Initial set-up & lighting question

[Charlie]

Just setting up a 46gal FOWLER tank as a starter. I put 40lbs of live Fiji sand in the tank and 40gal of declorinated water with Instant Ocean salt. Put a AC300 on the back with sponge, Chemi-pure & bio media in the box. Airation running to mix the salts completely.

I will introduce some LR & SW Bio-Spira in a couple of days. I also intend to try using a piece of shrimp to enhance the cycle.

I would like to use the original factory hood. What would be the best replacement bulb to get for the single tube 36" fixture?

How does everything else sound so far?

 

[melosu58]

I cant answer the lighting question but the rest looks good including the fishless cycle. Keep in touch

 

[lando]

I will introduce some LR & SW Bio-Spira in a couple of days

Skip the bio-spira. Spend the money on more LR instead. The stuff is a waste of money. Use the LR and shrimp to cycle your tank.

I would like to use the original factory hood. What would be the best replacement bulb to get for the single tube 36" fixture?

Is there a certain effect you are trying to go for with your lighting? I would just go with a Coralife 50/50 bulb. 36in bulb is 30watts.

 

[Charlie]

Lando,

No special effect. Just want the fish and LR to do as well as possible with the original hood limitations.

I already bought the Bio-Spira. Its sitting in the refrigerator waiting to be dummped in. I put 1 large shrimp in the tank this morning, shell and all. Water temp was 78. How long before I should see the ammonia start to rise. Shrimp was pretty big, hope I didn't overdo it.

I also just realized that my ammonia kit is for FW only. Any recommendations for a kit or doesn't it matter?

Thanks for the help - Charlie

 

[seaham358]

No need to start the shrimp until you get the LR IMO.. It won't hurt anything by starting it now, the LR may have die off causing a amm spike again.. A cycle is different in every tank so we can't say it will take 1 day or 5 days to start to see a amm spike. Just sit back and watch and keep testing.
Salifert kits IMO are the best..