Need help setting up my tank

[titorotary]

Hi all

Im new here and in the saltwater world. ok i got a 55 gallon tank wich im trying to set up. i got a 170gph pump, a double filter,heater,and a odyssea double bulb.

i already put 2 boxes of 25gallons instant ocean sea salt. i bought 2 5pound live rock. and few artificial plants. thats all i got. i need help on what to do next and how to read the ph,nitrate and ammonia. how to bring up and down my readings.

right now my hydrometer is reading 1.028 and 1.030

 

[Brian5000]

Hello and Welcome,

First off, your specific gravity is a little bit high. It should read about 1.025-ish. To fix that, you can take out a couple gallons of tank water and replace it with fresh water. Repeat until you get the right reading.

If you aren't already, I recomment RO filtered water. You can get that either from your own filter or from the grocery store (I use the culligan machine at Meijer at $0.25/gallon). That really helps control aglea.

Since live rock is your primary filtering device for ammonia n' such, people live to have a lot of it (about 1 pound per gallon). Feel free to add another 20-25 pounds.

Do you have a protein skimmer? Those are highly recommended.

What kind of sand do you have (if any)?

Test kits for pH, ammonia, etc. can be bought at any fish store. With your live rock, pH should be fine on it's own (the live rock is a natural buffer). Nitrate and ammonia may rise when you first add live rock and then fall to zero. Depending on the condition or your rock, this could take a few days or several weeks. Don't add animals until ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are undetectable.

To control levels or ammonia and other problematic nutrients (i.e. phosphate). Do regular water changes. Take out 5 gallons or so or tank water, and replace it with fresh mixed salt water of equivalent specific gravity. At least at first, you may want to get in the habit of doing this every week.

Hope this helps.
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Cancer - Lung Forum

 

[titorotary]

thank you. how long do i have to wait to put some fishes in the water?

 

[Brian5000]

When ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests all read zero, you can add fish. Even if you bought cured live rock from the store and you never get an ammonia spike, wait a couple weeks just to be sure.
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Mercedes Benz 450

 

[shavo]

don't rush it, let things settle in buy some test kits and test things out.

if you want buy a damsel for now to help cycle everything but your gonna want to get rid of him, for he is evil

 

[rbursek]

get some Chromies they are not evil and nicer then a Damsel, help get a tank settled in and will enjoy them later on
Bob

 

[rbursek]

get some Chromies they are not evil and nicer then a Damsel, help get a tank settled in and will enjoy them later on
Bob

 

[rbursek]

return the filter, Nitrate factory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just skim and LR.
Bob