Starting first saltwater tank, any advice

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

Xkentc

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Aug 9, 2012
Messages
16
So I'm starting my first saltwater tank on my own. I have little experience with them, although my mother had one for a couple years. I'm starting out with a 55 gallon tank that I buying that currently has 4 fish and some live rock in it. I was wondering if it was best to transport the water that is already in the tank to my house so I can skip the cycling process or should I start from the beginning?
 
Welcome to AA :) the water won't transfer over any BB (beneficial bacteria) but I would still use half of it to keep from a massive parameter swing and save you 20-30 gallons worth of salt and Ro/Di water. Do you have a refractometer and test kit yet? Do you plan on making this a reef tank or just fowlr (fish only with live rock)?
 
I'm gonna make it a reef take and I do have a test kit that I'm getting with the tank not sure about the meter. It is also coming with 40 lbs of live rock.

Here is a list of everything that I am getting with the tank.

This includes: 55 gallon tank, black stand, about 20 pounds of salt, topfin top mount filter, a blower that aerates the water, 40 pounds of live rock, big fish cave(fake rock), the fish in it right now if they stay Alive through the process which are: two clownfish, green chronic and a yellowtail damsel. Also there are the original lights to the tank and t5 48" four bulbs timed lights: two day lights, two actinic lights and two moonlights, a very good brand heater, and a bunch of maintenance supples, vacuum brushes, water chemicals, primer chemicals, salinity test kit. And some food!
 
Sounds like you got pretty much everything. I would say get rid of the chromis and damsel though they can become quite aggressive. Also you'll want to upgrade the lighting if you want any SPS..as for the pumps I would run 2 750s and a 500 for flow. You'll also want a skimmer rated for over 100 gallons if you plan on corals
 
Okay sounds great I will keep you updated on how everything goes, picking up the tank on Monday.

Should I try and use half the water that is currently in the tank to speed up the cyclin process or start from the beginning?
 
The water won't have any BB. To seed the tank transfer as much LR and filter media as you can.
 
Tank is all set up, the levels seem to be stable and the fish made it through the moving process.
 

Attachments

  • 387130_10150993175650849_1989280899_n.jpg
    387130_10150993175650849_1989280899_n.jpg
    68 KB · Views: 79
  • 405539_10150993168870849_1066995921_n.jpg
    405539_10150993168870849_1066995921_n.jpg
    82.8 KB · Views: 76
Back
Top Bottom