Brand new to the hobby and need advice - 75 gal

It's brand new, never used, sealed in original bag, dead sand. I have a small 5lb bag of live sand to seed with, but I know not to open that until it's going in the water.

 

In a sealed bag its totally dead, if it was once live like caribsea ocrean direct it may have small amount of oranic matter but nothing terrible you can store it forever wont make a difference.

When you sya a small 5lb bag of live sand do you mean its from another persons tank and placed in a ziploc or is it store bought? Any store bought bagged and sealed "live sand" does not have the worms and pods and other little critters you are looking for to establish a sandbed, they are dead in the bag. How much live bacteria are left is also something that many debate. If that 5 lb bag came from another tank I would toss it beign afraid of how many organics is in the stuff and jsut get a cupful of sand after your tank is set up and ready. Adding little critters before the cycle may not benefit you much sicne an ammonia spike will kill a lot of the good guys.

I can say that I used 40 lbs of Caribsea Ocrean Direct and all dirty ( Pukani) dry rock when I set up my tank and the ammonia spiked and dropped within a week. Then the nitrites got stuck so I added a bottle of Dr Tims and 1 lb of liverock to get some critters in there ( Had sponge, pods, bristle worm, featherdusters, snails, and all kinds of goodies on 1 little rock!) and the cycled took another week or so and at 17days I was done and added my first fish.

 

The live sand came from PetSmart. It is a 5lb bag of CaribSea live sand. I honestly didn't considered that it would not really be alive. It was only $10 and I only need about 5lbs more so I got it.

So you didn't clean the dry rock before you out it in your tank? I hav been buying my dry rock from the LFS. It is stuff that they take out of their tanks and let dry out. I was told by another reefer that I should clean it before adding it to my tank. I also have some of Dr Tim's one and Only to use.

 

If the tank is already up and running then yes it needs cleaned otherwise it will cause an ammonia spike, but if you are cycling a tank then it does not matter you can cycle the tank with the dead organics on the rock instead of adding a shrimp or other ammonia source

 

Awesome. Thanx

Should I put the bag of live sand in the fuge, DT, or return to PetSmart? It is still somewhat wet in the bag, so I'm not opening it yet regardless of where it goes.

 

You can put it wheever, it soudns like its the ocreandirect live sand which is what I put 40lbs of in my tank. Looks really fine in the bag but there are lots of little shell pieces in it, if you plan on getting a jawfish or any other fish that likes to construct borrows the stuff would be perfect.

 

So, I talked my wife into moving the bookcase in the living room so that I could but the tank there. That way I can see it even while I'm watching TV. Please let me know if that's a bad idea, because she's moving the books tomorrow. I also put doors on the cabinet today, and according to this calculator, I have enough sand for the DT and sump. I also picked up some more nice rocks from the LFS. I should all the rock I intend to start with, 75lbs, next week.

I know this setup is taking me nearly forever, but I'm trying to make sure everything is right and that I find the best deals and advice. I appreciate all of the advice you guys have given me, and the great deal on the skimmer from a fellow reefer. I'm not sure if this is a situation where no question is stupid, or not, but thanks for answering regardless.

On a slightly different note, my wife showed the first sign of interest so far. I was telling her that the lights wouldn't cost us as much right now since the setup wouldn't be as elaborate for a FOWLR as it is with corals. Her response, "I eventually want corals, though." I was silently ecstatic!

 

lmao! niccce 8)

 

Moved the cabinet in the house. I had to leave quickly so I haven't gotten the pics yet, but I will post some later.

 

Here are some pics. I still have to put the trim on the cabinet, but that can be done in the house and while cycling.