Going saltwater for first time need help/build thread.

[KRL]

That looks amazing! Well done!

[Watsonja4]

Thanks!

[Watsonja4]

Christmas came early this year!pending my ro/di system showing up this week I hope to have it setup and cycling by this weekend.

[Bdonaldson]

Hi there and welcome to the salty side. Everything is looking great. I love the stand. It looks really nice and I like the white color. I would do a little more research on the salt. When I started up my tank I started with the coral pro salt and ended up switching to instant ocean. The coral pro has high alkalinity, calcium and magnesium elements and is more for a tank that is already established with corals that will use up those elements like hard stoney corals and SPS corals.
I would start with instant ocean reef crystals and save the coral pro for later when you have a fully stocked tank.

[Watsonja4]

Thanks for the welcome Bdonaldson. Did the coral pro salt cause any problems in your tank? I purchased it just for the reasons you stated because I would like to stay away from dosing for as long as possible. I also read from multiple sites to pick a salt and stay with it because switching could cause problems. If it is going to cause problems I will gladly switch but if it just saves a few bucks I will just keep it.

[Sniperhank]

Mix doesn't matter that much. All have pros and cons. I buy what is on sale.

[Watsonja4]

Ok I will stick with the coral pro since I have already have it. It's looking like Monday now before I can start, marine depot drug their feet shipping my ro/di system. I went with a spectrapure maxcap 90gpd unit.

[Bdonaldson]

Originally Posted by Watsonja4

Thanks for the welcome Bdonaldson. Did the coral pro salt cause any problems in your tank? I purchased it just for the reasons you stated because I would like to stay away from dosing for as long as possible. I also read from multiple sites to pick a salt and stay with it because switching could cause problems. If it is going to cause problems I will gladly switch but if it just saves a few bucks I will just keep it.

When I cycled my tank and even after it was cycled i only had fish in there for a few months until the tank was ready for corals. Over time the elements were rising while I was waiting for the tank to age. There were no corals to use up the elements. Thats why I switched back to instant ocean until I put my corals in there.

[arnoldndana]

Set up looks awesome

[Watsonja4]

Thanks arnoldndana it's a work in progress. Here an update hydra is mounted and final leak test.

[Watsonja4]

New update.

Rocks, background, and equipment are in.
another view of the rocks. I would have already had water in but my rodi system came in missing the ro membrane! So after a long conversation with marinedepot they sent me one free of charge. More to come!

[Sniperhank]

Looking good.

[Watsonja4]

Making saltwater! Should have it full by tomorrow, fingers crossed for no surprise leaks.

[54seaweed]

stand looks professional very nice
the whole setup looks great

[Watsonja4]

Thanks! It was the second stand I have built and I borrowed a finishing nailer which helped a ton.

[Watsonja4]

Tank is filled! It's a bit cloudy but I have both wavemakers going so hopefully it will settle. Salinity is 1.025sg and I'm waiting for ph and temp to stabilize. So the guides I have read and your suggestions say to cycle with a raw shrimp, what size type do I get? Should I add some fish food for any other trace elements needed? Thanks in advance for your help, more to come!

[Sniperhank]

If you get a jumbo, one would be just fine. Tie it into some old panty hose for easy clean up when you're done.

[Watsonja4]

Ok and I just add it and let it go until the cycle completes? Thanks for the help.

[Sniperhank]

Set it and forget it.

[Watsonja4]

Done and done, hopefully the cycle will get going pretty quick with the live sand and life rock that is supposedly spored with bacteria and I had a little stability left from another tank.