View Full Version : Did I already blow it?
Danny617
04/28/2009, 03:38 PM
Hello All! My name is Danny and I am a newbie at reef keeping. I've had many freshwater tanks in my day but this is my first shot at a reef.
I have a SINKING feeling that I've made my first mistake (Gulp). I Have a 48, maybe 49 gallon oceanic reef ready tank that I picked up a long time ago and it sat around at my dads house collecting dust until I recently decided to resurrect it. It came with a trickle filter with bio balls (should I take these out?) and an eheim canister filter. I cleaned it all out, conencted hoses and filters, filled it up and added salt.
Filled it up!!! He says!!
Yes...... I used tap water :rolleyes:. Upon further research, thanks to all the posts about everything by the way, I've learned a ton already, I have discovered that using tap water could cause serious issues for me with algae growth etc. Now be honest, do I need to start over? Should I empty the tank, get myself a RO/DI filter and refill with new salt and all? It would be a hassle to do so but I'm still at the point where I can do this because I don't have any life in the tank yet. I did however add a bottle of biospira about a week ago which the guy at the LFS said would help get the tank cycling. I would hate to get started off on the wrong foot right out of the gate.
If you're wondering, I'll be using a coralife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe Double Linear Strip for my lighting.
As for a skimmer, I haven't yet installed one but I'm considering the marinelane 100 as it is in my budget and has good feedback so far. (I fully realize that I need a skimmer before I go any further.)
I know I have much to learn so I appreciate any feedback you guys might have.
Danny
jim.l
04/28/2009, 03:46 PM
A new tank will grow some algae no matter what you do. You'll just grow a little extra. I wouldn't waste the salt. Just let it run for a while. If you have chlorine / chlorimines in your local water supply, run charcoal before adding any live rock or live sand or any bacteria culture. Get a RO/DI system and use that for your water changes after your tank cycles.
davewbush
04/28/2009, 03:53 PM
I would take out the bio balls and any pads in the canister filter. Do you have any live rock yet? If not I would cure the rock when you get it in the tank and do a few 50% water change in the first week you are curing it with ro/di water. After curing the rock for about 2 weeks ad some GFO and this should take out any phosphate. With the tap water in their, i would leave the light off.
thegrun
04/28/2009, 04:18 PM
As much as you hate to waste the water, in the long run you would be better to start over. If you have to do a couple of 50% water changes, you have already done a complete water change without the benefit of removing all the phosphate/nitrate and who knows what else that is in your tap water. Do remove the bio-balls and do get 50 lbs minimum of live rock in there if you haven't already done so. I would save the money and not use biospira, but it might save you a week or two in the cycle. The live rock will provide all the nutrients your tank needs to cycle. If you look down the Forums list, near the bottom you will see the Reef Clubs Forum, go there, find your local area Forum ask if anyone local will give you a cup or two of their live sand to seed your sand with (assuming you have a sand bed). This will be a much better way to jump start your tank than using biospira. Good luck and WELCOME!
PRDubois
04/28/2009, 04:32 PM
Welcome, you will be fine but ditch the bioballs.
Look at Octopus Skimmers.
Aquarist007
04/28/2009, 05:44 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14914382#post14914382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PRDubois
Welcome, you will be fine but ditch the bioballs.
Look at Octopus Skimmers.
I agree---using tap water won't hurt anything initially--just start to use ro/di water with your daily top ups due to evaporation.
Since you are just starting the tank---ditch the bioballs before the system relies on them
You didn't mention live rock ====that's a critical component to the success of your tank
Danny617
04/28/2009, 05:58 PM
Ok I'll take out the bio balls tonight. Sounds like I'll be ok if I start using RO/DI water going forward. If I decided to use GFO, how do you add this to your tank? Just pour it in the water?? I'm such a newb :)
As for live rock / sand bed, I dont have anything in the tank yet. Just saltwater at this point. I'm leaning towards purchasing the package that Tampa Bay Saltwater offers. Any thoughts on that?
I've included a couple of rough pictures below. My new light should arrive tomorrow. Hooray!
Do you think a protein skimmer will fit in that sump? The trickle area takes up a lot of space but I'm hoping to stick it in the front right corner. Thanks again everyone. This site is great.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/585/218397Sump1.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/505/218397Tank1.jpg
Aquarist007
04/28/2009, 06:24 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14914962#post14914962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Danny617
Ok I'll take out the bio balls tonight. Sounds like I'll be ok if I start using RO/DI water going forward. If I decided to use GFO, how do you add this to your tank? Just pour it in the water?? I'm such a newb :)
As for live rock / sand bed, I dont have anything in the tank yet. Just saltwater at this point. I'm leaning towards purchasing the package that Tampa Bay Saltwater offers. Any thoughts on that?
I've included a couple of rough pictures below. My new light should arrive tomorrow. Hooray!
Do you think a protein skimmer will fit in that sump? The trickle area takes up a lot of space but I'm hoping to stick it in the front right corner. Thanks again everyone. This site is great.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/585/218397Sump1.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/505/218397Tank1.jpg
do you have a link to the tampa bay stuff--not familar
I need to emphasize that buying live rock should be your first priority before you buy anything else like a skimmer.
The live rock is what cycles your tank---and once you get it in there the cycling which could take between 3 and 5 week begins:D
During that time you will be able to read up on skimmers lighting ect ect.
Btw--but a medium grade argonite if you are going with a substrate---no need for live sand==the rock will seed it or a cup of sand from another tank will do the trick.
BTW
[welcome]
davewbush
04/28/2009, 06:31 PM
You don't want to dump GFO into the tank. They have reators for them or you could put it in a media bag and put it in the canister filter. I have mine in a canister filter and change it every 2 to 4 weeks depending on how much phosphate is in the tank.
One thing to remember is that there is a lot of things out there when it comes to chemicals and additives, but you only realy need a good salt mix, calcium, magnesium, and alk. If you get every thing you think you need or are told to buy you will have 90 bottles of junk under your tank that you wont use down the road.
Danny617
04/28/2009, 06:35 PM
Here's the link to the place i'm considering:
http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/
Interesting stuff on that site. Thoughts on the "package" that they offer?
tipmoff
04/28/2009, 06:46 PM
+1 with the water being ok. I did the same thing months ago when I started my tank and after time and cycle and with water changes it all goes away. The Tampa Bay Live Rock (whxih is down the street from my house is good LR. Just be careful about the hitch hikers of which there will some bad ones but they will be teaming with life.
Salt Convert
04/28/2009, 07:59 PM
Just a word of caution when you do charcoal- rinse it first! If you put charcoal in net bag and put it straight in your tank, you'll get fine black particles all over everything! Learned the hard way that it'll eventually cycle out but a pain and an eyesore until then. :*(
SaltyDr
04/28/2009, 09:17 PM
There is a forum here on Tampa Bay Saltwater. They are a sponsor. Look there and ask your questions about it there. Just reading the threads will answer most if not all of your questions.
WallyV
04/28/2009, 09:31 PM
From one newbie to another I think you should check out www.bulkreefsupply.com I just bought alot of my equipment from them. They have great prices, customer service and information about the correct usage, installation...etc on the site.
-Walter
I hope this helps.
canesfins
04/29/2009, 06:26 PM
Why do you guys recommend removing the bioballs? I have a 150 Oceanic with a wet dry with bio balls. Live rock and sand in the tank.
davewbush
04/29/2009, 06:34 PM
After a while the bio-balls will become a nitrate factory. In a reef tank, it is better to take them out.
Alaskan Reefer
04/30/2009, 12:53 AM
How is the water testing? Roll with the tap on initial mix you should be just fine. No need to waste the salt unless the water tests very poorly.
demonboy369
04/30/2009, 01:35 AM
ok from experience i will say you will be fine. i personally ran a 55g with alot of life in it a few years back on nothing but instant ocean and tap water (sometimes even well water) I also start my 10g soon to be 20 on tap water. It will be changed over to ro/di water. The thing about tap is the TDS (total dissolved solids) in the water. which can be anything from phosphates to copper to deadly fertilizers. All of which can be eventually removed from the water with water changes of ro/di. Your water quality depends on your area.
It is best to use ro/di but i wouldnt start from scratch again.
My 2 gallon is so small i would never put tap into it. But it also runs on tropic marin pro reef salt (never need additives in my tank) but in my others I do what i must.
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