Newbie To Sw

[rocknurworld2006]

when starting up a saltwater aquarium can i cycle the same you would addiional fw aquariums?

meaning using media from a cycled tank?

and how do i go about doing this and a t what point ie after made salt water etc.

 

[Colin_T]

yes you can cycle a saltwater, brackish or freshwater tank in the same way. You can use ammonia and do a fishless cycle or you can simply transfer some filter media from an established tank to the new tank.
If you are using artifical marine salts then make the water up 24 hours before you use it and make sure the salinity and temperature are the same in both tanks.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

yes you can cycle a saltwater, brackish or freshwater tank in the same way. You can use ammonia and do a fishless cycle or you can simply transfer some filter media from an established tank to the new tank.
If you are using artifical marine salts then make the water up 24 hours before you use it and make sure the salinity and temperature are the same in both tanks.

So if i make up the saltwater in the tank then add heater etc and put cycled media in it from tropical tank will this work?
what is a good filter to use with sw?
its only gonna be about 16gallon.

how long then should it take until fish can be added and is the best substrate aroginite sand??

and last question what fish is good for beginners??

thanks for your help

 

[Colin_T]

You can set the tank up with salt water, get the temperature correct and leave the tank to run for 24 hours. Then add some filter media from another marine tank. Then you can add a couple of small hardy fish like clownfish or damsels. You can even use mollies from a freshwater tank. Keep the feeding down to a bare minimum for the next few weeks and monitor the water quality.

Any sort of power filter is fine for marine. Try to get one that can do the tank volume at least 5 times per hour, preferably 10 times or more.

You can use shell, aragonite, coral rubble or beach sand for the bottom of the tank. the choice is yours. You don't need too much substrate, an inch is usually fine. Aragonite is expensive so I prefer shell or beach sand.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

You can set the tank up with salt water, get the temperature correct and leave the tank to run for 24 hours. Then add some filter media from another marine tank. Then you can add a couple of small hardy fish like clownfish or damsels. You can even use mollies from a freshwater tank. Keep the feeding down to a bare minimum for the next few weeks and monitor the water quality.

Any sort of power filter is fine for marine. Try to get one that can do the tank volume at least 5 times per hour, preferably 10 times or more.

You can use shell, aragonite, coral rubble or beach sand for the bottom of the tank. the choice is yours. You don't need too much substrate, an inch is usually fine. Aragonite is expensive so I prefer shell or beach sand.

ok thanks

how many fish can i put into 16gallon out of the ones u said?

does filter media have to be from another salt water tank or can it be tropical??
do you need certain substrate for live rock ?

and how long should i leave tank before adding this??

thanks again

 

[Colin_T]

2 or 3 small fish in a 16g tank.

filter media must come from another saltwater/marine tank.

live rock can sit on sand, shell, gravel, even bare glass bottom tanks. It doesn't matter what you use.

if you are using artificial marine salts you must allow it to mix for 24 hours before adding the old filter media, rock & fish.
if you are using natural seawater from the beach then you can add rock, filter media and fish on the same day.

 

[Musho3210]

i wouldnt add any fish within the first week, even if you are using super cured live rock

 

[emmsy]

get a couple of prawns from tesco. put them in the tank, and leave it a week. This will help with the saltwater cycle.

Emma

 

[Colin_T]

if they are using established filter material from another marine tank they can add fish straight away as long as they keep the feeding down and monitor water quality. The bacteria will quickly multiply and keep the ammonia levels down.

 

[emmsy]

I agree with that

Emma

 

[andywg]

i wouldnt add any fish within the first week, even if you are using super cured live rock

If you put in live rock or media that has all the requisite media to process nitrogenous waste but do not put any fish in (that is, a food source) then the bacteria will start dying off.

I have set up at least 3 tanks where I have put fish in within 2 hours of the tank starting to be filled and suffered no losses for it.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

so basically if i set up tank leave 24hours to settle then add live rock wait another 24 hours then i can add fish???

and are Banggai Cardinal Fish ok for this size of tank or not??

 

[Lynden]

I have set up at least 3 tanks where I have put fish in within 2 hours of the tank starting to be filled and suffered no losses for it.

And I have set up two. Waiting more than a few days after a tank is cycled to add fish will result in bacterial die-off, as mentioned above.

 

[Colin_T]

so basically if i set up tank leave 24hours to settle then add live rock wait another 24 hours then i can add fish???
and are Banggai Cardinal Fish ok for this size of tank or not??

you can add fish on the same day as the live rock.
A pair of Bangaii cardinals will be ok in your tank as long as they are a pair. If you get 2 males they might fight.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

thanks alot folks.

how much live rock you think ill need for 16gallon??