Starting Out

[sarah_cropper]

Hi,

Ok, I have ALOT of questions!!!

I've been keeping tropical for years, and have decided to now also keep marine aswell.

My tank is 30x15x12 - I have added the correct amount of salt, bought some sand for the bottom of the tank and have put this in (about 1/2 inch - 1 inch high). The filter is working, and the heater is on the correct temperature.

How long do I need to wait before I can put any fish in?
I want a reef tank - when can I buy some live rock?
I've seen a blue and gold blennie that I really like - do they grow large?
Can anyone send me a link to a website that has pictures of marine fish and how big they grow?

Thankyou

 

[SkiFletch]

How long do I need to wait before I can put any fish in?

Liverock first, wait till cycle completes, then fish.

I want a reef tank - when can I buy some live rock?

Online, local shops, local reefers breaking down tanks. Where do you live?

I've seen a blue and gold blennie that I really like - do they grow large?

Blennies are usually suitable for a tank your size.

Can anyone send me a link to a website that has pictures of marine fish and how big they grow?

Drs Foster and Smith (aka liveaquaria.com) has a great listing of fish. Its not all-inclusive.

 

[sarah_cropper]

How long do I need to wait before I can put any fish in?

Liverock first, wait till cycle completes, then fish. A timescale would be helpful if you can please?

I want a reef tank - when can I buy some live rock?

Online, local shops, local reefers breaking down tanks. Where do you live? I live in Leicester - can I put some live rock in straight away?

I've seen a blue and gold blennie that I really like - do they grow large?

Blennies are usually suitable for a tank your size. Hooray!!

Can anyone send me a link to a website that has pictures of marine fish and how big they grow?

Drs Foster and Smith (aka liveaquaria.com) has a great listing of fish. Its not all-inclusive. Great website - just what I was looking for!!

 

[SkiFletch]

lol, when does not equal where huh?

Cant help with where since I'm on the other side of the "pond", but I can help with when. Its ok to put LR in a tank with proper specific gravity (1.022-1.027) and proper temp (75-83F or 23-28C). When placing LR in a tank and aquascaping it, make SURE that you place the rocks on the bottom glass. If you dont, they will "settle" in the sand bed over time and topple higher stacks. Putting them on the glass gives a stable foundation to prevent that.

Once your LR is in the tank there will most likely be an increase in ammonia and nitrite sometime within the first week. If you're like nextdoor to your LFS that won't be the case, but chances are most people experience some dieoff which starts a typical "cycle" as seen in freshwater. LR does have LOTS of bacteria allready present, so in most cases the cycle is short (1-2 weeks). When ammonia and nitrite are 0 for a day or two you'll see nitrates on the rise. Typically they get up to 20-30ppm which is OK to start. I like to allow the diatom algae bloom to occur naturally at this point. Diatoms are a brown very fuzzy looking algae that grows on most surfaces. As the diatoms grow, they naturally eat the nitrates and you should see them fall to 10-20ppm (or even less in some cases). This is usually about week 3 after adding LR. Now that you've got LR, 0 ammonia/nitrite, 10-20ppm nitrates, and diatoms, go ahead and add some cleanup crew to eat the diatoms and consider your first fish.

Blennies are a good choice for a "nano" tank which yours is. Remember as you setup now, pay attention to what you want to keep in the future and tailor lighting, powerheads, and filtration around that. Different organisms require different hardware to consider.

 

[Chac]

Hi Sarah

If your local LFS doesnt supply Live Rock

Give STM (Regarded as some of the best LR in the UK) or UDA a buzz, both are very reliable company's to deal with


Ski has covered your Cycle, after the Cycle is complete (ie Ammonia & NitrIte reads NIL) you can start to add a Clean Up crew, who will help you maintain you tank, Have a look at Turbo, Cerith, Astrea, Nassarius Snails as well as Hermit Crabs etc.

I personally dont buy an awful lot from the LFS in my area, simply becasue there wouldnt know the backend of any Marine Livestock/Equipement, I generally get most of my bits online, if you need any links etc, give me a shout

Del

PS - Remember to get Test Kits (if you havent already- Salifert Get my Vote)

 

[sarah_cropper]

Thankyou!

I'm going to my LFS tonight to get some LR in that case!!