New to the saltwater hobby

[ssky]

Hi,
I had been doing the fresh water on a small scale (20 gal) for a few years and always wanted to do the salt water setup. So I was able to get all the stuff a few days ago and here I am. Found this site to be very useful so decided to join the community to get few questions answered and research.

[BigRedsReefs10]

Welcome to AA and the salty side . What are your plans for the tank?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

[ssky]

I am planning to setup a FOWLR tank. It is a 45 gallon tank. I already got 50 lbs of cured live rock from my LFS, 20 lb live sand, 2 koralia nano 425 gph, 1 aqueon pro 200 watt heater and API Filster XP-M canister filter. There are alot of folks who suggest not using the canister filter altogether and if used only use it as a chemical and mechanical with rigorous cleaning schedule. I am thinking of not putting it online and see how my tank cycles. Right now there is nothing in my tank except rock and sand.

I am planning to go slow and thinking of having blue-green chromis (2 or 3), clown fish (i dunno 1 or 2) to start with. May be later a few easy corals (I know I may have to get a etter lighting; right now I have the basic florescent light with the hood).

[54seaweed]

don't even waist your time till you get better lighting to think about coral
couldn't have said it better (take it slow)
unless you plan on cleaning the canister often I would stay away
we have a good article in the group archive about cycling

[ssky]

Thanks for the advice. I am checking all the articles I can get my hands on about cycling. Quick question. When should I be able to detect Ammonia in my tank? (few day after or week?) I am not putting any fish food i nthe tank. Should I or the existence of live rock and sand is enough? (to kick start the cycle)

[54seaweed]

you need to use a ammonia source weather it be straight ammonia dosed to 4.0ppm
or add a dead deli shrimp

[surfnturf]

I have been researching building a refugium sump for my freshwater tank. Once I have mastered the freshwater discus I plan on moving on to a saltwater setup. Sump seems like it has many advantages over canisters (I have 2 canisters in my current tank)




Surfnturf

1 discus
1 dwarf gourami
1 german blue ram
1 pictus cat
2 golden wonder killifish
4 harlequin rasboras
5 corydoras
And a bunch of plants in a 20 long
Eheim 2213 and tom aquatics canister filters
Finnex planted plus

[Dallascowboys16]

welcome to aa!