New Reefer

[sticky]

Well I decided I needed a new hobby and for the longest time(since I was a kid) I wanted a salt water tank. I finally made the jump and I am starting to get things setup.

Currently I have:
55G Tank open top
High Impact Coral Lighting 2X65
Marineland Penguin 350 BIO-Wheel Filter 350GPH (rated 75G)
Tronic 60Hz 60G Heater
Salt/Water Mix that is correct
Puka Shell/Puka Sand Mix

No Fish/LR/Coral at this time

The tank is setup, however my water is ?still murky?.

Where should I go/start from here as far as how much LR/Coral/Starter Fish to begin the cycle.

Thanks for any advice/tips/help

[perpetual98]

Welcome to the board!

Sounds like a good start so far. Ditch the Bio part of that filter, as you don't need it for saltwater tanks. Now begins the cycle. You'll want to pick you your live rock now and get it into the tank. Also, pick up some test kits because they are critical during this time. Get at minimum a Nitrite, a Nitrate and an Ammonia test kit, and you should also get a pH kit too. After the rock is introduced, you'll see a rist in the Nitrites, Ammonia and Nitrates. The Nitrites and Ammonia will disappear after some times, and the Nitrates will become very low, the lower the better. It may take two weeks, it may take 6 weeks, you just have to be patient. Any time you add anything to the tank, especially more LR, you'll get a small cycle. If you can, get all of your LR and put it in the tank at the same time.

Down the road some things you might consider are more lighting (at least another 2x65W setup) or different lighting. A skimmer is always a plus and there are several good ones that will hang on the back (HOB for short) and you might need a couple more powerheads. Water movement is critical in SW aquariums.

As always, ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. That's what we're here for. There's plenty of knowledgable people on this forum.

Eric

[sticky]

The Store I am using here has a guy that has a 6 year old Reef tank who wasn't in last night. I talked to him and have already made some changes.
I swapped out the old light for a new one.

What has changed

48" 260 Watt 4x65 Double Strip set on a timer day/night power strip
25 pounds of LR

Current filter is still in place he suggested leaving that in place.

Thursday of this week I am taking in water, they do free testing on tank water
If everything looks good I plan to pick up 3 Damsels and 2 Red Leg Hermit Crabs
After 2 weeks of that setup I am picking up a Aqua tank.
> It includes a bio-tank w/bacteria balls with a protein/algae Skimmer all in one.
He suggest it not only for the price but functionality since this is what he uses.

After a week of running with the new Fish/Crabs and filter system I plan to add some more LR and then let it set for a couple of weeks and then go from there.

Does this sound like a good plan/setup?

Thanks again

[jerryc]

If it was me id get all my live rock first let it set for at least
four weeks before i done anything.
If you add your live rock a little at a time you will have a new
cycle ever time you add it

[maxfischer]

i am also new to this but i will tell you this, dont put anything live in your tank for awhile, let it cycle on its own with the live rock. If the guy at the LFS is telling you to put damsels in the tank its cause he wants the sale. Just the LR will be good, also you might want to try some raw shrimp from the market. thats my 2cents

[perpetual98]

Exactly. I mentioned that in my post earlier. Get the foundation set up first, then start adding stuff after you have all of your LR in there. If you keep adding LR little by little, you're going to have an endless cycle and you'll never be able to start adding nicer fish and corals.

Oh yeah, you'll probably want to skip the damsels. They tend to be bullies to other fish and you'll end up ripping everything apart trying to get them out after the LR is all aquascaped.

[ReefNeck]

The Store I am using here has a guy that has a 6 year old Reef tank who wasn't in last night. I talked to him and have already made some changes.
I swapped out the old light for a new one.

What has changed

48" 260 Watt 4x65 Double Strip set on a timer day/night power strip
25 pounds of LR

Current filter is still in place he suggested leaving that in place.

Thursday of this week I am taking in water, they do free testing on tank water
If everything looks good I plan to pick up 3 Damsels and 2 Red Leg Hermit Crabs
After 2 weeks of that setup I am picking up a Aqua tank.
> It includes a bio-tank w/bacteria balls with a protein/algae Skimmer all in one.
He suggest it not only for the price but functionality since this is what he uses.

After a week of running with the new Fish/Crabs and filter system I plan to add some more LR and then let it set for a couple of weeks and then go from there.

Does this sound like a good plan/setup?

Thanks again

I started to skip this and not chime in but it's bugging the devil out of me.

The guy at the LFS is telling you alot of wrong things! (Most LFS people do to make sales).

Your Live Rock alone can do the cycle as stated by the others here!

The lights you have listed here are "Better" than what was in your first post but will not be good enough for Clams, Anemones and or all SPS (Small Polyp Stony) corals and even most LPS (Large Polyp Stony) Corals. For these you would need T5 HO's, VHO's or Metal Halides"!

Also, The Bio portion of your existing filter he told you to leave in....WRONG. This type of filter is a Nitrate factory! It needs to come off!!

As for your water testing....YOU need a kit to test it! People at the stores will tell you anything to make a sale! And I like to test mine sometimes if I suspect something is not right at 3AM.....Will the LFS be there for you then?

And this Filter with BIO media and a skimmer built into one unit.....Sounds like a Skilter to me. Complete garbage! You need a real Protein Skimmer and NO BIO media at all in any filter!

Sorry to come off so harsh but LFS employees that spew this garbage really burn my backside!

[sticky]

So could someone post links for
Lights
Filtration
Skimmer

So that I could take a look at it. I have already spent quite a large amount trying to get the right equipment I need, but yet it sounds like from what I read nothing I have is what I need accept the tank itself.

[ReefNeck]

So could someone post links for
Lights
Filtration
Skimmer

So that I could take a look at it. I have already spent quite a large amount trying to get the right equipment I need, but yet it sounds like from what I read nothing I have is what I need accept the tank itself.

I'd be glad to help you with links and all but a lot depends on the type of things you wish to keep. Do you want Clams someday? Do you want hard corals or only soft? Anemones? These things will help determine your lighting.

Filters....Also depends somewhat on what you keep. Refugium is best in a Reef system unless you spend the big bux and go with the Ecosystem method using Miracle Mud.

Skimmers depend on your wallet. Want the best? Look at Deltec or ASM. Euro Reef is another option a little less expensive. If you are limited on funds, Look at the Coralife Super Skimmers. I'd go with the 125G model on your setup.

Tell me more of where you want to go with your tank and I can give you a list of good options and then let you decide which way you want to go.

[sticky]

What we are shooting for is LR(not hard to keep that) Some corals, Anemones, and Some fish. We aren't looking to fill our tank to the max, just build a nice aquascape, have some corals, pick out the Anemones we really like the best and have a few fish/inverts to finish off.