of the sump, the tank, a close up of a couple rocks, and some sand that has a slight brownish tint to it -- something I need to be worried about?

I know I have a lot of questions here, and maybe most of them are best answered elsewhere -- if there are simply links you could send that would answer these questions, I'd still be much appreciative!

[shouldabenacowboy]

First off.....


To Reef Central

SBC

[itZme]

Originally posted by cd77
After having success with various freshwater tanks, including freshwater plant tanks, and various south american cichlid tanks, I've decided to start a saltwater reef tank and a friend told me that reefcentral was the place for good information -- I've got a few questions if you don't mind my asking. I'd like to get off to a good start with some solid advice

I bought a 70 gallon tank, pre-drilled with a sump/refugium/pump/skimmer and a single powerhead. The tank is stocked with live sand, about 50lbs of live rock, and I plan to add another 40-45 more pounds of rock this Thursday. I plan to cycle the tank with the live rock.

My questions/concerns are the following:

1. The tank seems to be steady at about 80° -- is this OK? Once the tank has cycled (according to the guide I recently read on this site) I plan to add some live corals, and tank "janitors". The reef keeper at the local pet store (I'm in the midwest, so good saltwater shops are few and far between) If 80° is too high, what do you suggest the proper temp be? any suggestions for cooling the tank besides a chiller? I'm running the lights on a 12 hour cycle during daytime, with the refugium lights on 12 hours at night.

To Reef Central

80 isn't bad. Most people like to keep it around 78 but mine runs around 79 and sometimes creeps up to 82 in the summer if i don't have the A/C on. You may want to cut the lighting back to 8-10 hrs and the fuge light up to 14 hrs. You could keep them at 12/12 but it will encourage algae growth in your display by supplying it with more light.

2. When I add the new live rock, I plan to re-organize the rock that is already in there. I've read to make sure that the rock does not touch the glass and to minimize dead spots and allow for plenty of circulation. How far from the glass should I keep it? I'd prefer the rock to be towards the back of the tank as I plan to add nice fish later down the line. Any other suggestions on rock placement?

Most people do have the rock leaning against the back glass but keep it away from the sides and the front if possible. You will have more room for corals and fish to swim around if you keep the rockwork open and not just a big pile. The saltwater fish can cruise through little spaces in the rocks and find critters to eat so try to leave little caves and bridges wherever possible.
You will need to scrape off the coraline algae that will grow on the glass so be prepared to get your hands wet every once in a while. That is one good reason to keep the rock off the glass too.

3. I've read that the plastic hydrometer I bought is worthless and that I need a good glass one calibrated for water temp (?) If so, any suggestions on what to get and where to purchase it?

Yeah the swingarm type of hydrometers are almost useless. You want to invest in a REFRACTOMETER. If you find a friend that has one near you have him test a sample of water and mark the actual refractometer readings on your hydrometer with a sharpie. You should be able to keep your salinity right on if you know where the arm should be to get the desired result. Don't rely on the printed numbers on it but make your own graduations. The refractometers run about $30- 60 and can be found anywhere from Ebay to a fish store like www.bigalsonline , marinedepot.com , reefgeek.com, saltycritter.com ... there are tons of shops to choose from. Try to stick with one that is a reefcentral sponsor as they tend to take care of reefers a bit more since there are feedback forums here for each vendor.

4. How soon before I should think about adding corals? I planned to wait until ph/amon/nitrite/nitrate is stabilized and then add the corals -- or should I wait until everything has settled and watch for a slight spike in nitrate before adding corals?

I would suggest waiting about 2 months before adding corals. That is not a number set in stone but a good reference point in my opinion. I would get your tank set up, add the live rock, add your cleanup crew, watch the parameters and after they level out and the cycle is over then look into getting some soft corals (softies) for your tank and see how they do.

5. What exactly are "tank janitors"? What species should I get?

Usually called the "cleanup crew", most reef janitors are hermit crabs, snails, cucumbers, emerald crabs etc... There are lots of different items to choose from. Your best bet is to buy them whenever you can afford something but before you add fish because they will be the ones eating anything that your fish miss, hence the name "cleanup crew". They will also eat anything that dies off as sometimes you cannot find a fish that dies off inside the rockwork. Your cleaners will find it and make quick work of it. You can buy complete kits or just pick and choose and add them 10 at a time when you can.

6. Any suggestions on what types of corals to start with?

Usually starting with soft corals makes it easy to keep things alive and see growth which will encourage you to continue without being frustrated by the failures you may encounter trying to keep small polyp stony corals (SPS)
I would say start out with a couple different mushrooms, a toadstool leather, maybe some clove polyps. If you start with some of the fast growers like xenia or anthelia you may soon find yourself out of room for new stuff and being overrun with corals you don't really want. Be choosy when selecting corals. Do research on them before just taking it home.

7. Any other starter suggestions? resources? books?

I suggest joining a local saltwater club. I have gained lots of knowledge from meeting others with similar interests and it also helps to know you are not insane like most friends/family think and there are other people like you
Looks like you have a fairly active club nearby that has a forum on reefcentral. Here's a link

MOST IMPORTANTLY ... read, read, read before doing anything. You are starting on the right path by asking questions. Don't be afraid to keep asking but try reading as much as possible and try to solve your questions first on your own. You can search reefcentral by using google if the reefcentral search function is down by typing your search terms and then a space, then site:reefcentral.com afterwards like this... "deep sand bed site:reefcentral.com"

Hope that helps,
-- Kevin

edit: SBC beat me to the welcome thing but welcome anyway

[lesages]

I'm on my way to work so I don't have time to respond to everything, but I will say that PC fans work great at cooling via evaporation. For lighting I've got 1x 150w DE Halide bulb and 2x 65w PC fluorescent over my 25 gallon. I mounted one 60cm fan a inch or so above the water to blow directly on it and a second blowing across the water and they work so well that I see the heater come on occasionally during the day. My temperature is rock steady at 27c .

As for hydrometers, swingarms and glass ones aren't as precise as refractometers but alot of people use them successfully. If you aren't delving into sensitive species yet (which I don't suggest doing anyway) a refractometer is something you can upgrade to later on.

[kuoka]

First of all... Welcome!

To answer your questions...

1. 80 is fine and even if it dips below or goes a bit high, as long as the temp change isn't drastic, you should be fine.
2. LR placement is a lot of personal preference. It can rest against the tank IMO but I'd leave clearance so you can get a mag cleaner between it and the wall. I also prefer to put small base rock under my LR to maximize flow under the rock as well.
3. The plastic hydrometer's aren't as accurate as "refractometers" but do the job in the beginning. (refractometers are expensive). I'd "calibrate" your plastic one by marking where your water reports then take a sample to your LFS where they can test it or against another sample with a refractometer (make sure the refractometer is properly calibrated.
4. Wait until everything stabilizes IMO. If you want to add corals closely after cycling, I'd go with something hardy like zoas, frog spawn, etc.
5. Tank janitors are cleaners for the tank. They consist of snails, hermit crabs, etc. to eat detritus or other wastes in the tank. You'll get other hitch hikers with your LR that will help too.
6. Go hardy at first... leather corals, monitpora, frog spawn, zoas, short tentacle plates, etc. IMO
7. There are a lot of beginner sites for reefers on the www (google them). RC has some good links too.

Don't worry about the brown algae. It's diatoms and are normal during cycling and will go away on its own almost as fast as it appeared. You might also get slime algae and green hair algae.. these too are normal during cycling.

Ps. I like the aquascape. Good luck!

[lesages]

I forgot to mention that many times people regret not getting the right equipment early on. If you can afford it, I suggest just getting a decent refractometer. You can also get a electronic PH meter for not much more than a stupid, inexact test kit. Good Luck!

[cd77]

Wow - Only two hours have passed and lots of very helpful advise. Thank you all so very much

I think I'll ask my local stores if they can calibrate my el-cheapo hydrometer with a refractometer; otherwise I'll eBay it or buy it from one of the recommended stores

When I pick up the live rock this Thursday, I'll be sure to get a nice cleanup crew as well and will post more pics... and probably more questions.

I also have a few highly recommended books coming in from Amazon -- I can't tell you all how excited I am about this! I work from my home, and I need a hobby that will consume as much time as possible even if it is just gazing at the tank for hours on end

I'm going to take itZme's advise and the advise of others and wait about two months then add some soft corals that won't try to take over the entire tank

If the temp goes above 80, I'll try out the PC fan -- very good idea, lesages! For now, I'll adjust the lighting down to 10 hours, and up the refugium to 14 hours as was suggested.

You guys rock!!

[sanosuke]

Good luck on your tank and posts pictures when you have corals.

[cd77]

Originally posted by sanosuke
Good luck on your tank and posts pictures when you have corals.

Will do!

I'm also setting up a 36 gallon freshwater plant tank as well -- lots of fun to be had over the next few months!