Setting Up My First Ever Saltwater Tank...

[PRW1988]

If at all lol... I may just stick with what I have at the moment on my stock list of the fish/inverts to buy... May end up getting the Blenny when I start a larger tank

Now, about acclimatizing... I'm assuming it's not like freshwater, where you can just float the bag for a half hour then plop the fish in... I've read some where you need to float the bag, then cut it open, drain half the water in the bag, fill it back up to the same spot with your saltwater, float again for 20minutes, empty half, and fill again with the salt water from your tank, after that your good to plop the fish in... is this right? or is there an easier... quicker... way?

 

[callell]

The easiest way to acclimitize livestock is the drip method

Instead of me listing the ways & do's - have a look on Live Aquaria, I am sure there is a Step by Step guide there

Do not add any LFS water to your tank as the reading will differ, also I acclimitize all my livestock - Inverts, Corals, Fish etc in this method & some require longer acclimitization periods than others

Fish 2 - 3 Hours
Shrimps, Snails etc 2 - 3 Hours
Starfish (dependant on type0 4 - 5 Hours (Release the star Under water - you may end up with a small amount of LFS water in your tank when doing this but I always try to limited the amount of this, I also make sure my LFS bags the Star under water

 

[PRW1988]

Now, in regards to the live rock, is it best to get all 29lbs at once? or get little by little and work my way up? or does it even matter??

 

[Danno]

It is best to add it all at once so there is only one ammonia spike, but I had to add mine in intervals due to funds.

 

[PRW1988]

So adding it bit by bit will be alright then? I won't be having any fish in the tank regardless until I get all the live rocks, it's just that I'll be low on funds as 29lbs is going to cost me around $170...

 

[Danno]

Well, it is going to take awhile before you can add fish. I am a month and 2 days into my tank and I still don't have fish. I did keep a Damsel though for a little while to make sure that my water was ok in between my live rock additions.

 

[callell]

You can add you rock little by little - just remember you will get mini spikes in your ammonian/nitrite readings

I see no point 'Adding fish to make sure the water is OK' - this will make to i=mpact on the water whatsoever

 

[@ombomb]

You could always set up a small curing tank.

When I added to mine the tank was already stocked with fish / corals so I left it in a plastic tub with a heater and a powerhead for a few days. Luckily there was no real spike in ammonia as it was really well cured rock from the shop, but better safe than sorry!

 

[PRW1988]

Wouldn't it be better to add a Damsel for cycling the tank? I mean, I'm using a pre-used filter, so the tank should already be cycled... however regardless, even with mini-spikes I think the Damsel would be fine survival wise, especially since they're very hardy (from what I've been told) and considering my Angelfish survived like 6 ammonia spikes and they're supposed to be sensitive, I think a damsel that's hardy should be good... am I right, or am I an idiot lol

 

[@ombomb]

Damsel would be fine survival wise, especially since they're very hardy (from what I've been told)

True, but then I'm pretty hard, but wouldn't want to be gassed repeatedly when it could be avoided.

 

[PRW1988]

that is true... well I decided (since low on funds) I'm only going to get about 15lbs tonight, and the rest next friday as I get paid then I may or may not still get the Damsel... haven't decided... I'll see what the guy at the LFS tells me... Thanks for all the help guy and remember keep checking my nanon journal for updates