New Sw Tank Started *dialup Beware*

[CT_Srt4]

This is my first attempt at salt water and im very proud of my self so far. I had a freshwater tank which was doing great but i decided that i wanted more of a challange so i returned most of it back to my local pet store and then i boxed everything else to reset up the tank when i upgrade to my 75+ gallon 6-12 months from now. i currently have 40 lbs of cured live rock and 40lbs of live sand. There are no fish yet since the tank has only been up a week but i will be adding pepermint shrimp and snails soon as well as a starfish not sure what type. I currently have the t-5 HO lighting with a 10000k and a true antic bulb. Pungine 350 filter with dual bip wheels. I may be adding a protien skimmer in the next month well see how my water is doing then. Any one have any ideas of what else should be done im not doing a reef as of yet so im not in a rush to do a sump. My girlfriend wants to add a manderian blenny and i want to add a few fish of my own but im still looking.

 

[nanocubeking]

Nice tank. What do you want in the tank. Corals or an fowlr (fish only with live rock) You'll definitly want a different filtration system too.

 

[CT_Srt4]

Im not to sure yet i know id live a hippo tang but not sure i might add reef but im not sure if my lighting is enough i dont really want to upgrade and im going to make a custom sump with a custom overflow ill show everyone a rough draft soon its really inexpensive but it will add about 20 gallons more to the tank still trying to work out the kinks with tubing and sealents it will house the filter skimmer and bio balls as well as live rock and an idea on growing pods and seeds.

 

[shibby]

This is my first attempt at salt water and im very proud of my self so far. I had a freshwater tank which was doing great but i decided that i wanted more of a challange so i returned most of it back to my local pet store and then i boxed everything else to reset up the tank when i upgrade to my 75+ gallon 6-12 months from now. i currently have 40 lbs of cured live rock and 40lbs of live sand. There are no fish yet since the tank has only been up a week but i will be adding pepermint shrimp and snails soon as well as a starfish not sure what type. I currently have the t-5 HO lighting with a 10000k and a true antic bulb. Pungine 350 filter with dual bip wheels. I may be adding a protien skimmer in the next month well see how my water is doing then. Any one have any ideas of what else should be done im not doing a reef as of yet so im not in a rush to do a sump. My girlfriend wants to add a manderian blenny and i want to add a few fish of my own but im still looking.[/b]

if its only been up for a week its way too soon for both of them, hippo tangs get big and should be last to be added!


looks good so far though you could probaly keep some nice softies, toadstalls, bush corals, polyps and also mushrooms.

 

[nanocubeking]

Yeah you still probably have to wait for your cycle to finish.

 

[CT_Srt4]

Thank you i was planning on adding most of that in a week or two and the blue hippo wouldnt be till a while now because i know the tank is just established and the require swimming space i dont want to over crowd the tank there are already a few things on the live rock little creatures that i can find once and a while id like to add a mantis shrimp will it be safe for my tank? will it each a clown fish or any coral or anything?

 

[nanocubeking]

the mantis would kill all fish and shrimp snails crabs and starfish. Every thing except corals and they're pretty rough with corals too. Ask chris about it.

 

[shibby]

mandarin and starfish in 6 months, and as with the mantis i suppose it depends on which one quite a few people keep pistol shrimp and imo there just as bad as sopme of the smaller mantis species.

 

[CT_Srt4]

what can i do to speed up my cycle in my tank besides adding a dead shrimp i dont want my bed room to stink lol. also how long does it take for the tank to look aged its just to polished right now with no signs of live or things growing its only been less then a week but im just courious

 

[SkiFletch]

There's always the option of doing things like the freshies do it. Add a little bit of pure ammonia to the tank. Couple drops, half a mL maybe and see what happens. Just don't add too much

 

[CT_Srt4]

can i just add fish flakes daily to the tank im not to comfortable with adding ammonia

 

[SkiFletch]

Don't see why not