Hi Everyone A Few Questions :d

[lil_phelpsy]

hi again ive got a few questions as im new to the salty side

first off il let you no what im working with lol its a 500litre tank measuring 1440mm long x 540mm wide x 650mm deep
i dont have a sump as i built the tank myself

first question is what rock can be used instead of live rock... as its a new tank im setting up i would like to start everything from scratch so i was considering ocean rock with a few pieces of live rock to help seed the ocean rock.
can ocean rock be used if fully cycled i no it takes alot longer but time isnt an issue as while its cycling im going to upgrade lighting purchase my skimmer and other pieces or equipment i dont need before fish or corals go in.

second question is im planning on starting with the clean up crew and then adding fish eventually getting into the coral side of it so what depth of subtrate is best for eventually having corals and inverts as ive heard for a fowlr is best with no subtrate.

third question is a simple one whats the best way to weigh out the salt required for a new tank start up as im guessing its going to have to be accurate but needing nearly 20kgs cant really use kitchen scales

if anyone has cycled there marine tank from scratch not using live rock could you please advise on the best way to do it and how it went for you cheers in advance im scared and excited all at the same time lol

p.s sorry for the long topic

 

[lil_phelpsy]

bump

any advise would be greatly appreciated even if you dont think its in topic i could do with all the advise anyone has thanks again

 

[Donya]

first question is what rock can be used instead of live rock... as its a new tank im setting up i would like to start everything from scratch so i was considering ocean rock with a few pieces of live rock to help seed the ocean rock.

Well...how crazy do you want to go? Technically you don't even have to use all aragonite and can use other porous rocks. I've used silicates, although it helps to have a most of it aragonite for pH/KH buffering purposes. The main issues to consider when choosing dry rock are the capacity for affecting pH and the porosity/density (less dense = better usually). But otherwise, if you put it in with live rock, it will colonize with stuff over time.

so what depth of subtrate is best for eventually having corals and inverts as ive heard for a fowlr is best with no subtrate.

Sand depth needs to be planned around the animals you will stock and whether you want to try for the benefits of a proper "deep sand bed" (which can be excellent, but requires careful stocking to maintain it). If you want sand sifters, it needs to be deeper than if you don't.

third question is a simple one whats the best way to weigh out the salt required for a new tank start up as im guessing its going to have to be accurate but needing nearly 20kgs cant really use kitchen scales

Most salt brands I've seen give you a measurement by volume rather than weight. Best way to do it is experimentally: mix some and then measure the sg with an accurate device (calibrated and temperature-correct hydrometer or auto-temperature correcting refractometer). You can then tweak the amount you use accordingly.

if anyone has cycled there marine tank from scratch not using live rock could you please advise on the best way to do it and how it went for you cheers in advance im scared and excited all at the same time lol

Well, at a minimum you need something to add the bacterial/algal/etc. seed for the system. You can't just put a bunch of dry rock into saltwater and get an ecosystem. While you could probably get at least some of what you need from a water or substrate sample, you will get a much better biological assortment much faster if you use a bit of live rock. This is also how it works when people set up a tub to produce new LR outside their main tanks. The more LR to dry rock, obviously the faster it will go.

 

[lil_phelpsy]

thank you donya for the advise i was planning on using around 10kg of lr and around 40 kgs of other rock depending on how full my tank looks as i no dry rock obviously weighs less than wet lr so will be a greater mass.

if im only using a small amount of live rock will i still have to cycle the tank using ammonia

and i was planning on using sand sifters id like a variety off all clean up crew that are compatible together

once again thank you very much

 

[kj23502]

I would only use rock most appropriate for a reef tank. IE dried ocean rock, live rock and you can even make your own...of which I passed on cause it's too messy. You won't have to use ammonia. Just let it sit a good while. At least a month, I'd say. What you don't want to run into is assuming your tank is cycled when in reality your real LR is just processing the ammonia of the dry rock. That is not a cycled tank.

Good pic of LR. See all the nooks and crannies in it. It isn't a solid mass. You don't want a solid mass.

Usually poeple with a light sand bed shoot for an inch or so of sand. Stock with Nassarius snails to clean up left over fish food. I like the Tongan and vibex. Cerith snails are also great snails. I would stay away from crabs. They are fabulous at decimating the microfauna. Stay away from bumblebee snails, astrea's are temperate, margarita's are temperate and nerites need to get out of the water from time to time or they will die an early death.