Please help!!!!

I'm so confused!

I read on multiple posts that you need a sump? And do you run a filter while your cycle is starting off? i have about 4 inches of sand, is that good? i don't have live rocks yet, is that good? i'm so confused, nobody is answering any of my questions on here i'm becoming so desperate!!!:-[, i put in my live sand with my water its been running for 2 days now and there's still a bunch of foam on the top of the water, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO!!!! please please help me!

 

foam i wouldn't worry about. no you don't need a sump. Yes run the system like you would when cycling the tank. so all the pieces will break in and what not. live rock is not needed since you put live sand in. you also could get 1 piece of live rock and put it in and it would slowly make the rest of your rock alive.

 

check this video series out
How to set up a saltwater aquarium - Episode 1: Reef tanks made fun and easy - YouTube

How to Set Up A Reef Aquarium | DrsFosterSmith.com - YouTube

 

Would you say a powerhead would be necessary? cause i have a hang on the back filter that flows like a water fall and moves the water and all?

 

don't fear you can't do any harm until you place live things in there, foam on the top tells me you have no pump on the surface on the water moving it around, good cirulation is a must. what kind of filter are you talking about? if you have a mechcanical filter i would run it, bacteria will form on it and help seed the cycle of the tank. the links dowtish gave you are great, reading is a must to have a good reef aquarium, get a good set of saltwater test kits so you will know where your at in the cycle process, and place no life forms in there until you do know where your at. don't sweat it, we were all there where your at, believe me. try to enjoy the learning how to part and you will be alot happier

 

I think everybody has already answered, but run your filter during the cycle. You want to build up the bacteria cultures in it. Also, your sand bed is fine and you need live rock. I recommend live rock though. A power head wont hurt anything right now at all. This becomes important once you put stuff in your tank.

 

Its a hang on the back filter
Aquarium Filtration and Water Quality: Aqueon QuietFlow Power Filters
like that, is that ok?

 

ok, so i turned the filter on, and now its moving all of the sand, is that normal? Should i get a power head instead of a waterfall filter?

 

Everything you need on here has been answered 100 times over....

sump, not necissary, but is the best way to go

no filters during cycle...

Get live rock soon or else the cycle will begin again...

Let the tank do its thing 2 days in a tank is like a milli second to us. just chill... no need to go crazy, type in some stuff in the google search bar at the top. It will give you what you need.

 

You need a few power heads in there with your hang on back filter. all the filter is doing is remotely moving water to an area where you can add filtration like GAC, or GFO, or even some macro algae. Its not filtering it as the water passes thru...