First saltwater tank

[Djsilentchild]

I'm starting up my 56(us gal) for saltwater. I started cycling it last night. I have a cheap 60 gal Walmart filter and a aqua tech clear 70. I put 20lbs of aragonite sand and put a thin layer of crushed coral for now. I also have a 200 watt heater. I'm using the coral life 10k bulb. I'm also going get a protein skimmer today. I am skipping the sump process. Also I'm going get 20 lbs or so of live rock.

 

[San Raphael Catfish]

Look forward to seeing how your build goes.

 

[Djsilentchild]

Look forward to seeing how your build goes.

Hopefully I can get it cycled as quick as my fresh water cycled..

 

[TommyP]

I myself have just finished cycling my 55G SW tank. Patience is key I wish you the best of luck and hope everything works out for you. Make sure you post some pictures up once you have the rock scaped out ! Are you planning on doing FOWLR or Reef tank? What kind/price was the protein skimmer?

 

[Djsilentchild]

Just got back from the lfs... Good news- my ammonia, salinity, and ph are all in perfect ranges.. Bad news- nitrates and nitrates are off the charts... I bought 10lbs of life Rock for $4.99/LB... I also bought clear fx pro to bring the nitrates and nitrites down

 

[Djsilentchild]

I'm Also doing fish and live rock... Not sure on the skimmer.. The guy at the lfs said since I've been spending most of my money there he would either discount me a new or give me a new protein skimmer..

 

[Djsilentchild]

This is one of the display tanks at my lfs... Want mine kind of like this but a smaller version of course..

 

[Rutrag]

I know you said that you were using the Coralife 10K bulb, but what kind of lights do you have? (Power compacts, T5HO, metal halide, number and wattage of bulbs, etc.)

 

[Djsilentchild]

Single bulb 10,000k/120v/15w/T8

In a Janet fixture (manufactured date 05-1997)... I think the fixture is a little out dated... Lol

 

[Djsilentchild]

My 10LBS of live rock. The tank is still cloudy but getting better.

 

[TommyP]

I'm Also doing fish and live rock... Not sure on the skimmer.. The guy at the lfs said since I've been spending most of my money there he would either discount me a new or give me a new protein skimmer..

That's awesome. good luck with it. You're goin to need more rock though.

 

[Djsilentchild]

This is just to get me started... I don't want to break the bank just on live rock... It's a little expensive... Just for the live rock, test kit, the stabilizer, and the clear pro it was $125

 

[TommyP]

I know, you don' t have to tell me twice lol, it adds up quick! craigslist is where I got all my live rock except for about 20lbs was from Petco.

 

[Rutrag]

If you want to do corals like in the display tank you pictured, you're going to need a LOT more than 15 watts of T8 light in a 56 gallon tank. If I were in your shoes, I'd start saving up for a new light fixture. With what you have, you can do a FOWLER, but no corals, anemones or clams.

 

[phishfriend]

Wow! I thought from you were making that
Another fresh water tank! Good luck!

 

[Djsilentchild]

Well my lfs has had my live rock in their tanks for atleast a month... They also showed me some in the back curing... I don't trust Craigslist too much.. Also I'm not planning on doing a big reef.. I want a small one for now and ill add more live rock as needed but probably on Wednesday ill buy another 10-20lbs... Hopefully this early nitrite and nitrate spike will help my tank cycle... I have a puffer in their now and he seems to be doing perfect... The lfs owner told me not 2 remove him bc it may stress him... So if he comes out on top for a few weeks then it shouldn't be a problem to add cleaner shrimp and 1 or 2 more fish... I will also be doing a 10 gal tank just for the dwarf puffer...

 

[Djsilentchild]

If you want to do corals like in the display tank you pictured, you're going to need a LOT more than 15 watts of T8 light in a 56 gallon tank. If I were in your shoes, I'd start saving up for a new light fixture. With what you have, you can do a FOWLER, but no corals, anemones or clams.

I was going 2 get the t5 48" last night with two light bulbs but I figured live rock was more important until it cycles... Could I use my new aqueon 48" fixture with 3 daylight led strips and 1 night time strip? It seems to keep my fresh water plants alive. Which are 2x amazon sword and 2x water wisteria

 

[Djsilentchild]

.50 ppm ammonia.. Off the chart nitrite.. About 40-80 ppm nitrate...

 

[Djsilentchild]

Added my other light fixture for now... The small bulbs are fluorescent ones and the 18" bulb is also fluorescent... Both are for fresh/sw aquariums

 

[Djsilentchild]

Still a little cloudy.. But ammonia is at 0, nitrates are about 30 ppm, and nitrites have dropped to 2.0 ppm