New to SW

[therich84]

Hi guys I've been keeping FW tanks for the last 11 years and I finally decided to take the leap and change my 72 bowfront from a FW to a SW reef. So far I have 60 pounds of live sand and 70 pounds of live rock that my lfs says is partially cured; which I didn't think was possible. Im going to get a total of 115lbs. My sg is at 1.023 and I have 4 hydor koralia's(2 #2's and 2 #3's). I also have a eheim 2217 with just the sponges to which I will be adding live rock rubble too tommorow. I have t5 lighting which I was told is good for any type of coral. (216 watts)

I also just got a MTC protein skimmer but its only taking white foam out no garbage.

I have tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, alkalinity, calcium and phospate.

Also when should i get a cleaner crew? Is that the first live animal that I should put in the tank once it's cycled.

Anything else i should get? Any advice would be appreciated


Thanks in advance,

Rich

 

[therich84]

Also i go to Fishtown USA, so far i think they know what there doing there. Does anyone know if they're a good place to go.

 

[NYreefNoob]

no comment on fishtown never been there but alot of members here will never step foot in there, how long has the rock been in your tank how long has it been up and running, is it drilled for a overflow ? the ehiem fillter will not be a good choice for long. you got a 6 bulb t5 setup ? alot of the rest of the questions can be asked after you answer a few of these. what test kit do you have ?

 

[therich84]

no it isnt drilled it was my fw tank that i converted. the rock has been there since tues and my ammonia 0.8 so my cycle has started. i have an oceanmaster test kit. my lighting is t5 with 4 bulbs at 54 watts each

 

[Killerdrgn]

Fishtown is not so great, often see dead fish floating around and no one cares. Also supposedly they're racist, do a search for fishtown reviews on this board.

 

[NYreefNoob]

i would suggest getting a over flow box or while you still have nothing in the tank getting it drilled and get a sump, where are you putting the skimmer ? and really you need to wait a full month before putting anything in the tank corals fish ect, reguardless of what the fish store might tell you, it needs to fully cycle first and i would invest in the salifert test kits

 

[therich84]

yea they told me to wait at least 4 weeks. the skimmer is on the right side of the tank.

after reading all the threads about fishtown i will no go there anymore. too bad i just spent over 1000 there. is there anywhere else close to whitestone that i can go..thanks

 

[NYreefNoob]

you can buy alost all of the stuff you need off of this site, we have vendors on here. and members always selling stuff. at better prices with honest answer's, that would be my suggestion to do

 

[lazibonez]

It's important that your FW tank was never dosed with medicine, especially copper base med. because the med would have soaked in your tank's silicone and will eventually seeps back out to the water which would be very bad for corals and invertibrates, if that's what you are planning to keep, otherwise it's fine for saltwater fish only.

 

[Sean]

Welcome

having your tank drilled is a great idea. Overflow boxes are good but drilling is great. It may seem like a big pain to tear down the tank but in the long run it's going to make your life a little easier and and make your tank look less cluttered.

the ehiem is a great filter but if you don't keep it clean you could run into some real problems. Clean it every 2 to 4 weeks and use it as a mechanical filter mainly (add a little carbon of phosphate remover if you like). It not like FW where you can just forget about it. That being said is why most SW tanks don't have canister filters on them.

have fun ask questions

 

[bueller]

Also i go to Fishtown USA, so far i think they know what there doing there

on how to tell you to buy **** you don't need when they know your a nubie...FU&K The!!! just buy from the vendors on this site ...all good people. Got very soured my fishtown, anyway that's another story. just cycle your tank for a few weeks test the water...get it to 0 and take it from there.

Bueller

 

[h20 freak]

It's important that your FW tank was never dosed with medicine, especially copper base med. because the med would have soaked in your tank's silicone and will eventually seeps back out to the water which would be very bad for corals and invertibrates, if that's what you are planning to keep, otherwise it's fine for saltwater fish only.

thats a BIGGIE,you will probably want to add inverts sooner or later(the cleanup crew for instance)if it's been treated with copper you might as well get a new one,all the stuff that was in it too=(

 

[therich84]

the only things ive ever used on this tank was melafix which says its natural, hex out(only 1 tablet) and stress coat

 

[jhale]

Rich, welcome to manhattan reefs.

Like the guys said before you go any further make sure you never dosed the tank with copper. I know you spent money already, but would it make you feel better if told you, you will be saving money in the future if you start fresh, that is if the tank did have copper in it. It gets into the seams and leaches out over time. fun hobby right?

 

[Vir]

buy from vendors rite here the got the best prices fish coral drygoods etc :goldfish2

 

[georgelc86]

Welcome to the disease... I mean hobby. Best of luck and remember we are all here to help you out. All you gotta do is ask. And remember the key to the whole thing is research and patience.

G

 

[therich84]

thanks for all of the responses...i know melafix doesnt have copper in it, but does anyone know if hex-out does... those are the only meds i ever used.

 

[therich84]

heres some pix from tuesday...ive added 15 lbs of LR, 2 Hydor #3's and the MTC skimmer

 

[danny]

newbie

welcome Rich

good people & vendors on this board,as people have said best advice is drill the tank & add a sump.

 

[KathyC]

thanks for all of the responses...i know melafix doesnt have copper in it, but does anyone know if hex-out does... those are the only meds i ever used.

Welcome to MR, just by being here you're off to a good start!!

Hex Out has no copper in it