New-be!

Hello all,
New to this sight, got the address from a reef guy at work. Just started a marine tank 3 weeks ago, just converted a brackish tank over to salt water. Got a 55 gal with 94 lb of cured LR. Just starting to see some action on the rock this evening, this is cool. Wish I would of done this years ago. Just lost interest in the fresh water tank, no challenge anymore. Been reading a lot and learning from these forums. Don't really know when I should put my maintenance fish in, blue leg hermit, turbo snail, tiger tail cucumber, brittle star...ect If anyone has some advice it would be greatly appreciated. Ammonia is still at zero and I have had no spikes yet. I guess I just wait.

Scott "Otty" Fields

 

I would wait. Typically now a days we try not to cycle the tank with fish. You are better off just getting a cocktail shrimp from the store and tossing it in. Then wait and measure for your Ammonia and Nitrites to go to zero. If your rock is already cured you may not see much of a spike at all and you could be ready to go with snails and hermits. I would skip the starfish and cuc until the tank is more established. Remember to chose your fish wisely as in a reef tank they are hard to get out once they go in.
GOOD LUCK and Welcome to 3Reef Good to have you

J

 

Jason,
Thanks for the advice. I was wanting to buy a package of tank cleaners to save money but I would rather spend a little extra and do it right by adding certain things at a time. How many shrimp should I add for a 55 gal?

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef!
Best of luck with your tank!!! Good move switching over to salt as they are more beautiful and interesting, though more expensive.
Go slow with your cycle especially with inverts! Make sure the tank has cycled completely before adding them, or corals.
As for Shrimp, you can have different species and a few can live in your tank successfully. Peppermint, Skunk(cleaner) and Fire shrimp are your best choices! I had 6 in my 75gallon reef tank at one time with no problems.

 

Coral

Thanks for the advice, I plan on stopping by my local store and I will pick up some shrimp.

 

Hi there. I'm not sure how soon you planned on going to your store to pick up shrimp but at 3 weeks old, your tank is not ready for sensitive inverts such as cleaner shrimp.

 

Amcarrig

I was planning on going tomorrow to the pet store. The tank will be 4 weeks old this weekend. I use a Fluval 305 that has been attached to the tank for about 2 years now and I just kept the media and converted to saltwater. I have one clown (Nemo to my daughter) in the tank for about 2 weeks now. I have tested the water about 3 times a week and have yet to see any ammonia. I was thinking that I done some thing wrong but all looks good so far. LR is starting to sprout stuff so I guess all is good so far. Been doing water changes every 5 days. Guess I'm being impatient by wanting to see life in the tank. :

 

welcome to 3reef...

 

Good luck otty! What part of Indiana you from, I am in Rensselaer, Welcome to the reef.