Now what do I do?

[Starjnr2000]

Hello,
This is my first fish tank and so I have done a lot of research and now I am at a point where I don't know what to do next.

I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank. Right now the only thing in the tank is the saltwater and substrate. I have had the tank set up like this for a week. I don't know if I should start by adding some live rock or if I should be doing cycling with the "grocery store" shrimp next.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Crepe]

I'd get some LR and then cycle with the shrimp. Then later get more live rock and cure it elsewhere like a tote and put it in the tank.

If you cycle with all your LR in there you'll lose out on hitchikers.

 

[Gti_Leo]

the whole cycle is to cycle the live rock so it becomes "live" so i'd get roughtly 60-80 pounds of live rock and do the raw shrimp trick, unless you get LR from an already established tank then there is a minimal cycling period.

do you have your filters running? or just a bare tank with 1.025 sg water?also what substate are you using, sand or crushed coral?

 

[trackfast]

Is your LR cured? If not, you could put the LR in with the raw shrimp. Wait til the ammonia spikes and then the nitrite/nitrate levels will rise. When your ammonia and nitrites hit zero do a 50% water change and you can then add livestock; slowly.

 

[Starjnr2000]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I will be getting some LR next. How much live rock is needed in a 55 gallon tank? Do I have to get it all at once or can I do bits and pieces at a time?

Gti Leo...Yes I have a fluval 305 running and the 250Watt heater. I added two bags of the Cribsea Ocean Direct Live Sand.

 

[trackfast]

1 to 1.5 lbs per gallon is the general rule. You could do it all at once or bits; I like all at once, to me that's easier.

 

[Gti_Leo]

you could look into dry rock, just make sure its porous, its alot cheaper and with the shrimp in it will become live

 

[Starjnr2000]

Can you mix the dry rock and live rock? Is it better to just stick with one type?

 

[Gti_Leo]

you can mix, eventually your dry rock will turn live. its just a lower pricetag