Taking it very slow

Hello Everyone,

My name is Mozis. I just started my first salt water tank. I plan on taking this very slow to make sure I get everything I need and want and do it right. I am at the very start of this.

Currently here is my set up.

I have a 55g fish tank.

There is water in it with 60 pounds of Nature's Ocean sand that is all in the tank. I just put the sand in last night. My tank is still very cloudy. I hope I didn't do anything wrong because it's still very cloudy. I am assuming this will just dissipate over time. Can anyone confirm this?

I have a filter in there right now that is a 30-60 gallon Aqua-Tech filter. However, the filter was running when I put the sand in and the filter just stopped working. The filter is only about a week old. I am not sure if I clogged it with sand on accident or if it just happened to die when adding the sand. So I have to look more into that.

I have slowly put in 3 cups of salt so far over the course of 30 minutes. I have a hydrometer about halfway down into the tank so I can watch the level of salt. So far, the lever in the hydrometer has not moved yet. I know I will end up putting about half the bag of salt in there, but the fish guy at PetCo said add about a cup every 5-10 minutes- I have a 25 gallon bag of Red Sea Salt.

Other then that, there are no fish, plants, or rocks.

So, I guess at this point I will start asking for my next step, other things to buy, books to read, magazines to subscribe to, websites to visit and anything else that might help me. I am told that it will probably be about a month until I even consider putting fish in there. I am more then happy to take as much time as needed to make sure I do this right.

Thank you anyone who would be willing to give me any ideas or help me anyway.

 

First off, welcome to 3reef!

Going slow is a very wise thing in this hobby so you're off to a good start.

Yes, your tank will clear after the sand settles. Your filter most likely has a clogged impeller from the sandstorm. I would check it out and clean it, or even wait until the sand settles a bit to turn it back on.

It would be good to get some powerheads & a heater in there to mix up & dissolve the salt you are adding to the tank. Salt should be put in 1/2 cup per gallon, so make sure you stick to that general rule. Your filter can just act as a mechanical filtration to clear the water of the debris from the sand.

Do you plan on getting live rock for the tank or will this be a fish only tank?

 

Welcome to 3reef.

-The sand will take some time to settle.
-The filter may be clogged.
-Salt should be added at 1/2c per 1 gallon of water
-Are you using tap, buy from l=LFS or do you have an RO/DI(reverse osmosis/De-ioinization) unit?
-For live rock you may want to add between 1-2 lbs of rock. this will depend on how much biological filtration you want(the more rock, the more bio filtration.) & also personal preference.
-Also get some powerheads to create flow & water movement.

A little lat now, but it may be better to mix your water then add the sand. This will be easier to make sure your water is fully mixed & dissolved.

The cycling process will take about 6-8 weeks.

 

I would try to get a sump and remove that filter. It is just going to continue to clog.
I would also get an RO/DI unit and some good salt.

Do alot of research!

 

just to add on to this. you wil lwant to get your rock in there now. you will want between 55 and 80 lbs of it. get it in and get it cycling too. if added later , you will more than likely start the whole cycling process over again.

youve got the right idea mozis, going slow , asking questions and doin research. good luck to you , and look forward to hearing\seeing updates

guy

 

First take the hydrometer out of the tank. That's not how you use them. There should have been specific instructions on or included in the packaging. You need to fill it by dipping the fill chamber below water at an angle letting all of the air to escape the needle chamber. Then set it on a flat level surface and tap it until any air bubbles are released off of the needle. You'll need to keep it very clean between each use by rinsing with tap water. The best advice I can give you right now is ditch the hydrometer and buy an Automatic Temperature Compensating refractometer.

ooops I guess I should have asked if it's a floating hydrometer. very embarassing. but I don't use them so didn't think of it right away. I'm sorry.

 

welcome

Good luck

 

they make them that stick to the wall of an aquarium

and i vote for 75 lbs rock

 

Welcome to 3reef and this obsession we call a hoby.

I aggree that your filter's impeller is probably clogged as I made the same mistake...just take it apart and clean it out and don't bother turning it back on till the dust has settled a bit more. I got mine working again after so your's should too.

 

^^^ all info above is great ^^^^

ditto on returning the pump. Get some quality powerheads instead, they will be alot more usefull