New reef tank.

Richard760 · 01/16/2012, 01:49 PM

Hello everyone,

I started with a 75 gal freshwaterdiscus tank and decided shortly after I wanted to try a saltwater, so I converted my tank. (specs below)

Last night I spread the live sand in then filled the tank with my mixed salt water and now i'm waiting for the tank to cycle. It created some seriously cloudy water. I have the powerheads and skimmer running along with the heater.

I'm assuming the cloudy water is normal, although I was told it shouldn't be since i was adding wet/live sand. Can anyone confirm?

Should I turnoff the power heads until everything settles? I'm fearing I may need to dump most of the water if not ;(

Here is what I'm starting with (Aquatic warehouse in Clairmont suggestions)

75 Gal
5 Gallon HOB CPR Aquatic refugium w/ 2 gallons miracle mud
Tunze 9006 internal Protein Skimmer
80Lbs Carib-Sea Arag Alive
1x 300 watt heater
1x 200 watt heater
2x Hydor Koralia 1400 power heads w/controller
2x Ecoxotic 95w Panoramo Pro lights
42 Lbs Live Fiji Rock
SeaChem salt (RO/DI) 2.5cups/gal.

I dropped in my bioballs from my freshwater tank to help it cycle faster. Along with the live rock and sand, about how long should the cycle take?

As for now I have no idea what corals i want to add, but I'm thinking I would really like to have a puffer (maybe green spotted) in the tank.

Any experienced reefers have any suggestions on some easy beginner corals, new tank advice etc would be very much appreciated.

paulweck · 01/16/2012, 02:30 PM

One think I can advise u to do is take out the freshwater bio-balls and do a fish less cycle. The benifical bacteria is different from friesh water to saltwater. Do a good search on RC there are alot of good threads about it..

Good luck

sponger0 · 01/16/2012, 02:33 PM

I would just let the tank run. Leave everything on. It shoudl clear up in a few days.

Also puffer = no corals. They are also a more experienced fish, as if the die, they can do some havoc to your tank

RubberFrog · 01/16/2012, 02:34 PM

CLoudy water is normal when you add water to new sand. Give it a day or two.

The bioballs wont help the cycle as freshwater bacteria are different than saltwater bacteria.

RubberFrog · 01/16/2012, 02:35 PM

Also, keep reading on here and by the time your tank is cycled you'll know plenty enough about corals to make decisions the right for your goals.

errattiq · 01/16/2012, 02:39 PM

Cloudy water is normal, you just didn't rinse your sand prior to putting it in the tank. By then filling it with water, the splashing etc... caused the very fine dust to make your water cloudy. Happens even to the best of us lol. I would turn my powerheads off for a while and within a few days your water will become clear again as everything settles. get those bioballs out of there, they aren't going to help you out in terms of cycling a saltwater tank. Your Live rock and sand are plenty to get your cycle going, but if you really want to get it going I know of some people that put a raw shrimp from the grocery store in their for a few days. the decaying shrimp will produce ammonia and voila, instant cycle. Just remember to remove the shrimp after a few days LOL. your cycle will probably take a few weeks. just continuously monitor your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. they will all rise then fall in that order as you shall soon see. as far as your equipment go you have started off with some high end stuff, especially with that tunze! as someone who has spent a lot of $$ early on in this hobby i can tell you although some fish stores may be knowledgeable, they still want to make a sale. Don't always jump to the item they point you to. They hooked you up nice with the skimmer and it will last you a very long time due to its extremely high quality, but for a beginner a tunze is a bit overkill compared to much cheaper brands that will suit a beginning hobbyists needs very well. as far as corals go, start of with soft corals, ex: zooanthinds, leathers, mushrooms etc... they are low light requirement coral and easy for a beginner to keep. You can get your feet wet with them and you will eventually learn to read how well your tank is just by looking at the conditions of your coral. But, i think the best advice i can give you is READ READ READ. read all the sticky's posted on this website and if all else fails, ASK. people on this site offer years worth of experience to help you be successful.

Richard760 · 01/16/2012, 04:00 PM

Thank you all very much for the advice. I'll take out the bioballs and continue to let the tank cycle.

I'm bummed about the puffer!

Good advice errattiq - although it was a very expensive trip, I hope the equipment will last for some time to come.

jdm01 · 01/16/2012, 04:33 PM

I too have spent a lot of money. Get the bio balls out and leave them out. They are a short term success but a long term disaster. Voice of experience. I had to take mine out. Also the tank will clear. I have done 2 now, a 90G and a 65G. Both took about 1 week each for the dust storm to clear.

01/16/2012, 01:49 PM	#1
Richard760 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 10	New reef tank. Hello everyone, I started with a 75 gal freshwaterdiscus tank and decided shortly after I wanted to try a saltwater, so I converted my tank. (specs below) Last night I spread the live sand in then filled the tank with my mixed salt water and now i'm waiting for the tank to cycle. It created some seriously cloudy water. I have the powerheads and skimmer running along with the heater. I'm assuming the cloudy water is normal, although I was told it shouldn't be since i was adding wet/live sand. Can anyone confirm? Should I turnoff the power heads until everything settles? I'm fearing I may need to dump most of the water if not ;( Here is what I'm starting with (Aquatic warehouse in Clairmont suggestions) 75 Gal 5 Gallon HOB CPR Aquatic refugium w/ 2 gallons miracle mud Tunze 9006 internal Protein Skimmer 80Lbs Carib-Sea Arag Alive 1x 300 watt heater 1x 200 watt heater 2x Hydor Koralia 1400 power heads w/controller 2x Ecoxotic 95w Panoramo Pro lights 42 Lbs Live Fiji Rock SeaChem salt (RO/DI) 2.5cups/gal. I dropped in my bioballs from my freshwater tank to help it cycle faster. Along with the live rock and sand, about how long should the cycle take? As for now I have no idea what corals i want to add, but I'm thinking I would really like to have a puffer (maybe green spotted) in the tank. Any experienced reefers have any suggestions on some easy beginner corals, new tank advice etc would be very much appreciated.

01/16/2012, 04:33 PM	#8
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	I too have spent a lot of money. Get the bio balls out and leave them out. They are a short term success but a long term disaster. Voice of experience. I had to take mine out. Also the tank will clear. I have done 2 now, a 90G and a 65G. Both took about 1 week each for the dust storm to clear. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

01/16/2012, 02:30 PM	#2
paulweck Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 52	One think I can advise u to do is take out the freshwater bio-balls and do a fish less cycle. The benifical bacteria is different from friesh water to saltwater. Do a good search on RC there are alot of good threads about it.. Good luck

01/16/2012, 02:33 PM	#3
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	I would just let the tank run. Leave everything on. It shoudl clear up in a few days. Also puffer = no corals. They are also a more experienced fish, as if the die, they can do some havoc to your tank

01/16/2012, 02:34 PM	#4
RubberFrog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 286	CLoudy water is normal when you add water to new sand. Give it a day or two. The bioballs wont help the cycle as freshwater bacteria are different than saltwater bacteria.

01/16/2012, 02:35 PM	#5
RubberFrog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 286	Also, keep reading on here and by the time your tank is cycled you'll know plenty enough about corals to make decisions the right for your goals.

01/16/2012, 02:39 PM	#6
errattiq Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Somerset, MA Posts: 91	Cloudy water is normal, you just didn't rinse your sand prior to putting it in the tank. By then filling it with water, the splashing etc... caused the very fine dust to make your water cloudy. Happens even to the best of us lol. I would turn my powerheads off for a while and within a few days your water will become clear again as everything settles. get those bioballs out of there, they aren't going to help you out in terms of cycling a saltwater tank. Your Live rock and sand are plenty to get your cycle going, but if you really want to get it going I know of some people that put a raw shrimp from the grocery store in their for a few days. the decaying shrimp will produce ammonia and voila, instant cycle. Just remember to remove the shrimp after a few days LOL. your cycle will probably take a few weeks. just continuously monitor your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. they will all rise then fall in that order as you shall soon see. as far as your equipment go you have started off with some high end stuff, especially with that tunze! as someone who has spent a lot of $$ early on in this hobby i can tell you although some fish stores may be knowledgeable, they still want to make a sale. Don't always jump to the item they point you to. They hooked you up nice with the skimmer and it will last you a very long time due to its extremely high quality, but for a beginner a tunze is a bit overkill compared to much cheaper brands that will suit a beginning hobbyists needs very well. as far as corals go, start of with soft corals, ex: zooanthinds, leathers, mushrooms etc... they are low light requirement coral and easy for a beginner to keep. You can get your feet wet with them and you will eventually learn to read how well your tank is just by looking at the conditions of your coral. But, i think the best advice i can give you is READ READ READ. read all the sticky's posted on this website and if all else fails, ASK. people on this site offer years worth of experience to help you be successful.

01/16/2012, 04:00 PM	#7
Richard760 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 10	Thank you all very much for the advice. I'll take out the bioballs and continue to let the tank cycle. I'm bummed about the puffer! Good advice errattiq - although it was a very expensive trip, I hope the equipment will last for some time to come.