Hi!I'm new here!

[Anonymous]

Hi! I'm Anne, and I've just started a new Marine tank, my first. I have a 20gal tank, with 20 lbs of live sand, 11lbs of Pompei LR, and no inhabitants yet. The tank water has been sitting for three weeks and the LR was introduced on Monday.
I'm wondering, does things just start to grow on the rock? My Gal at my LFS has me adding half cap of Calcium every other day, and has advised me to wait one month for addition of my inverts.
I'm not involving ANY fish, just creepy crawlies!

Anne in Ohio

 

[Anonymous]

Hello!

About the rock, well, it can depend on where it came from and how it was handled how much life you see, but you should eventually see something.

Now, have you been testing your calcium before you add more? I would advise you to start. I would expect you don't need to add any at this point and you might be doing more harm than good by adding too much.

I was good advice to hold off on adding inverts for a while, so many people add creatures too fast right after setting up a tank before the tank chemistry has stabilized.

 

[Anonymous]

I have been saving for a *Master test kit*, but I don't know if I'm gonna make it!! My LFS tests for free, and I pass it every day, so I'll have to drop off a new cup!!

Thanks for the quick response!!

 

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of good information in the library:
http://www.reefs.org/library/newbieguide.htm
and
:welcome:

 

[Len]

Hi Anne. The key to this hobby is patience. The longer you wait, the safer you are (in general).

Things will start growing out of the live rock in a few weeks or months. It's really cool when you first start seeing weird critters sprout out of seeming lifelessness.

A good additive for beginners (and advanced aquarists alike) is C-balance or B-ionic. They are two-part additives and provide you the ratio of elements as natural seawater. Just follow their simple dosing directions. It's the most complete additive you can use. Never over dose without testing.

 

[WRASSER]

Hi Anne, and welcome :wink: 8)

 

[Newbler]

I have been saving for a *Master test kit*, but I don't know if I'm gonna make it!! My LFS tests for free, and I pass it every day, so I'll have to drop off a new cup!!

Thanks for the quick response!!

Anne, more often than not the LFS is going to do free water testing to "help" you get things in order by selling you more things. I should know I work in one. There is no need for calcium this early in the game. Save the money you would have spent on the additive and spend it on a decent test kit. I’m not saying fish stores are bad like so many others will I’m just saying they are there to make money. They want you to bring the water in so they can say your Ammonia is high, then sell you something to bring it down when what you want is for it to go up. Ask the store what is involved in “cycling” a tank and ask them to explain the nitrogen cycle to you. If they can’t, then come back here and someone will be willing to do it.

Len is dead on. I don’t like to add anything if I don’t test for it. Good luck!

 

[mattstewart]

you might want to check out www.bigalsonline.com or one of the other sponsors on this site for your test kits. you can usually get stuff cheaper online than in the lfs, especially for hard goods.