New tank / newbie

[Bsnow0410]

Ok so I've got a couple things down but still so millions of things to learn.

So I have questions on rock. I'm just gunna buy all dry rock and cycle it like that for about a month and then put some lights on it. How is this gunna work? Give me some info greatly appreciated

 

[Bsnow0410]

Ohh and forgot to add. It's a 20 long and I was gunna start out with like 17 pounds so I can add maybe some already cycled rock. Or should I just order like 21 pounds of dry rock?

 

[cgthebeast]

Wouldn probably put 4 pounds of live rock

 

[Bsnow0410]

Wouldn probably put 4 pounds of live rock

So do 16 pounds dry rock..let it cycle then put 4 pounds of live rock?

 

[obscurereef]

Dry rock isn't going to cycle. It's just rock and nothing else. There's nothing decaying to create an ammonia source. 4 lbs of LR isn't going to cycle your tank either, but it will give you some good and bad hitchhikers. To actually cycle your tank you'll want to leave a table shrimp in a net or mesh bag in the tank or use pure ammonia for a less smelly route.

The fundamentals of fishless cycling:
Cycle your salt tank - Aquarium Advice

 

[Bsnow0410]

Dry rock isn't going to cycle. It's just rock and nothing else. There's nothing decaying to create an ammonia source. 4 lbs of LR isn't going to cycle your tank either, but it will give you some good and bad hitchhikers. To actually cycle your tank you'll want to leave a table shrimp in a net or mesh bag in the tank or use pure ammonia for a less smelly route.

The fundamentals of fishless cycling:
Cycle your salt tank - Aquarium Advice

Well can I still put all the dry rock in there and then just put the pure ammonia in there and after awhile it become live rock?

 

[obscurereef]

Definitely! Exactly what I did and I have amphipods, copepods, sea squirts, mini brittle stars, stometalla snails, different worms, etc. The only pest I've found are fireworms. They all came from chaeto and whatever rock/plug my corals came on.

 

[obscurereef]

You can buy the pure ammonia from a hardware store. It has to have no scent and I think no bubbles if you shake it. I got pure ammonia from Dr. Tim's aquatics. Dose very minimally.

 

[Bsnow0410]

You can buy the pure ammonia from a hardware store. It has to have no scent and I think no bubbles if you shake it. I got pure ammonia from Dr. Tim's aquatics. Dose very minimally.

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated

 

[obscurereef]

No problem. Waiting for the cycle to end is the hardest part, but you can spend time researching/making a stock list.

 

[Bsnow0410]

Yea I still have probably two weeks before I can even start putting it together and in about a month I'm gunna gonna a 120watt led light

 

[Bsnow0410]

Also..I should have an inch of sand at the bottom and rocks on top of the sand right?

 

[Bectan01]

Nope, rocks on the bottom of the tank, on the glass, then sand...

 

[Bsnow0410]

Nope, rocks on the bottom of the tank, on the glass, then sand...

Ok thanks for the info. I can't wait to start setting it up.

 

[Bsnow0410]

Ok so I'm gunna be using a canister filter and I know I shouldn't but I'm using what I got for now and later getting a sump built. But the canister filter uses carbon. Will that work for saltwater? And also there is like little porus rocks I can buy offline for filters. Would those work?

 

[cgthebeast]

I've seen lava rock used before. I've never tried it though.

 

[Bsnow0410]

I've seen lava rock used before. I've never tried it though.

I meant to say like pumis rock haha but yea idk it's for filters so I'm not sure. Is carbon ok to run in reef tanks though?

 

[Wolfsblood]

Nope, rocks on the bottom of the tank, on the glass, then sand...

What is the reasoning behind this? I put my rocks on the sand

 

[Bectan01]

If you ever have sand sifting fish or inverts they can burrow under and potentially make rocks unstable, I have heard of rock piles falling because of this with devastating results! Don't underestimate the power of the fishes

 

[cgthebeast]

That would not be good.