New To Salt Water, Any Guidance is Awesome!

grocery frozen shrimp work great. I've heard arguments for and against water changes during a cycle, but my opinion is just let the tank go and wait. While you are waiting research everything you can. It's a good distraction to keep you from rushing. Things take a very long time in this hobby sometimes. My current tank is going on 3 years old and is just now getting to the point where all my levels seem stable and my corals are happy.

Agree with the post that you don't need nitrite kit but it's cheap enough to buy the set that includes it from something like API for the base set. Also agree on the avoid the cheapest salt. I actually rotate between 3 or 4 different brands of salt at any one time. I do weekly water changes and each week switch salts. I avoid the high end boutique salts and the lowest end ones but switch between the rest. I figure that each salt has higher levels of one thing and lower of another so switching them out in theory should level stuff out over time.

All the stuff that's been posted has been good advice. I've also read that sponges have a big part to do with a mature tank. They will grow naturally and you may not even notice them, but they help with natural filtration and stability of the tank. The can take a year and longer for the tank to get to the point where they thrive.

Don't skimp on the rock or sand IMO or you could end up with a huge problem down the road. Add the rock now or you will most likely get another cycle when you add it later. I think that question was still outstanding.

If you are planning a reef tank rather than fish only, lps and sps corals will need stable alk so start looking into how alk, ph, calcium and magnesium all play into the balance in a reef tank. Most people I know it takes a while to get that down and it's very important so never hurts to start figuring it out while you are waiting for the cycle to finish.

 

I would add the rock first then start testing.
It is important to watch those parameter's while cycling since they poison the fish and inverts. Then after your done cycling you only need to watch nitrate.

If your confused as too what the cycle is do ask.

 

So I can add rock tomorrow then? My plan after reading this is maybe get 1-5 pounds of live rock and the rest base? and then also go pick up some frozen shrimp, and yes I have no idea what cycle is, does it just mean controlling chemical levels?

 

Thank you, I am going to go pick up a kit and live rock tomorrow, I was going to get 1-5 pounds of live and the rest base rock, is that okay for the tank?

 

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

I like this one because of some of the comments. I really like the one about NOT using fish food to cycle.

 

consider picking up a copy of The New Marine Aquarium by Michael Paletta. Great book to get you started in the right direction.

 

as soon as you want, there's no reason to hold back as you have nothing in the tank.
that ratio is fine.

If you add shrimp only add a tiny piece, is my advice. Really if your live rock has die off(usually live rock has a few dead things that don't survive the trip from the ocean) it should cycle the tank.

Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle(well part of it). Its the transition from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. each one is progressively less toxic then the last. The link above will probably explain it better.

 

here's another link with more of the cycle. This one includes the denitrification cycle. Many aquarists stop at the nitrogen cycle and then end up with a nitrate issue down the road. Some will disagree with me, but I'm a big fan of deep sand beds for denitrification

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle and cycling. Methods for ammonia, nitrite removal.

 

A skimmer is always a plus, but not absolutely necessary on a small tank. Get some better salt (like Tropic Marin) and due routine water changes and you won't have a problem.

 

Thank you so much to everyone for your fast responses, im getting the rock and a kit today, I will keep you all posted on this! ;D