Need advice BEFORE I set up!

[Grizz]

I'd give it a 2-3 days between water changes to let things settle a bit As to mixing Temp makes a big difference in the SG. Most hydrometers are calibrated for about 75 degf. Here's a table that will let you know what your true SG is.

Here is the table:

PPT
xx 59.00F 60.00F 68.00F 69.80F 71.60F 73.40F 75.20F 77.00F 78.80F 80.60F 82.00F 84.20F 86.00F

20 1.0145 1.0144 1.0134 1.0132 1.0130 1.0127 1.0124 1.0121 1.0118 1.0115 1.0112 1.0109 1.0106
21 1.0153 1.0152 1.0142 1.0140 1.0137 1.0135 1.0132 1.0129 1.0126 1.0123 1.0120 1.0116 1.0113
22 1.0160 1.0159 1.0150 1.0147 1.0144 1.0142 1.0139 1.0137 1.0134 1.0130 1.0127 1.0124 1.0120
23 1.0168 1.0167 1.0157 1.0155 1.0152 1.0150 1.0147 1.0144 1.0141 1.0138 1.0135 1.0132 1.0128
24 1.0175 1.0174 1.0164 1.0162 1.0160 1.0156 1.0154 1.0151 1.0148 1.0145 1.0142 1.0139 1.0135
25 1.0183 1.0182 1.0172 1.0170 1.0167 1.0165 1.0162 1.0159 1.0156 1.0153 1.0150 1.0146 1.0143
26 1.0191 1.0189 1.0180 1.0176 1.0174 1.0172 1.0169 1.0166 1.0163 1.0160 1.0157 1.0154 1.0150
27 1.0198 1.0197 1.0187 1.0185 1.0182 1.0180 1.0176 1.0174 1.0171 1.0168 1.0165 1.0162 1.0158
28 1.0206 1.0204 1.0195 1.0192 1.0189 1.0186 1.0184 1.0182 1.0179 1.0175 1.0172 1.0168 1.0165
29 1.0214 1.0212 1.0202 1.0200 1.0197 1.0195 1.0192 1.0189 1.0186 1.0183 1.0180 1.0175 1.0172
30 1.0222 1.0220 1.0210 1.0208 1.0205 1.0202 1.0199 1.0196 1.0193 1.0190 1.0187 1.0184 1.0180
31 1.0229 1.0227 1.0217 1.0215 1.0212 1.0209 1.0207 1.0204 1.0201 1.0198 1.0195 1.0192 1.0188
32 1.0237 1.0235 1.0225 1.0222 1.0219 1.0217 1.0214 1.0211 1.0208 1.0205 1.0202 1.0198 1.0195
33 1.0245 1.0243 1.0232 1.0230 1.0227 1.0225 1.0221 1.0218 1.0215 1.0212 1.0209 1.0205 1.0202
34 1.0252 1.0251 1.0240 1.0238 1.0235 1.0232 1.0229 1.0226 1.0223 1.0220 1.0217 1.0214 1.0210
35 1.0260 1.0258 1.0248 1.0245 1.0242 1.0240 1.0237 1.0234 1.0231 1.0228 1.0225 1.0221 1.0218
36 1.0268 1.0266 1.0255 1.0253 1.0250 1.0247 1.0245 1.0242 1.0238 1.0235 1.0232 1.0228 1.0225
37 1.0275 1.0273 1.0263 1.0260 1.0258 1.0255 1.0252 1.0249 1.0245 1.0242 1.0239 1.0236 1.0232
38 1.0283 1.0281 1.0271 1.0268 1.0265 1.0262 1.0259 1.0256 1.0253 1.0250 1.0247 1.0244 1.0240
39 1.0291 1.0289 1.0278 1.0275 1.0273 1.0270 1.0267 1.0264 1.0261 1.0258 1.0255 1.0251 1.0248
40 1.0299 1.0297 1.0286 1.0284 1.0281 1.0278 1.0274 1.0271 1.0268 1.0265 1.0262 1.0258 1.0255

First, this is how it works. You can use a 60 F (59F) table if it is set up like this one.
1. Using the temperature of your tank, go to the column that has approximately that temperature.
2. Scroll down until you see the SG you have on your hydrometer.
3. Now move straight across to the left, until you are in the column that has your hydrometer calibration
temperature (probably 77F for fish store and 59F or 60F for lab grade).
4. Read the SG at the calibration temperature in that column.
5. Now take that reading and go over to the second column and look for that SG reading and note its Salinity. That is the
salinity of your tank.

Example:

Tank @ 81 F (or 80.6 F)_and meter reads 1.022. The 77 F column shows 1.0226 ( rounded off is 1.023). Now look at column 2 for 1.023 (1.0229)_and the Salinity will equal 31ppt.....to low. If you are looking for normal Salinity of 35 ppt, your meter at 81 F would read about 1.025. Normal salinity is 35 ppt @ 1.026 in 77 F water with the meter calibrated to 77 F, so 1.026 -.001= 1.025 for 35 ppt_@ 81 F tank temp using a 77 F meter calibration _

conversion program:

http://www.phys.ocean.dal.ca/~kelle...er/density.html


Good Luck!

[PattyG]

Another question: I read in another thread that once the tank cycles if you don't continue with an ammonia source the BB will run out of things to eat. I have been at 0 ammonia and frites for a while now. Last weekend when I did the big water change I found a chunk of one of the shrimp I put in to start the cycle. I removed it. Other than my 7 hermits, nothing in there. Still see die off on the live rock though. Do I need to keep a source for ammonia until I add fish? Am I about ready to add a fish or maybe two after the next big water change?

[Callen]

PattyG is actually. I used her ipad and didn't know she was already logged in.


Follow up question: I've seen conflicting info on what the nitrate level needs to be before adding a fish. One source says under 40 ppm. Another says 20. I was under the impression I needed to get it as close to 0 as possible. When is it safe?

[carey]

I'd say if you can get to 20 trates or below you are ok to add fish. If you want to add shrimp or another sensitive invert you might wanna gt it even lower. Since you'll be doing a water change soon enough, if you start at like 20 you will have it down to 15 or even less depending on how much you change out.

[Callen]

What is a good first fish to start with? When do I add the clean up crew?

[Callen]

Ok guys. I still need your help! It will be at least a week before I can drive to Houston to get a fish. Please see my question above ( when I was logged on as Patty G) about an ammonia source.

Also could use advice on what to put in the tank first. CUC vs a fish or two.

Trates are between 10 and 20 now. Will do another big water change midweek and still another if needed on Friday. Then off to Houston on Saturday!

[ReeferRusty]

I would start with a clown. They are really hardy fish. Or for a cheaper route, Chromis. They are easy to get rid of if you no longer want them. As a plus, they are cheap. Just don't get a damsel. They are hard to catch, and very territorial aggressive.

[Grizz]

Toss a pinch of fish food in there it will break down and add a food source for the bacti I like to have my CUC in place 1st, add fish slowly one or two then give the tank 2-3 weeks to adjust. If your adding clowns do both at the same time

[Callen]

I put the flakes in and the power head sent them straight across the tank to the overflow box. Will they accomplish the same thing if they work their way down through the sump? I would think no, but I could be wrong!

[carey]

It's a closed system, once it's in the tank and sump it will work. Unless you do a water change and take it out. lol

[Callen]

Lets talk temperature!

My tank is staying around 82 degrees. I took the heater out of the sump last night and it hasn't really cooled off. The new super-bright lights are probably adding some heat too. I took the glass covers off the top to see if that will help. I only had 3/4 of the top covered though.

Is 82 degrees gonna be ok for fish, inverts and eventually corals?

[Tkey3425]

Mine hits 82 in the peak of summer. If you have a sump that's hidden get a cheap clip on fan and put it under there to draw some heat out. I have mine mounted inside my canopy to draw out heat

[Grizz]

82 wont hurt it's a bit high IMO but what we aim for is stability. get rid of the glass tops they do more harm than good better to use a mesh top it helps with the temp and gas exchange.
Put the heater back in your sump you dont want the temp to drop a swing of 2-3 degrees can cause problems Try to keep things stable.

[ReeferRusty]

Originally Posted by Grizz

Toss a pinch of fish food in there it will break down and add a food source for the bacti I like to have my CUC in place 1st, add fish slowly one or two then give the tank 2-3 weeks to adjust. If your adding clowns do both at the same time

LOL. I just realized he was talking about CUC "Clean Up Crew". I thought he was talking about a sea cucumber at first. My bad lol. Yes Clean up crew first. Big fan of Nassarius snails.

[carey]

i absolutely LOVE nassarius snails! I had like 30 in my biocube when I first had it set up. I love how they emerge from the sand as soon as you feed the tank, so cool to watch. But since they dont eat algae you have to actually feed them.

[Callen]

So I have 2 heaters. A 100 watt and a 300 watt. The sump is awfully crowded with the skimmer it's pump and the return pump. I had the smaller heater in there because the water level isn't deep enough for the larger one. If I lay it over I was worried about the water getting to the top section where the dial is. Also trying to keep the heater from coming into contact with any of the other equipment in the sump. The large heater has an actual temp gauge. The smaller just has + or - I guess you just adjust it until the temp gets where you like it to be. If I use the larger one. Does the entire glass part need to be submersed? Or just the section with the heating elements are visible? Is it ok if the heater touches anything like the sponge covering the end of the return pump? Finally, what should I set the temp to?

[Grizz]

I think you'll be ok with the smaller heater,most need the glass tube submerged in order to work right they go get warm so it's better to not have it touching anything. A good temp is 78-80 degrees

[Tategrant]

Originally Posted by Callen

So I have 2 heaters. A 100 watt and a 300 watt. The sump is awfully crowded with the skimmer it's pump and the return pump. I had the smaller heater in there because the water level isn't deep enough for the larger one. If I lay it over I was worried about the water getting to the top section where the dial is. Also trying to keep the heater from coming into contact with any of the other equipment in the sump. The large heater has an actual temp gauge. The smaller just has + or - I guess you just adjust it until the temp gets where you like it to be. If I use the larger one. Does the entire glass part need to be submersed? Or just the section with the heating elements are visible? Is it ok if the heater touches anything like the sponge covering the end of the return pump? Finally, what should I set the temp to?

I have those exact same heaters also!

[Callen]

Do clowns always need to be purchased in pairs?

[Callen]

I couldn't help myself! I took the trip to Houston to the semi-local fish store all prepared to buy 2 black and white clowns. When I got there they were all in separate tanks so I only bought one. All of the posts I read people always talk about having 2. Now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I should run down to the local Petco and get another clown ( or two?). They don't have black and white but they do have black n white saddlebacks and the "regular" orange and white clowns.

I also got a teeny- tiny yellow watchman goby, already named Paul Blart , 2 turbo snails and a cleaner shrimp.

They are all acclimating right now. Do I need to make a run to town for another clown?

Not exactly sure what to do here! Help!