Started A New Tank...

[LineDropper]

Went to PetSmart tonight... purchased a 30g w/ wrought iron stand. I'm not sure how something that takes 2 minutes to put together can hold up a 30g tank but it seems pretty sturdy now that I have water in the tank.

I added 45lbs of Florida crushed coral (w/ aragonite).

Used Instant Ocean Instant Sea Salt mix and Prime dechlorinator for the water. Just kept doing 4 gallons at a time until it was done.

Finally, I'm using a Penguin 350 dual bio-wheel for filtration.

The plan is to initially do a FO tank until I can learn more about live rock.

Hope the above is a good setup -- please let me know if anything seems weird to you. If the tanks doesn't leak tonight and noone tells me I did something horrible wrong, I'll start a fishless cycle tomorrow night.

 

[ponkbunny]

be careful with the metal stand cause salt water may cause it to rust

 

[AK77]

Should be fine for a FO tank. Just don't plan on adding anything other than fish. If at a later stage you decide to go FOWLR or Reef, I'd suggest you ditch the entire contents of the tank, as you have used tap water which contains over 700 different chemicals, some of which are toxic to corals and invertebrates.

Chlorine and Fluoride being the two most obvious but also nitrates and other heavy metals.

 

[LineDropper]

Should be fine for a FO tank. Just don't plan on adding anything other than fish. If at a later stage you decide to go FOWLR or Reef, I'd suggest you ditch the entire contents of the tank, as you have used tap water which contains over 700 different chemicals, some of which are toxic to corals and invertebrates.

Chlorine and Fluoride being the two most obvious but also nitrates and other heavy metals.

Thanks guys.

AK77 - I'll stick FO for awhile. If I do go FOWLR or Reef, do I have to buy that pre-mixed salt water I see at my LFSs?

Do you think I should ditch the metal stand now??? Would be a lot easier to change the stand now before I start cycling and introducing fish.

Also -- PetSmart has the Seaclone Protein Skimmer for $80 -- is that really beneficial for a 30g tank?

 

[n3ont3tra]

You could buy your own salt and an RO unit and mix it yourself, which is cheaper in the long run.
I would get rid of the metal stand now.
And from what I've heard, Seaclone skimmers suck.

 

[LineDropper]

You could buy your own salt and an RO unit and mix it yourself, which is cheaper in the long run.
I would get rid of the metal stand now.
And from what I've heard, Seaclone skimmers suck.

Yea, I just took the metal stand back. I picked up a Top Fin stand rated for 20 and 29 gallon tanks... I set it up but it just doesn't seem strong enough and like it could topple over. Aquarium furniture is stressing me out. I should just build my own.

I've read some Seaclone Protein Skimmer 100 reviews and they are mixed. I'm considering it because my tank is only 29 gallons...

 

[Musho3210]

for that price, no, i wouldnt get it..... I would just completely skip the skimmer unless you are going to get serious with it and get a good one like tunze or deltec etc.

 

[LineDropper]

for that price, no, i wouldnt get it..... I would just completely skip the skimmer unless you are going to get serious with it and get a good one like tunze or deltec etc.

What RO units do you recommend?

 

[AK77]

RO-man make good units. I have an aquasafe and have had no problems with it. Its not so much the units themselves, rather the filters that go in them that should be of good quality.

 

[Musho3210]

by md i would assume maryland right?

the filter guys, melevs reef, typhoon III, i would recommend these, google these three things.

 

[LineDropper]

by md i would assume maryland right?

the filter guys, melevs reef, typhoon III, i would recommend these, google these three things.

Ok, prices actually seem reasonable. Thanks for the info. I was going to start cycling my tank tonight. May sounds like a dum question -- but I'm assuming its ok to start with my standard tap water and then start introducing the RO water with water changes?

And from what I've seen, the RO is actually more important than a protein skimmer - would you agree? Wife is going to flip if I go get both! haha.

 

[Musho3210]

hmm, for small tanks, an RO unit is a better investment, for big tanks, its best to have both lol.

 

[LineDropper]

by md i would assume maryland right?

the filter guys, melevs reef, typhoon III, i would recommend these, google these three things.

Ok, prices actually seem reasonable. Thanks for the info. I was going to start cycling my tank tonight. May sounds like a dum question -- but I'm assuming its ok to start with my standard tap water and then start introducing the RO water with water changes?

And from what I've seen, the RO is actually more important than a protein skimmer - would you agree? Wife is going to flip if I go get both! haha.

It is going to take me a long time to understand this hobby. You guys who have been responding seem to really know what you are talking about. Based on your advide, I almost ordered a RO product this morning. I still may order one but before I did -- I went to visit my LFS to get their opinion. They recommended that I do not use RO water NOR a protein skimmer because both items take good stuff out of the water (as well as bad stuff). They said I should only step up to that level if I plan on doing a coral tank. If I stick to FO or FOWLR, I'm better off not doing it.... do you guys have any comments on that approach? I know everyone has their own opinion based on past experiences and all. At this point, I'm to the point where money really isn't a big factor. I just want to have the best environment possible.

 

[Musho3210]

RO water is best in all aspects, FO, FOWLR, and Reef, it takes out both good and bad, but nearly all saltmixes contain all the needed good stuff at a good amount, and the salt mix does not contain bad stuff. So no matter what RO water would be better.

Now if you only want an FO or FOWLR tank, you dont have to get RO water, but be prepared for algae out breaks, and one day, you will be tempted for a coral.... So you are going to make a switch one day.... IMO it is always best to use RO water from the start.

And what if your tap water contains high amounts of copper or other deadly things to invertebrate, then you cant keep a CUC which means even more algae, you cant keep decorative shrimp which, well, i wouldnt like, and other invertebrate in your tank may be effected.

 

[pengy666]

I use RO water to feed the wife's orchid!

Its gone wild and flowerd loads!!

So I reckon its good stuff!!