Hello

Hey all, just started my aquarium yesterday, even an empty aquarium with sand and water makes me excited!

I added the salt only to find out i made a mistake, the tank is 60 gallons, with about 80lbs of live sand (dunno if thats good or bad at this point), the LFS said it would be better to use 100% live sand since using regular sand would only save me a couple bucks.

I nought 2 bags of salt each for a 50 gallon tank... I thought id be clever and go back buy a 10 gallon box, and use one 50 and my 10 gallon box.... Guess i should have thought about it a little further to realize that 80lbs of sand will displace some water So my salinty is a little high at the moment.

The other issue bothering me is the fact that the water is milky... all the sand settled to the bottom over night, temperature hung out around 79* all night, walked down stairs fell over the box the stand came in, cussed at it, then saw milky water.... is this from undissolved salt? is it normal, do i need to do a water change in order to remove some of the undisolved salt?


I plan on adding 2 clowns to the tank, and other then that i havent a clue. After SCUBA diving all over the world I would need a place as big as the GA Aquarium to house all the animals i would want.

also whats my next step to get the tank to cycle? Should i add some live rock? or get the water into acceptable parameters and go get some damsels? As with an hobby, everyone and their brother has a different opinion on how to proceed. Some people say additive, others say some hardy fish... I would like to elan towards the hardy fish as it puts somthing in there, but i also realize thats new tank syndrome... So im holding back on that...

lemme know your thoughts! ;D

SD

 

Sorry i read the topic of the board after i posted ;D If a mod wants to edit the post to cut out my questions thats fine, ill do a bit more erading beforei post next time. ;D

 

Welcome to 3reef. Remove some of the current water and add freshwater in and retest your salinity. Add in circulation pumps if you haven't already. They should help with any residual mixing needs.

Buy base rock and about 10 lbs live rock if you wish or add in a piece of table shrimp to start your cycle. Test ammonia weekly until it goes back down to 0, then test nitrite weekly until it goes down to 0, then test your nitrate and get it down to below 5 before doing anything else. No need to light until you have light needing creatures.

If you are planing on a reef then get your calcium, magnesium and alkalinity in line. Then you can add a couple of fish and easy corals. A good suggestion is to add 3 coral for every fish. Some say get your corals first because they put less stress on the nitrogen cycle than fish. Just go easy and slow with whatever you do.

Most importantly buy your creatures based on extensive research and what size aquarium they need as an adult. Make sure you have all of your equipment in place and that matches your future plans.

 

Welcome to 3 reef SD

+1 on removing some tank water and replacing with RODI to lower that SG
if you have a bucket with sealable lid, you can save the water you take out for a future water change

if you do go live rock - then not using any lighting on that tank for 12 weeks so as to not encourage nuisance algaes to sprout from said rocks is a good idea IME

As you have live sand , then base rock, with a few select pieces of live rock, for coralline seeding purposes is also a good idea IME

Water will clear in 1 day or 3 , no need to do anything - just have faith it will clear

adding fish -
clown fish are reasonably hardy and many are added to relatively new tanks
but as you know there are alternatives such as throwing in a raw piece of shrimp
and allowing that to degrade and feed/ support/ increase bacteria levels

Steve

 

Almost everyone (maybe everyone) who starts out makes some mistakes, often a lot of them. Your high salinity is nothing compared to what it could have been.

A tank filled with water is a beautiful thing. Giving it enough time to cycle is a wonderful thing. Patience.

While waiting you can plan what you need. You've already had good suggestions about LR and fishless cycling.
(1) ATC refractometer from eBay - much better than hydrometer for measuring salinity
(2) test kits (measure ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates beginning with cycling; continue nitrates, pH and nitrates)
(3) protein skimmer
(4) lighting for what you want to grow

You live in a good place to hook up with other aquarist and do trading for used equipment, no need to go retail for the majority of it.

Good luck and continue having fun.

 

Welcome to 3reef!

 

Welcome,

When I got my tank, I set it up, let it cycle like a good boy, but then added to many things at once and everything died. I almost gave up on the hobby. The key is research and patience. Don't add to much at one time and make sure you know what your adding

 

Welcome to 3reef!
Don't worry about the mistake I've done a boatload of reading and still made some....mind you not the common ones or so it seems...just roll your eyes @ yourself : (& maybe do the Homer Simpson Doh!;D) and move forward.

 

For those of you joining us that are new to the hobby - the best piece of advice you'll get around here as a saltwater newbie is 3Reef's slogan
"Go slow, let it grow."
And for those experianced hobbyists joining us - it's still good advice
good luck and post pics soon