New to Saltwater Aquariums and 3reef

I just set up my very first saltwater tank! I'm very excited, but also very intimidated. Here's where I'm at:

29 gallon
Penguin Biowheel 200
2 (i think they were) 10lb bags of live sand
15lb base rock
5lb live rock
I bought water from the fish store.

Am I doing ok so far? Do I need any more equipment right now. Do I have the wrong equipment? The guy at my local fish store seems to be pretty relaxed (which is good) about my setup and said the only other thing he'd recommend is a protein skimmer a few weeks down the road. He also said that I could begin adding livestock now if I wanted since he guarantees his water chemistry compounded with me using the live sand. Is this true? It contradicts some of the things I've been reading on the internet.

 

Are you running the BioWheel? If so I would remove it. A protein skimmer would be something I would recommend also. Did you buy test kits to test your water? I would buy a Nitrate, Ammonia, and Alkalinity to start. Since all tanks cycle different you will need to test your water to make sure it is done doing it's cycle.

 

i wouldn't add any major livestock just yet maybe a few crabs. some advise i like is nothing can go wrong by waiting to add livestock.

 

Welcome to 3reef! At some point you'll need to post some pics, otherwise the pic police will get you.

I'd get an AquaC Remora skimmer. You can find them used for about $90-$100 shipped. You won't find a better skimmer for that price (or less).

It will take about 8 weeks for your tank to cycle, provided you add something to start the cycle (one hardy fish, such as a damsel, or a chunk of dead table shrimp). I wouldn't add anything else until then, and only if your parameters check out (ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates). You should also think about getting test kits for the following:

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, and pH.

I highly recommend you also buy the following test kits, as you will have much less problems if you monitor them:

Carbonate Hardness (alkalinity), Calcium, and Magnesium.

If you keep your Carbonate Hardness around 10-12 dKH, Calcium around 400-450ppm, and Magnesium around 1400ppm you'll have less problems with nuisance algae (they like soft water).

 

Welcome to 3reef Tronb24. There are VERY FEW LFS that can be trusted, most are to make a fast buck. The cycling period CAN last up to 12 weeks. You can add ONE damsel after 3-4 weeks. Depending on your choice of aquarium, fish only(FO) or a reef tank(RT), will determine the test kits that you need to buy. Start with the basics for now; NH3/4, No2, No3, SG and Po4. If you decide on a reef tank, you will need to add; Cal, Mag and Alk/DKH. I dont like HOB filters, so I cant recommend one for you. I would get a sump/refugium combo instead. As for skimmers, FO you can do without, RT you will definately need one. DO NOT add any livestock until you have passed your cycle and DO NOT do any water changes(WC). Heres a web site that will answer alot of your questions and get you up to date, so to speak. www.saltwater101.com And when you get a chance, dont forget to post some pics;D. Keep us posted and ask all the questions that you may have. The first question is FREE;D Luna

 

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Yes I do have the Biowheel running. I can remove it, no problem, but just curious. Why?

No, I don't have my own test kit, but I definitely pick one up probably tomorrow evening. Are these kits easy to read and understand?

As of right now, I'm envisioning doing a FOWL, but with maybe some shrimp and snails. So I don't know if those two additions are enough to call it a Reef Tank or not. Maybe one day I will work my into adding coral, but my understanding is that is better left for the more experienced.

I do have a concerns with the live rock that I purchased from the store. There are tons of red centipeds looking things crawling all over several pieces of the rocks that I did not notice before. Are those ok or they some type of parasite? Also there are some what I think are very small anemones on the rocks that appear to be dying. Well at least some of them look like they're dying. They are turning dark brown while the others look fine. They look like they could be some type of feather duster, but I'm sure that they are not. Do these need to removed from my tank?

 

the anemones that you think are dying are proably aiptasia and there bad for your tank KILL THEM(they can multiply and spread quickly, they can sting fish and corals) get some type of specific aptasia killer befoer it gets out of hand and be done with them..

the other anemones you have you say look like them? they are proably zoanthids and are great! not hard to keep alive and look good!

but as said above pics would be nice

and welcome to 3reef

 

Welcome to 3reef. Glad to have you here. Sounds like you have bristle worms. And the bio wheels are nitrate factories.

 

Ok I Googled aiptasia and that is definitely what is on the live rock. And thanks to Google the other thing is definitely bristle worms. Aiptasia bad, huh? I'll try to get rid of them. Can I just peel them off by hand? Do I need to do anything about the bristle worms?

 

Joe's Juice will clear then up. Some keep bristle worms some do not.