**info** Please!

[adasca]

Hello,
Ive had my set up going for about....2-n half weeks, iv had 1kg of live rock in my tank for about a week, and today just went and baught 5kilos, meaning 6kilos in total, my max amount for a 58litre tank.
What id like to know is, what do i do next??
Iv got good circulation, with a small eheim pump, 150litres an hour, today i purchased a maxi-jet 1000litres an hour, and ive also got a pump, pumping to the skimmer at 250litres an hour.

What do i do about water changes? how do these take place?? Without having to buy Ro water, i want it to be as costless on water changes as poss.....is this is possible!!

Be good if you guys could help me out

Thanks,
Adam

 

[1234-fishy-freind]

It depends on what you want to keep in your tank.

If youre going for a reef, you will either have to buy ro water (about £3 for 5 gal) or set up your own ro unit these can cost anywhere from £50 - £300.
You will also need a good quality salt for a reef water change.

On the other hand, a fish only tank , you can use tap water with de-chlorinator added, and salt of any brand really. Taking your cost down.

josh

 

[adasca]

Thanks for your reply!
Well, reef? what exactly is it? I know coral is like the mushroom type growey things,and other strange looking plants, and thats what im hopeing to keep...with maybe some clown fish, and little crabs??

Iv already got "seachem salt" marine.....

Also, i thought that salt dosnt evaporate, just the water does, so why would i need to add more salt...

Majorly confused on this all haha,

thanks,

 

[1234-fishy-freind]

You would need to add more salt when doing a water change because you would be taking out water with salt in it, and iff you didnt add salt back with the new water, you would lower the sg or the water.

A reef is anything with corals, and inverts, not really fish, some dont have fish in their reefs
Inverts include shrimp, feather dusters, crabs, snails, slugs ect ect.
Corals, well that is a much longer list.

I asume this is your first tank so I reccomend you do lots of reading and dont rush the process because mistakes can cost alot of time, and alot of money!

Also, think carefully about what stock you are going to add to your tank. Think about the size of your tank, and weather the inhabitants will get along.


josh

 

[adasca]

Yeah your correct, this is my first marine tank. Iv allready got the tank its a orca tl450 58 litre tank, iv got the salt water in it aswell as 6kg live rock i put in today, had the tank running about 2 weeks now. Well, i defo want a clown fish....and something like a crab/shrim, iv obv got live rock, and in future, about 3 weeks wudnt mind adding a few corals, i know firstly you have got to let the tank cycle from live rock....
Do you know of any good nano skimmers???
Thanks Josh, help is greatly appreicated!!!

Adam

 

[1234-fishy-freind]

Not too sure about nano skimmer models as I have a 90gal tank, but there are some out there so take a look on the net.

Youre right that the tank has to cycle, have you been testing the water, if so, what are the stats?

Also, did you use RO water when you filled your tank?


josh

 

[adasca]

Nope. The water is tap water decholorinated. I havnt mangaed to buy any testing equipment yet, as i dont kno what basic bits i need to be honest.....however i have seen some api test strips for sale at lfs for £10 would they do??? So much too learn haha

Adam

 

[1234-fishy-freind]

You are much better off getting a liquid test kit.
You will need an ammonia test kit, nitrate text kit, nitrite test kit and ph test kit for now. Depending on the make, these could cost £10 each, or you will sometimes see them in sets with various types.

Of course, if you choose to go down the reef route, you will need more test kits including calcium, magnesium, kh ect, but more on that when youre further along. It is alot to take in, which is why I suggest you buy a good book asap.

Since youve already filled with tap water, you will need to replace all the water with ro wate before you add any corals or inverts because tap water contains things such as phosphate and copper which are lethal to corals and inverts, but not to fish, and dechlorinator does not remove them contaminants.

josh

 

[adasca]

No offence to you, but my lfs said all there aquariums are running of tap water, and they have got corals etc....You may well be right, dont get me wrong, but its hard for me to compare to who i personnaly thinks right, when iv seen it in person...Its something i shall probly regreat in future, but you learn of this mistakes...
Iv got my tank etc to how exactly i want it, and id hate to have to change it all now lol. Oww damm, so confused!!
Il just have to buy a book like you say

Adam

 

[adasca]

Does anybody on here run there marine aquariums on tap water


Adam

 

[alexlark]

No, I make my own RO. Also helps to reduce any nuisance alge

 

[adasca]

How do you make your own R.O water??? Grrrr!!! haha
I still need alot of learning....and by the looks of things, "patience"

 

[adasca]

Latest picture of tank, with live rock just been put in it, but sadly iv gone and put tap water in it what do i do

Adam

my filter system

Far left compartment: Maxi jet 1000litre per hour pump helping flow back into tank
Next compartment:filter wool which is where the heater is meant to go but mine dosnt fit.
Next compartment: crappy skimmer!!
Final compartment(far right) air pump leading to uv steriliser leading to another pump pushing water through to skimmer.anything wrong here???

Adam

 

[1234-fishy-freind]

Youll find that most people do use RO water in reefs.

What alex means is, he has an RO unit, which filters about 95-99% of contaminants out of tap water.

You wouldnt have to change how your tank looks, just drain off all the water and replace with salted RO water, but again, this depends if you want a reef or FOWLR.

Have you got a test kit yet?

josh

 

[seffieuk]

You really need to be very experienced before attempting to use tap water in a tank with corals.

With all due respect, we have nothing to gain from telling you about the problems tap water could cause you - your lfs has a great deal to gain, money

Seffie x

so, as ff says, i would recommend that you replace your water with RO water