angeladawng
Aquarium Advice Activist
Hi Everyone! My name is Angie and I'm new here. Was just wondering if anyone can help me out a little bit.....
I have had a 56 gal freshwater tank set up in my office for over 2 years and have had very few, if any, problems with it other than the occasional casualty. I decided a few days ago to switch to saltwater and give the tropicals to my son to take care of. Set up a 10 gallon in his room and they are doing very well. (there was only 5 fish)
I emptied the 56, cleaned it out with mild soap, rinsed several times, wiped down with bleach and rinsed several more times. Brought it back in and set it up with the saltwater.
I am using aragonite sand for substrate. Coral Sun actinic 420 bulb. Instant Ocean Sea Clone 100 Protein skimmer (which I am not sure is working). Submersible heater and Marineland Emporer 280 with the biowheel taken out as I have read that the biowheel is a nitrate farm and to remove them. I have an Emporer 400 on the way that I ordered last night because clearly the 280 isn't gonna cut the mustard. I started everything up and added API Quick start according to the instructions.
Do I add live rock now and after adding it, what should I do? Other than test daily and watch my levels? Do I need to "scrub" it before putting it into the tank? And how do I go about scrubbing live rock??? (I certainly won't be getting out the pine sol and scrubbing like mom used to...I would think that would be bad)
Also, is my bulb good enough to have an anemone or two?? It says on the package that it's for invertabrates but I have been reading other places where people were recommending $400 bulbs and that is just not in the budget for me...I thought $17 was expensive for a light bulb. My light fixture only holds one 24 inch bulb.
I am sorry about the length of the post and for my ignorance but I wanted to be thorough.
I have had a 56 gal freshwater tank set up in my office for over 2 years and have had very few, if any, problems with it other than the occasional casualty. I decided a few days ago to switch to saltwater and give the tropicals to my son to take care of. Set up a 10 gallon in his room and they are doing very well. (there was only 5 fish)
I emptied the 56, cleaned it out with mild soap, rinsed several times, wiped down with bleach and rinsed several more times. Brought it back in and set it up with the saltwater.
I am using aragonite sand for substrate. Coral Sun actinic 420 bulb. Instant Ocean Sea Clone 100 Protein skimmer (which I am not sure is working). Submersible heater and Marineland Emporer 280 with the biowheel taken out as I have read that the biowheel is a nitrate farm and to remove them. I have an Emporer 400 on the way that I ordered last night because clearly the 280 isn't gonna cut the mustard. I started everything up and added API Quick start according to the instructions.
Do I add live rock now and after adding it, what should I do? Other than test daily and watch my levels? Do I need to "scrub" it before putting it into the tank? And how do I go about scrubbing live rock??? (I certainly won't be getting out the pine sol and scrubbing like mom used to...I would think that would be bad)
Also, is my bulb good enough to have an anemone or two?? It says on the package that it's for invertabrates but I have been reading other places where people were recommending $400 bulbs and that is just not in the budget for me...I thought $17 was expensive for a light bulb. My light fixture only holds one 24 inch bulb.
I am sorry about the length of the post and for my ignorance but I wanted to be thorough.
