Hello from Virginia-wanted info on 40 gal. coral tank

HI Iam in VA too

HI,
If your from the Beach KOOOL
I started my system by buying some live sand at that petstore ,
really fresh live sand really kickstarts the bio load, many of the sold in a sack wet are not as good. as right out the tank and dumped into your tank within the hour.
The down is you may get and undesriable thing with it.
I believe that most tanks have good and bad bugs and the fish become immune to them if they are healthy and fed alot of green and other good foods.
Water flow is also very important to have a healthy tank their should be water movement almost every corner of the tank.
I would love to set-up a rock only tank with tremendous flow and a large sump. Drilled tanks are alot safer than overflow.
Ive had at least three major flood and a few close calls.
Welcome,,,
PSPS Be sure to get GFCI outlets for your plugs our you'll be shocked alot.
and it hurts. Ibought mine at lowes they are bright yellow in the safety outlet area.
I ve been shocked by bad heater, lights with salt bridges, and even pumps that have seen better days.
The fish dont care for stray voltage either.

 

The tank is a few years old. It was originally used for African Cichlids. I bought it about a month or so ago. It is a redwood stretch Hexagon. I thought it would look good in a corner of the house. I have attached a picture. I didn't want to cycle it with anything that I would want to keep in the tank considering my 55 gal. is pretty full as far as fish go.

 

djnzlab1,
I am not from the beach and have already added the crushed coral and the live rock. I have a Rena xp2 for a filter and I am wondering if I would need more flow than that for coral. It is rated for a 55 gal. and this is only a 40. What are GFCI outlets? I have them all on surge supressors. Oh ya, I forgot to mention that I have a 20 gal, 10 gal. and a 55 gal. salt water and a 55 Gal. fresh water.
Do you think I would need a skimmer if there is only a shrimp and a Blenny and coral in there?

 

Welcome to 3reef and I agree with Otty's statement. Luna

 

I will slow down. How long will it take to cycle enough to put coral in? Also, do Peppermint and Cleaner shrimp get along? I might be able to move the Cleaner into the 55 gal.

 

Yes they do. If you had a CB, then that might be a problem. Cycling CAN last up to 12 weeks. Just remember to; no WC's, no to very little light, test for Nh3/4, No2 and No3 and to go slow. Luna

 

I am fairly new to this saltwater thing so if you can tell me what the initials mean I would appreciate it.

 

3reef's Common Acronyms and Abbreviations

 

R34dawn,
I am located just north of Lynchburg. How about you?
Sostoudt,
Thanks for the advice. The live rock was from a cycled tank.

 

Otty,

CBs and WCs were not on the list of acronyms.