Saltwater tank setup...

please read that

 

Moneyshot,

Make absolutely sure you test for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates before any fish go into that tank. I got all excited and rushed to get fish in my tank after I thought my live sand and live rock were cycled and sadly...I killed two beautiful large clownfish. It's my fault, but if I would have tested, there would be two more Clarkiis around. Enjoy the journey there will much frustration along the way, but most of the time it's worth it.

Jim

 

Check out this link on 'nems too. Take special note of number 9.

 

I feel like this may just be something to get a rise out of people.

If you've read enough to know what salinity and such to have your tank at you would have read the numerous references to cycling.

I call B.S....rest is edited...

 

ok heres an update...

canceled my fish/anenome order...phew (im sure a lot of you are very glad i did this!)

what i got going on now is water in the tank, live rock, sand, filter is going, i got an air pump going, and a heater...i also put in this solution that removes the chlorine from the water. my tap water has been mixed with sea salt and the salinity is 1.020

you're telling me that....

I want AMMONIA...(i can get this by by putting a few pieces of raw shrimp in the tank)
The AMMONIA then turns to NITRITES
and then these NITRITES turn into NITRATES

are there any faster ways to cycle?

 

I would remove the air pump as well. The bubbles popping will cause salt to go all over your lights, walls, and anywhere else you don't want covered in salt.

Unless you started with fully cured LR you will have a long/large cycle. You probably purchased your rock from petco as well. From what I understand about the way my petco works, none of the rock they carry is cured. I would throw some raw shrimp in the tank and just wait. After a few days you will see ammonia spike then nitrites then nitrates. Once ammonia ammonia and nitrites measure 0 and nitrates are very high your cycle is complete. Also, after these readings do a water change and add 1 fish at a time with about 2 weeks between each addition.

The dechlorinator you are using is not needed. Salt mix automatically removes/detoxifies chlorine.


What type of lighting do you have?

 

the person at petco told me the rock was fully cured (they picked it from the display tanks)

i can do the raw shrimp deal anyways just to be save...

should i be using those meter strips to measure ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? any particular brand you recommend? or are they all good?

right now I just have the light that came with my tank, its a wide spectrum 20watt light, should i get something else?

 

Do the cycle to be sure.

The test strips are not accurate. I suggest API liquid test kits. They are inexpensive and accurate.

As for for lights, I suggest upgrading to T5HO lighting. Your current lights will not sustain much if any coral and definitely will not sustain an anemone.

 

ok will this test kit suffice?
Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit at PETCO

for the time being i want to just stick with fish, (you guys all made me horrified now of getting anemone and coral for the time being) the light i have now should be fine right?

 

If you buy that and a nitrite test kit you will be fine. Fish don't require light so pretty much anything will work.