blackhorse
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Newbie- More Questions Than Answers
I just bought a 55 gallon aquarium over the weekend. I have it currently about 85% full. We added salt and live sand (I think 40 lbs of live sand) The hydrometer I got from the fish store gives a different reading almost every time.
Here is a list of the equipment we have: Odyssea CFS4 cannister filter, Odyssea hydrometer, Jebo 300w heater, not sure the wattage or type of lighting yet.
My questions and thanks a million in advance for your answers:
1. Is my hydrometer defective? I was supposed to fill it for 24 hours with fresh water before using and I did exactly that. It still gives a different reading every time.
2. Should I go with a different hydrometer? Perhaps a refractometer? Whatever that is.
3. I did not use RO for my water. I did use packets for declorinization the fish store gave me. Is not using RO a big deal?
4. Do I have the right/recommended equipment?
5. Does live sand affect the ammonia and/or nitrate levels and how?
6. What are the differences between nitrates and nitrites?
7. What should I do from here to cycle the aquarium properly? I bought some fresh/raw shrimp. Should I first be concerned about the specific gravity and then add the shrimp? Should I check the ph levels before adding shrimp?
8. Should I use or not use the glass covers for my aquarium? I read something I thought about salt build-up on the cover being a bad thing.
9. Do I need to do water changes now with just live sand?
10. What is the best siphon product to buy?
I just bought a 55 gallon aquarium over the weekend. I have it currently about 85% full. We added salt and live sand (I think 40 lbs of live sand) The hydrometer I got from the fish store gives a different reading almost every time.
Here is a list of the equipment we have: Odyssea CFS4 cannister filter, Odyssea hydrometer, Jebo 300w heater, not sure the wattage or type of lighting yet.
My questions and thanks a million in advance for your answers:
1. Is my hydrometer defective? I was supposed to fill it for 24 hours with fresh water before using and I did exactly that. It still gives a different reading every time.
2. Should I go with a different hydrometer? Perhaps a refractometer? Whatever that is.
3. I did not use RO for my water. I did use packets for declorinization the fish store gave me. Is not using RO a big deal?
4. Do I have the right/recommended equipment?
5. Does live sand affect the ammonia and/or nitrate levels and how?
6. What are the differences between nitrates and nitrites?
7. What should I do from here to cycle the aquarium properly? I bought some fresh/raw shrimp. Should I first be concerned about the specific gravity and then add the shrimp? Should I check the ph levels before adding shrimp?
8. Should I use or not use the glass covers for my aquarium? I read something I thought about salt build-up on the cover being a bad thing.
9. Do I need to do water changes now with just live sand?
10. What is the best siphon product to buy?