4 day old new member

[ldallen95219]

Hi everyone: I have just now registered to Reef Central so am taking the time to introduce myself.

I am a 60 year (young) woman living in northern California - near San Francisco. I purchased a 55 gallon tank with stand on Craigslist. I have always wanted a salt water tank for many years but heard how difficult they were so went with fresh water. I set the tank up got it running - added my cycle fish then after a month before adding any more fish decided to go salt water. Gave my 9 freshwater fish (platies) to a friend, emptied the water, took out the gravel and replaced with crushed coral, put in artificial plants, lava rock, filled the tank with water, and added the salt. The tank has been running since March 12. Having problems with getting the pH stabalized so I can add fish. Spoke to someone about it (aquarium specialist) and he said take out the lava rock and add live rock (added 20 lbs) which was yesterday and still pH low. So, therefore, I will probably be on this website a lot asking all kinds of questions. By the way, I am doing a fish only tank. Hope everyone doesn't get tired of my "new beginner" questions. Hope to chat with you all soon and a lot.

Linda

[shuguley]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

Boy do you have a lot of reading to do. Check out the threads at the top of the "new to hobby" forum that are marked with an *.
Read through those then come back and ask questions on what you don't understand.

Your PH is unstable because your tank is cycling, which takes 4-6 weeks. You will also need more live rock. I have about 85 lbs live rock in my 55 gallon tank. The rule of thumb on live rock is 1 to 2 lbs per gallon.

[FutureBoyGenius]

Before you get neck deep in with your 55gal tank. I bought a 55gal and stand off craigslist for my first tank and before it was finished cycling I found a 90gal display. I am so glad I switched to the 90gal.

The moral to this story is that 55gal tanks are really narrow and I would have gotten very frustrated trying to build a reef within one.

Just be sure to think through what you are wanting before getting it all setup. Since you are doing a FOWLR(fish only with live rock) it may not be as much of an issue. But the1' bottom width is taken up quickly with rock.

It is much cheaper and easier to think through every step thoroughly before making decisions.

Welcome to RC! Saltwater is a great hobby, but don't take any steps to quickly.

[192clark]

You may also want to remove crush coral, as it can and will trap a lot of organics causing nitrates to be a problem which in turn can cause algae issues.

WELCOME!

[sasharotty]

+1 on removing the CC.

[lordjnx]

i lived with my 55 for many years before upgrading...

it can be done but dont expect too much for aquascaping it.

by the time you get enough rock to go higher youve hit the front wall..

my suggestion for a 55 is VERY selective rock picking...

also i noticed the tank was fresh prior ... ever used copper medication in it?.... copper is bad in SW.. but apparently common in fresh...

just food for thought....someone else with more tech will have to explain how old used tank with copper use can leach into your new SW tank.even after a good scrubbing....




but imho i would go for a deeper Tank NOW ...

+1 to futureboy....think hard and long , then act...

[Zestay]

if the person you got it from doesnt know if they dosed copper or not, dont use the tank, the tank and stand will be the CHEAPEST part of your investment even purchased new.

i would look at a 40 breeder or a 75 or 90 gallon tank


the 40 breeder tank is a great starter tank ( a little on the small side ) but the light fixtures are cheaper 36 inch vs a 48 inch

also know how expensive this hobby is , expect around a thosand dollars in equipment , rocks and sand before you start adding fish

im not trying to discourage you, just give you a heads up, research everything before you buy it, ask here about each piece of equipment your considering, we arnet out to make a sale were here to help


your PH will never be stablized.. as it will change every day .. test it in the morning and it will be alot lower than in the evening. so always test at the same time of day.

what other tests are you running?
give us an equipment list, from top to bottom.
what filters, pumps, heaters, lights, everything
brands makes and models -=)

what kind of salt are you using? where did you get your water? the sink? all these things can play a big role in your tanks health.

[Hop]

[welcome]

Hi Linda! There really is bit to learn, but it's fun and the learning curve to basic husbandry and understanding is pretty quick. As mentioned, check out a couple stickys at the top of this forum and sit back and enjoy;)

Really setting up a fish only tank with live rock is pretty simple and can actually be a little less maintenance IMO over some fresh water set ups.

[ldallen95219]

First of all, I cannot go any higher than a 55 gal tank as the spot I have it in now fits perfectly. Since I am doing a fish only tank I think a 55 gal will be sufficient. However, I do intend on getting more live rock tomorrow - maybe another 20 lbs. which will give me a total of 40 lbs. I buy smaller pieces so that I can do stacking. I have crushed coral as substrate and I am sure it will be ok with a FO (fish only) tank. I have two outside Aquaclear 200 filters (w/carbon), one Rena 200 watt heater; my light source is a single 40 watt bulb; have a digital therm but should get another one (different type); I used Oceanic salt obtained from a saltwater fish store.

I had the tank up and running for over a month as a freshwater tank using 9 platies for cycling. I am pretty sure no copper has been used in it. If I put in cheaper saltwater fish to start - such as clown fish wouldn't I know off hand if the tank is contaminated? I think since I had it already running for a month as freshwater and the fish did great it would be okay. I did use tap water to fill the tank but put in a conditioner as directed on the bottle then added the salt. Shouldn't that be okay as long as I am letting it take its course before adding my cycling fish?

I have tested it daily and so far everything looks good except my pH - still low. I will test it again tomorrow and take a sample to the aquarist where I buy my live rocks from and talk to him. He will test my water and give me suggestions. I was concerned about the crushed coral substrate as I have read on this forum many times that live sand was best. But then again someone said as long as I am going FISH only crushed coral was okay. I do have some artificial plants in there which I may take out - not sure. I do not want to get too overwhelmed with live rock as you have all said not enough room.

[waxy]

Welcome :D

[Hop]

Linda, don't worry about the pH. Right now add the next 20 lbs of live rock and test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The same cycle as a FW tank. Once nitrite is gone and you have elevated nitrate you can slowly start adding some critters. If your getting cured rock from the LFS, you may not see a cycle, but give it a month anyways;)

[Zestay]

crushed coral is a pain. it might seem ok now. but 8 months from now when its completly covered in fish poop might make yah change your mind.
, also you say your PH is low.. what reading are you getting?

using a clown fish for a canary is a bad idea. clown fish are tough fish!

just because yah had fresh water fish in there doesnt mean that there was no copper. copper is toxic to inverts. ( snails crabs corals ) much more so than fish

[sondaar]

Welcome to RC!

[ldallen95219]

Hi all and thanks for all your input. I have added another 20 lbs of live rock to tank which now gives me a little over 40+ lbs. When I spoke to my guy at the LFS about the cc he said there are pros and cons. Since I am going with FO he said leaving the cc in there would be okay and easier to clean all the waste the fish will leave as for sand he said I would not be able to vacuum it. Since I am use to vacuuming (since I had a freshwater tank) it will be ok. He tested my water and said my pH was perfect. He gave me a small hermit crab to take home to put in my tank as I was concerned about the copper and said if the crab dies then I have a problem. As of today he is still alive. He did not test for my ammonia, nitrate or nitrite as he said I wouldn't have any since I do not have any fish in there yet to start the cycle. He said I could add fish any time now since my pH is great and my salinity is good. He sells his Clown fish for only $11 which, to me, isn't that expensive. He also sells the light blue Damsels for 3 for $10 which I might add. Since these are fairly cheap fish I thought they would be good starter fish. Any thoughts on that.

[rcrspeedracer03]

i am some what new to this but i started a fish only tank about 3 years ago with crushed coral and it went south with red slime algea in only 8 months then i went to a deep sand bed and havent had any problems there is alot more room for your bacteria in sand beds and a lot less maint.ans for you not having any ammonia,nitrites,or,nitrate when you put your first 20lbs of live rock in you started your cycleing

[ishot811]

Linda, I too am just going from fresh to salt. The cycling is different than with fresh as you don't use fish. It's a process of the water cycling through the LR and the parameters leveling out after a period of time. The LR in saltwater is actually what replaces the freshwater fish in cycling. I'm sure you've read that patience is the number one thing in Saltwater. I just started my cycle yesterday evening with 28lbs of LR in a 20gal display w/10gal sump/fuge. I don't plan on adding anything for at least 3-4 weeks. Don't forget your power head in the tank also as you will need water movement, more than can be provided with the Aquaclear filters.

Good luck and p a t i e n c e . . .

[shuguley]

ldallen95219,
You are getting some bad advice from your LFS regarding ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and when to add fish. You do not need fish in the tank to cause these to be escalated. Die-off from live rock will create escalated levels in ammonia, nitrite, then nitrate before settling down to zero. Do not add tester fish or crabs, this is cruel and unnecessary, this is the "old way" of doing things. I really wish you would read the stickies at the top of the "new to hobby" forum before you continue.

Also, you really need to invest in your own test kits, having the LFS test your water and only relying on them is not wise at all. API and other companies make reliable, afordable, and readily availbe test kits.

You really shouldn't add anything living to your tank for at least 4 weeks after adding live rock. During this time period test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. You may or may not see them spike depending on whether your live rock was cured or uncured and how long it was out of the water, but this will ensure your tank is ready to handle livestock.

Times are tough and people at the LFS's generally just want to make a sale and will tell you whatever to make the sale. Others at LFS's are just clueless or still live by the old way of doing things. There are newer methods in this hobby that really work well, you just have to be patient and do your own research. Don't take the word of the LFS as the final answer. We here at reefcentral have nothing to lose or gain from your success or failure, we just generally want you to succeed, do you think the LFS feels this way? So please take the advice from everyone on here if you really want to be successful. Please read through the stickies, then start asking questions here.

[Michael]

some good advice from hop linda, and i agree 100% about the ph, just dont worry about it yet, as for crushed coral, it has got a very bad reputation tbh, but if its just a sprinkle around the rocks and you clean it regularly it will be ok, personally i prefer aragonite sand, best to just start slow and read hops first post again about the stickys, any other questions linda just ask, we are all here to help and a very warm welcome to the forum

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

[ldallen95219]

rcrspeedracer - one question. By switching to sand you don't find that a lot of fish waste is accumulated? Where does the waste go? I thought you would have to vacuum it up to keep tank clean. With cc you can do that, with sand I know you cannot vacuum. Now I am torn on whether to break down my tank, empty water and get sand to replace the cc. It is all set up nice and running - still haven't added fish, but need to decide on the substrate first - please advise on the fish waste matter. Thanks

[ldallen95219]

when you guys talk about "read the stickys" - what are the stickys?

[Michael]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074

[ishot811]

Basically those are the threads listed at the top of the forum menu you're currently looking in that are locked and have great information in them. Most can't be replied to and are always right there at the top. They will answer a LOT of your questions before you even think of them. Click the link that Michael posted and you'll one of the best there is.

[edgex]

55 gallon tough first saltwater tank.I looked all over before starting saltwater and will never forget some girl/lady who stated to another new salt person " the solution to polution is dilution"never any better advice.I started with 150 gallon fish only and had once stumbled my fault.When you are learning the ropes things take a long time to get bad with large volumes of water.really fast with small volumes.I always remember that quote now ..Good luck and always ask or read for answers everybody has been there before

[jdiddy8384]

Welcome to reefcentral. Anything that happens fast in this hobby is always bad. This site and people on it will teach you everything you need to know. You would not have to tear down your whole tank to switch to sand from cc. Just put your live rock in tubs and switch the cc to sand and replace the live rock. It will be a pain but well worth it in the long run.

[Ms_Jerk]

You can vacuum (siphon) sand, can't you? Although I blow my rocks off and only stir my sand up when I do water changes. That gets some of the gunk out.

When you have fish, there will always be waste in the tank and if you have good flow and blow your rocks off, all the nasty stuff should get sucked into your skimmer (If you have one).

Ok, i'm a newb but I thought i'd put my 2 in. If i'm wrong, someone correct me.