New here and to SW, many questions!

[LilPinkSock]

Hi everyone,
What a great site!
I have keep freshwater tanks for many years, an I've always wanted to keep salt water, but was always told how hard it is to keep.
Anyway, I finally purchased a 24 gallon AquaPod.
I set it up last Wed. with 40 lbs of live sand, and about 10 lbs of rock that I was given, that had been dried out, but I was told that in a good tank it could come back.
I've ordered 40 lbs of live rock from online, and it will arrive tomorrow.
Should I use the older rock in my tank as a base, or should I just take it out, and put in all the new rock?
I just noticed tonight that all of the sudden I have some rust colored spots on my sand and rocks?? What is it? Should I be concerned?
Also, what temp should my tank be kept at?
How often should I have my water tested, and what do I test for?
I have been trying to read all I can online, but I still have sooooo many questions.
Can anyone help me do this the right way?
I would truly appreciate any and all help!
Guess I better not ask anymore question in this post, I don't want to scare you all away...heehee
I look forward to getting to know you all.
Thanks Bunches,
Christine

[WinnipegDragon]

I'm new to SW too, but here is what I have learned:

40lbs is a lot of rock for a 24g, I think you are fine without the base rock.

Rust coloured spots is likely diatom algae. Normal during a cycle.

Temp should be around 78-79.

Test for Salinity, Alkalinity, Calcium (if keeping corals), pH, and during your cycle: Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates.

[demonsp]

Well slow down. Kidding your on the right track get all the substrate, skimmer , light ( the best you can afford ) , powerheads atleast 2 but a 3rd one helps with water changes , and LR in place before ending the cycle or adding stock. It may take a few weeks so this is plenty of time to research.

First the hobby costs money and most damageing is the setup.

Don't use tap water pls.

You can use the older rock for base , just besure its completly dead.( during cycle dont matter )

Spots prob algea besure you have good cross flow and dont use lights full time at first.

Temp of 78 wanted but hard without chiller , try not to go above 80

You need to buy a test kit , the basic with ph, amonnia, nitrate , nitrite and salinty ( salinity is seperate but others are a set and not to expensive ). Test offen at first less as you go , this will let you know when cycle is over.

Preplan your stock, helps alot.


Also they have great books at good book stores.

GL

[McCrary]

Try and find a good LFS in your area that will work with you to try and improve your tank and your experience of the hobby. There should be a club forum that can advise you on a good store in your area. Asking questions is the best thing you can do, don't be hesitant, nobody starts out knowing much about this hobby.

[ahullsb]

First of all welcome to reef central! Someone else will give the infamous banner. Is the rock you that you bought online cured or uncured? If it is cured I would just use that. If that isn't enough rock, then I would add the other stuff. Your tank needs to cycle anyway so it probably doesn't matter if you use both. (80 lbs. of rock sounds like a for a 24) I don't think you will use it all. Oh and you can use the old rock as your base if you want. I would just put the ugliest ones down in the sand and the bigger the better. Get it down to the glass if you can, move the sand away. I've heard of people having nitrate problems by "setting" rocks along the top of the sand. You want it stable to prevent any rockslides etc. I think reef temperature is usually between 76-82, but some people go higher or lower. If it gets 86+ you would probably have a problem. For the first month your tank will go through many changes. Generally you want to test for calcium, alkalinity, ph, salinity, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. I also test for magnesium. Other than that I would say don't add what you don't test for. For example don't just add iodine or something because someone at the store told you to without testing for iodine. I'm sure someone else will chime in too. Good luck

[LilPinkSock]

Hello WinnipegDragon,
Thanks so much for your reply.
I'm glad the rust colored spots aren't a bad thing, I was getting worried.
Looks like I'm going to need to buy a new heater tomorrow, as the one I have seems to not be working correctly. Everytime I look at it, it's a different temp.
I mostly want to keep corals. my ideal tank would be corals, a seahorse or 2 and a starfish.
Thanks bunches,
Chris

[demonsp]

Originally posted by TurboSnail8898
Try and find a good LFS in your area that will work with you to try and improve your tank and your experience of the hobby. There should be a club forum that can advise you on a good store in your area. Asking questions is the best thing you can do, don't be hesitant, nobody starts out knowing much about this hobby.

I would not put to much stock in LFS. Atleast untill you know as much as him , LOL and this wont take long.

[Sk8r]

Ok, let me try to get to this piece at a time:
1. it's not that hard, just you have to test your water --- a lot.
2. the Aquapods are good: don't overload them and they're very good.
3. actually I'd have done dead sand and live rock, but you're good, no problem. That's called 'base rock,' and just put the incoming live rock atop it. That will be all you need in the way of rock. It will spread life to the 'base rock'.
4. the rust is diatoms. They happen. Don't worry about it. You'll get green stuff, brown stuff, red stuff,---marine tanks get a lot of blooms. The diatoms are microscopic critters; the red stuff is bacteria; the green stuff is your old friend hair algae. Just let it happen, for now.
5. temp s/b 80, and pretty steady. Put your lights on timer.
6. tests---get a bottle of ANN strips [ammonia, nitrite, nitrate] for testing during the cycle. It will climb to technicolor, then give way to white again as your tank cycles. This indicates that first you had not many bacteria, and any waste was just lying there; then---you might add a micro pinch [3 flakes] of regular marine fishfood a day until this happens---you see color on the test strips. It gets worse, then starts to sink again until the test strips are white. That means your bacteria have taken over and can dispose of waste.
7. At this point, you will start to see green algae over everything. Go to the lfs and get a 'cleaning crew', about 10 varied snails and 10 micro-hermits, should not be bigger than a matchhead, these crabs. Let them clean up your tank.
8. meanwhile set up a quarantine tank [bare, plain filter] and introduce your first fish to it. Observe him for signs of your old friend ich. You cannot treat for ich in a marine tank: it will kill off all those bacteria you've been coddling. Just watch him until the crabs have got the algae eaten, and if he's disease free, let him into the tank. For a 24 g, get a max of 4 fish that do not grow larger than 2" each: I'd recommend blennies and gobies, as they're peaceful, funny, and hardy. A clown is a popular choice, but if you're going to get clowns, I'd advise 2 clowns, no anemone until your tank is older, and maybe a couple of neon gobies. Remember your tank will be new, and overload is deadly. You can get corals at any time, but do not mix stonies and softies like mushrooms. Pick either one. They do not constitute a 'load' on a tank, but start slowly: if you make a mistake it will reverberate through your system and affect the corals.

These tanks are supposed to evaporate a lot of water. This means 'topping off' daily with fresh ro/di water [reverse osmosis.] Ask about this if you dont' know. Freshwater topoff only! {Salt doesn't evaporate: water does.] This evaporation helps keep them cool.

Test every 2 days when your tank is new. As your tank acquires corals you need 2 more tests: alkalinity and calcium.

You should also schedule a 10% water change every week. Pick a day and be faithful about it. This [via the salt mix] replenishes what the fish and corals use.

Use a bucket and spare pump to mix the salt beforehand until the water is crystal clear and the salt is totally dissolved.

And Welcome to Reef Central.

[WinnipegDragon]

Seahorses are notoriously hard to keep alive and healthy in a home aquarium. You might want to reconsider that one.

[McCrary]

sk8r- Thats a good list of good advice.

[demonsp]

Originally posted by TurboSnail8898
Try and find a good LFS in your area that will work with you to try and improve your tank and your experience of the hobby. There should be a club forum that can advise you on a good store in your area. Asking questions is the best thing you can do, don't be hesitant, nobody starts out knowing much about this hobby.

I would not put to much stock in LFS. Atleast untill you know as much as him , LOL and this wont take long.

[LilPinkSock]

WOW! Lots of awesome info! Thanks sooooo much everyone! I hope to know as much as you all someday!
Chris

[demonsp]

Originally posted by LilPinkSock
Hello WinnipegDragon,
Thanks so much for your reply.
I'm glad the rust colored spots aren't a bad thing, I was getting worried.
Looks like I'm going to need to buy a new heater tomorrow, as the one I have seems to not be working correctly. Everytime I look at it, it's a different temp.
I mostly want to keep corals. my ideal tank would be corals, a seahorse or 2 and a starfish.
Thanks bunches,
Chris

In a seahorse tank then all you want is seahorses.They are not a beginner fish. But i know they dont like high flow. I would get some small non-aggresive or semi-aggresive fish with a few softies ( corals ). Learn all you can then think about seahorse. Be perfect cause you will want to upgrade that reef tank and that cube will be perfect for a seahorse tank.

[demonsp]

Originally posted by LilPinkSock
Hello WinnipegDragon,
Thanks so much for your reply.
I'm glad the rust colored spots aren't a bad thing, I was getting worried.
Looks like I'm going to need to buy a new heater tomorrow, as the one I have seems to not be working correctly. Everytime I look at it, it's a different temp.
I mostly want to keep corals. my ideal tank would be corals, a seahorse or 2 and a starfish.
Thanks bunches,
Chris

In a seahorse tank then all you want is seahorses.They are not a beginner fish. But i know they dont like high flow. I would get some small non-aggresive or semi-aggresive fish with a few softies ( corals ). Learn all you can then think about seahorse. Be perfect cause you will want to upgrade that reef tank and that cube will be perfect for a seahorse tank.