Well – I’m taking the plunge to Saltwater. I have the basics started – I have my filter (It’s a penguin 330) a heater…getting a power head tomorrow, and already have crushed coral at around 4 inches on the bottom.
The tank is a 55 Gallon tank, the water is already made and set – So now… what? I have been reading up on these Protein skimmers… I just can’t determine if I need one or not.
Basically what I am going for is Fish and LR – starting slow and building up over time. And I mean slow, I assume the first fish I will get would be damsel, seem easy to care for and I think they look nice. I don’t plan on buying 45lb of LR right off either – again, slow and steady; I have been told by the lfs that this is a good approach.
The water was pre-mixed (Honestly, I don’t have a RO at home, and RO was 49 cents while the salt which was pre-calibrated was 75 cents. We’ll see how it goes, I’ll measure the water tomorrow with my meter.)
More or less – with the power head being purchased tomorrow, and…however long it should take before I put the LR in, or fish (Which I’m not sure on)…What else do I need? Trying to avoid a sump simply due to…complete lack of room for one, if a skimmer is absolutely needed for small fish, I’ll get one. But those 2-3 things I have yet to get a clear answer on even after browsing these forums.
Also plan on buying a *full* testing kit tomorrw. Also this tank has been running water (Clearing the cloud of crushed coral) for about 5 hours and .. amazingly is almost completely clear - looks amazing. I have been dealing with basic fish and africans for a while now, This tank already looks gorgeous with just the Coral (sand) and water with the lighting I have.
Any help !?!?
-Zuk
P.S. I'm tired - Ignore any horrible grammar/spelling. And thanks for any help.
Something I forgot to mention..
The crushed coral I purchased for the tank claimed to have the bacteria in it... either way - after reading on life sand (Or live sand?), and not having that avilable where I am, will what I have work? Bacteria or not it looks very nice.
-Zuk
The tank is a 55 Gallon tank, the water is already made and set – So now… what? I have been reading up on these Protein skimmers… I just can’t determine if I need one or not.
Basically what I am going for is Fish and LR – starting slow and building up over time. And I mean slow, I assume the first fish I will get would be damsel, seem easy to care for and I think they look nice. I don’t plan on buying 45lb of LR right off either – again, slow and steady; I have been told by the lfs that this is a good approach.
The water was pre-mixed (Honestly, I don’t have a RO at home, and RO was 49 cents while the salt which was pre-calibrated was 75 cents. We’ll see how it goes, I’ll measure the water tomorrow with my meter.)
More or less – with the power head being purchased tomorrow, and…however long it should take before I put the LR in, or fish (Which I’m not sure on)…What else do I need? Trying to avoid a sump simply due to…complete lack of room for one, if a skimmer is absolutely needed for small fish, I’ll get one. But those 2-3 things I have yet to get a clear answer on even after browsing these forums.
Also plan on buying a *full* testing kit tomorrw. Also this tank has been running water (Clearing the cloud of crushed coral) for about 5 hours and .. amazingly is almost completely clear - looks amazing. I have been dealing with basic fish and africans for a while now, This tank already looks gorgeous with just the Coral (sand) and water with the lighting I have.
Any help !?!?
-Zuk
P.S. I'm tired - Ignore any horrible grammar/spelling. And thanks for any help.
Something I forgot to mention..
The crushed coral I purchased for the tank claimed to have the bacteria in it... either way - after reading on life sand (Or live sand?), and not having that avilable where I am, will what I have work? Bacteria or not it looks very nice.
-Zuk