try reef

i just got a protein skimmer and am now need some help with cycleing the tank everthing i need and so forth i have a 29 gallon tank so any help would be great i am planing on having sand so if i can get some help that would be great (i know i sound dumb)

 

Welcome to 3reef!!!!
What do you have as far as lighting? Do you have live sand and/or live rock? Have you had aquariums before and what kind?
To cycle your tank, I would start with some live sand or rock and I love to start with either Green or Blue Chromis' as they are beautiful and very mild mannered! Then it is just a waiting game as you wait for the cycle to run its course( ammonia-nitrite-nitrate! in that order)...
I would do some reading about saltwater fish/inverts/corals and all that they entail ie. requirements, habitat and temperment... There are many good books out there to help you with every aspect of the saltwater hobby, but my favorite is "The Reef Aquarium" by Delbeek and Sprung! The best invert book is by Calfo or Sprung. Scott W. michael also has a good book on inverts as well as reef aquarium fish. Fenner has a good book on slatwater fish as well called "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist"!
Well this is a small piece of info to help you get up and running as you delve into the world of saltwater aquariums... ENJOY and ASK QUESTIONS...

 

Hey

Yes, Live Sand and Live Rock Is the way to start. When I started my first 29gal saltwater tank, I didn't have a lot of money, so I just got one bag of live sand, two bags of reg sand. I put the reg sand in first then the live sand on top, waited for that to settle down about a day or two.
When to the store and got just mostly bulk rock, plus about 4 nice size live rock to start my Reef, because it will become all live rock.

In about a 4 weeks I got my first fish. the main thing is to go slow!

Sounding Dumb is Okay

 

Grats on starting the hobby bud!!

Yer as they guys said welcome and feel free to ask questions as everyone is happy to answer and help you with your problems. Dont rush into things is the best advice i can give you, and research before buying!!

Good Luck with everything mate!!

Cheers,

Breed

 

so when i get live sand should i have the bed around 3 in or so then let it settle then buy some live rock does that sound like the way to start the cycle

 

You can place it in together with no harm done. The deep sand bed theory to me is ideal and the way to go(4-6 inches of ARAGONITE, not SAND as their is no buffering ability with silica sand-aragonite will time release important elements such as calcium and strontium over time)!!!!! When placing your live rock in your tank also be aware of not piling it up like a wall against the back glass of your tank etc. The reason for this is to increase water flow between the rock and glass and help rid rocks of detritus and bring food/nutrients to living organisms.
Also, it is adviseable not to have to much sand covered by your live rock, in order to promote proper oxygen transport within the benthic(substrate) area of your tank.

 

i was wondeing if my protein skimmer live sand and a canister filter is good filtration for the tank

 

I have a Aqua Clear 70 that hangs on the back of the tank, plus a skimmer also on the back of the tank. plus three power heads with foam filters so far okay for me. Next year I'm going to canister filter

 

Hi and welcome to 3reef.

Sounds good to me......don't forget a couple of powerheads to keep the water moving.

Good luck

ps: no such thing as sounding dumb with this hobby.

 

As long as your skimmer is doing a sufficient job and is rated for at least the size tank you have you don't kneed to use a cannister filter. The protein skimmer is the most important piece of filtration(removing detritus) other than the live bacteria established in your tank IMO!!!!
Now, I also have a cannister filter, however i really only used it to increase water movement and at times add phosphate remover and carbon. Other than that I would be basically have a phosphate factory-unless i cleaned it fairly often. So I recently purchased a phosphate reactor to help me with the phosphate situation and I can also place carbon in it etc.
IMO, you don't need to have a cannister filter! If you are thinking of getting a cannister filter(maybe the best thing is to buy a bigger /more efficient skimmer) to help create the pristine water that replicates are reefs for the most part.