New to the hobby and 3Reef!

Hi everyone,

I've spent the week researching this new hobby for me and I really like this site so I'm registered and looking forward to getting my first saltwater tank up and running.

I made a mistake and bought coral on ebay before I knew I needed to cycle my tank, so after I take a water sample to my LFS to have it tested, I'll probably put them in a new 10g tank with lighting while I cycle the main tank with live rock (and then a suicide fish?). I think I'll avoid pee'ing in the tank as mentioned in the startup guide for noobs (unless that's actually a really good idea) . This sound ok?

I've had the water and livesand in the tank for about 4 days so I will probably buy a piece of live rock and the other kind that's dead and all white that will grow into live rock after a period of time. OH, and one thing; I'm trying to be frugal and not spend too much money up front so how does this sound:

I live 1.5 hours from Charleston (beach), so would it be ok to go there and pull stuff (rock, driftwood, live sand) from the ocean to save money? I know it might not be the best plan, but for the money, does that seem feasible if I'm patient and take time to let it cycle before stocking with coral and fish?

Anyway, I know this is supposed to be an introduction post so I don't want to ask too many questions, but I would really appreciate any advice/wisdom you guys have to share. I can tell there is incredible depth to this hobby and it's going to take time for me to discover what the best thing for me is.

Oh and here are my stats:

- 29 gallon
- Skilter Protein Skimmer
- Some kind of water filter; looks like it's ok, nothing fancy, so I ordered an Aquaclear 50 two days ago (should I use both or get rid of the first one?)
- Heater (no clue how good it is, not using currently as water temp is fine around 76-79 Faren.)
- 2 Hydor Koralia 750 gps
-20 pounds of livesand
-13 coral fragments that don't seem to be doing great, maybe today i'll move them to a 10 gallon tank and get some water flow with the aforementioned filter and more intense light while I cycle my main 29g.

Anyway, I'm excited to join the forum and will be doing research the rest of the day (gotta love the slow season in the public accounting industry).

Thanks!

James F.

 

Welcome to 3reef James.

If you put up on image of your frags maybe we can be of assist.

 

Ok, I'll put them in a 10 gallon tonight and setup a lighting and take some pictures.

Here's what they looked like 2 days ago, I'd say a little worse now after going in the aquarium (that sand is a pain in the butt, it takes so long to settle and settled on the coral; had to keep picking them up slowing and shaking):

 

I see zoanthids, palys, mushroom, and green star polyps (GSP), I believe. If that is a container made of metal you want to get them out of there in to a rubbermaid type of container, nothing metal. Do you have a power head to create movement?

 

Hey James cool start!! I'm starting up soon too (also accounting) we should start a club of noobies. I'm going to my local fish store this afternoon to look around/ask questions. You're going for a reef tank I presume?

 

@Corailline - err, ;D

I've got two 750 gps on the way, probably 2-4 days away. Do you think they'll be ok if I get then in a small 10-20 gallon tank tonight and place them close to the water filter? That should create some current but let me know what you think. Also, will they be ok on a glassbottom with just a filter for a month or so while I cycle the main?
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@lxwarr30 - Nice, I actually prefer Finance (my undergrad major) but have grown to appreciate accounting more and my work is sort of a mix of both.

And yea, I'm going to my lfs today too to get my water tested. I love to look around, this'll be my third time in a week, they've got some gorgeous fish

 

Welcome to 3reef

 

If you put them in a different container and give them some flow, and make sure you are not having huge temp swings they should do ok. I believe you will probably have some die off. Which is actually ok and will help to initiate the cycle. All the corals you have a pretty darn tough, but it may take awhile to see a rebound. As long as they have some flow and oxygen, with decent parameters like temp, specific gravity they will recover. (zoanthids, plays and mushroom are not actual corals but tomato, tomoto...)

 

Ok, and will the die off feed the remaining or should I be supplementing these guys with something for a month or so while my main tank cycles?

 

As long as you have sufficient lighting and stable water parameters you do not need feed them. The lighting should take care of it. They will die back if you have high ammonia and nitrite levels as the tank cycles, so try and get some cured live rock to assist in the biological filtration.

What type of lighting do you have?