before shelling out the cash, i just have one last questoin (sorry)

[zacheyp]

i will be getting a 29g biocube with aprox 40 pounds of live and or base rock
i actually have 2 questions
1. how do i start and test a cycle
2. i am getting the heater that carey reccomended in a seperate thread, anyway my question is, there will be no wires in the water right?

[Sarcothelia]

If you get a 29 cube there will be wires in the water from the pump. Pretty sure for most heaters though the wire comes out the top, which shouldn't be submerged in most cases.

To start a cycle, I'd personally dose pure ammonia and add some live rock or just bottled bacteria from an LFS. when after dosing ammonia you get nitrates and all of your ammonia is converted (0 ppm) you are cycled. Use seachem or elos test kits to measure nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.

[zacheyp]

are wires in the water safe, i am new to saltwater and i have no idea what your second paragraph meant.

[40galreef]

The wires are designed for water.

You will need to test the cycle with tests for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. When you test you water and ammonia, and nitrite are at 0, with a low nitrate reading you cycle is over. You can add chemicals to speed up the cycle.

[zacheyp]

what is considered low for nitrite

[40galreef]

At the end of my cycle 5 ppm

[Sarcothelia]

nitrites ought to be zero.

[40galreef]

Originally Posted by Sarcothelia

nitrites ought to be zero.

I thought you said nitrate. Sorry. Nitrites should be 0.

[carey]

here's alink for cycling a sw tank using the shrimp method, you can alos add pure ammonia instead of the shrimp.

Cycle your salt tank

The heater I used to keep in my last compartment to the right.

You should get a power head as well for the other side of the tank, and those wires are water safe to a point so you can submerge the actual power head. That power head shold go on the right side glass or the right side back wall, your choice.

[zacheyp]

what type of sand should i get

[carey]

Whatever one you like. The "live" sand in a bag is just a gimmick in my opinion, but if you like the texture and color buy it. I used live sand only because I wanted the fiji pink stuff and it happened to be "live". if you go with live sand, dont rinse it but if you get the regular aragonite or anything else make sure you rinse it very very well. it will cut down on the cloudines you'll get.

[zacheyp]

how in the world do i rinse sand?

[carey]

LOl. I used the pillow case method one time, just put it in an old pillowcase and rinse in the tub or outside with a garden hose.
I also last time used a bucket, pout some sand in, added water and just kept dumping the water until the water runs clear.

takes some time but with your size tank it shouldnt be that bad.

I had to rinse 250!!! lbs of sand, took me hours to do it too LOL

[zacheyp]

just a guess, how long should cycling take, also, i should put the reef/live rock in before the cycle right?

[carey]

Yep, put as much live rock as you can and the base rock too. It will help your cycle. It could take a week or 4 it all depends. I like ammonia dosing to cycle, gives me more control.

Juts make sure you have a test kit, preferably the API saltwater master kit as you will NEED it for cycling properly.

About $20 online

Amazon.com: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 401M Salt Water Aquarium Master Test Kit for Testing High Range pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate Levels: Pet Supplies

[zacheyp]

when i start cycling i will have very frequent questions

[carey]

And you will get answers. No worries.

good luck, if you need anything else we are all just a post away.

[zacheyp]

i will be using the dead shrimp method
also, will the test kit show salinity
if i am planing fish and coral, what should salinity be

[carey]

You'll need a tester for salinity also. I use a refractometer, really really easy device and here is the link. I keep mine at 1.025 for corals and inverts, fish as well.

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[zacheyp]

what does a refractor do