Newbie to Saltwater

I want to start out with "live rock" tank only. I have a 30 gallon tank with a 55 gallon filter hanging on back and a circulation pump for water movement. I used Instant Ocean salt and on my hydrometer it is in the "red" zone so I assume it's good.

Please help me with my next steps.

Thanks a bunch

 

Hi and Welcome,

If your desire is to have cured live rock, with development and maintance of coralline algae ( pink/purple), you will need some lights. T5HO would be a good choice IMO. You will have to maintain the calcium, magnesium, and alk with a decent pH to faciltate the developement of the coralline, so you will need the appropriate test kits. Hope that is what you were getting at.

 

I am a pet store and customers are asking that I at least carry "live rock". Could you tell me what test kits I should purchase? Also besides getting the salt at the correct level on the hydrometer is there anything else I should add? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Does this test kit work?
API's REEF Master Test Kit measures the most important aquarium levels in a Reef Aquarium. 4 different tests calibrated specifically for Reef aquariums are designed to protect reef-dwellers from dangerous water conditions. Tests include Calcium, Carbonate Hardness (KH), Phosphate & Nitrate), 4 test tubes, tray.

 

Hello and welcome to the saltwater aquarium hobby!

First let us start by asking you a few questions to serve you better

1. Is the tank cycled?
(Cycling is the natural bacteria forming cycle. Bacteria will eat ammonia, turn it into nitrite, then nitrate. You should test for these and see a spike in each over a period of time (each tank is different) once that is done you are good to go
2. What are your tank dimensions (for lighting and water movement)?
3. How much rock (LR) are you planning on putting in?

 

Ok well that is different.

All you need is a large container, a powerhead and the correct SG, which you already have control over. No need to add anything else.


Are you going to start with dry rock, or are you going to order liverock.

If liverock than you will need to think about the curing process. If dry rock than you need not worry about any die off that may foul the water.

The only thing you might need to test for is ammonia.

 

Hello and welcome to the saltwater aquarium hobby!

First let us start by asking you a few questions to serve you better

1. Is the tank cycled? All I've done with this tank is added the right amount of salt, filter and power circulator at this point. "live rock" will be hand delivered by my vendor on Tuesday.
(Cycling is the natural bacteria forming cycle. Bacteria will eat ammonia, turn it into nitrite, then nitrate. You should test for these and see a spike in each over a period of time (each tank is different) once that is done you are good to go
2. What are your tank dimensions (for lighting and water movement)? It's a 29 gallon.
3. How much rock (LR) are you planning on putting in? I'm not sure but it will be there for retail sale as I am a pet store.

 

Agreed, this is how the LR tank at my LFS looks.

100 gallon rubermaid bin
300w heater
1 Emperor 400 filter
2 Powerheads

 

You're not going to be able to fit much Live Rock (LR) in a 29 gallon. You might want to consider going bigger.

 

Yes my plan is to go bigger after I get this 30 gallon down pat. I just am afraid to go big and have no customers buying. If I can make the 30 gallon work I will go much bigger.

 

Gotcha

One thing to consider is that if you bought UNCURED LR, it's going to stink BAD while curing in your store. That's the cheapest way to buy it....however in a retail environment, that's something to think about. If you bought CURED LR, that's not going to be an issue.