Starting a SWA Difficult

[cashedin]

I am planning on putting together a reef system. I currently have a 46G tank, two powerheads, a filter with a skimmer and UV sterilizer attached, ARAG-ALIVE sand, instant ocean, a LFS reccommended lighting, and I plan on buying 30lbs of live rock soon. There are so many opinions (which is not surprising) that I'm now so frustrated not knowing what EXACTLY to do from here, that I am thinking about just sticking with my freshwater tanks. I am to the point that I am just going to plug it all in, let it cycle, and hope that I have everything to make it work. I welcome anyones exerience to guide me through the process a little better than the 300 articles that I have read thus far. Thanks.

 

[RamJet]

Dont fret too much, you seem to be on the right track. Most of us here started out the same way you have and are running well established tanks at this time. Tell you what, how about you start a SWA journal here and let us know what you plan on doing before you do it and we will help out with feedback. Lets start off playing it safe and go with what we know works. Go ahead and get the tank up and running using RO water and marine grade salt. Around 2 1/2 cups per five gallons water to get the right mix. (This can very depending on the brand of salt.) You will want your temp between 72 and 74 F. Throw in a dead shrimp from the fridge to begin the cycle and test your water in three days and let us know whats going on.
Doesnt sound to difficult so far does it? You will do fine, we will take it step by step.

 

[cashedin]

Thanks for the straight forward instructions! I'll use RO water with the instant ocean that I already have. Now should I keep the live sand and cured rock out of the tank for now?

 

[RamJet]

Put it in, you want it to start acting like a filter. The bacteria will begin to grow on it and you will be on your way to having a marine tank.

 

[Navarre]

Hi and welcome for the marine forum.

You have come along way and it would be a shame for you to back off and turn to freshwater when deep down inside you have your heart set on salt. This is what i would do and always have done in the past.

FIll the tank 2/3 with RO water and add the salt to the correct SG levels (1.022 - 1.026) allow the tank temperature to reach optimum lvels and check SG again. Fine tune it by adding removing water to reach the correct SG level you are comfortable with.

Now add the livesand, this will create a dust storm but if you use a small spnge filter it will clear overnight usually.
Purchase the liverock once the tank has setttled (usually 24 hours). Make sure its Cured liverock and then place it in the tank as son as its possible from purchase. For a 46 gallon tank you will need 46lbs (or roughly 23kgs) of liverock. An initial purchase of 30lbs will be ok but remember the bioload will not be able to sustain much with so little liverock.
If you follow this procedure then there is no need to cycle the tank as it will already be cycled already with the sand and liverock. Fish (only 1 or 2 early on) can be added right away along with cleanup crew. Remember that the clean up crew are essential for a marine tank and their numbers in a reef should not be overloke.d Whilst you wont need a full compliment early on, you will eventually need a ratio of 1 cleanup crew per 1 gallon of tank (roughly) so get as many red leg hermits as possible and some astrea/.turbo snails.. also cerith snails are a good sand cleaning choice.

Make sure you get the good starter set of test kits... PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. Check water perameters daily for about a week and if the water remains stable then add more livestock. Remember though that you will want more liverock thanyou had previousl posted.

I hope this helps.

 

[cashedin]

Well, getting a little ahead of myself here, but I was planning on buying a volitan lionfish at a minimum. I was told that they would eat a lot of inverts, so in saying that, what would be good to buy as far as a clean up crew goes? Will there be any problem buying starfish, hermit crabs, or shelled snails while having a lionfish? While I'm at it, I have noticed that there is not much oxygen being pumped into the SWA's at my LFS, so how should I set up the air pump in the tank, just with air stones or attached to the powerheads as in a freshwater tank, or should it be different? I really appreciate all your help, I feel much better about setting up my tank now!!!

 

[RamJet]

You wont need an air pump on a marine tank.

 

[Navarre]

Dont use an airpump. you need circulation far more importantly than airstones. if you can have a strong turnover then the water at the surface will have a good oxygen exchange and this should suffice.

lionfish are usually ok with snails etc.. but crabs and shrimps might be in danger.

Also be awre that a lionfish does create a fare amount of bioload and with a reduced effective cleanup crew you might find you will ned to comprimise o stocking the tank to its full potential. Perhaps a dwarf lion would be a better option but they will also prey on the same cretures so be careful.

 

[Salt Freak]

I agree a dwarf lion would be a much better choice and they have more interesting colors and fins than the voilitans do just my opinion here is a pic of one.

 

[cashedin]

I'll definitely take the lionfish advise into consideration. I have been debating about that for the last week. On to current things, I have just finished adding 2/3 of RO water and salt, I am going to wait until the morning and check the temperature. Assuming that it is good (at 72-74 degrees Farenheight, right?), then I will add the live sand. I'll continue with this post in the morning. Again thanks for all the help. B)

 

[cashedin]

Checked the SG this morning, just a little off, but I'm pretty sure that the temperature affects it, and the temperature was only at 70 degrees F. I think I hit the knob on the thermostat while I was mixing the excess salt last night. I guess I'll have to wait until this afternoon to add the sand. While I'm here though, what are all the supplements that I will need (i.e. calcium) for the reef tank? I want to go out and purchase everything that I will need so I don't have to rush out to get it later.

 

[cashedin]

Bought and put the live cured rock in today, my readings were 76 degrees, 8.2pH, and 11dH. The SG was at 1.024 which is at the top of the recommended amount according to the hydrometer that I have. Is the SG ok, or should I try and lower it a little? The hydrometer that I have says that the SG should be between 1.020 and 1.024... Also bought the supplements that the store owner recommended hopefully they are actually what I need.