Newbie Reef tank questions

edkao · 09-08-2002, 02:35 AM

Hi All,

I am just starting a 90 gallon reef tank. I have never had a fish tank before, so I have many beginners questions. So any help will be much appreciated.

1) Right now I am trying to get my live sandbed level, and I have reached into the tank many times. Now I am getting worried that I might be contaminating the water?

So, how easy/difficult is it to contaminate the tank at this point? Live sand only, water circulating, no live rocks yet, and no fish and critters.

2) What is the best way to clean the tank? Acrylic tank.

I ws told by people a magnet scrubber, or a old credit card will work. Again, the old credit card means I have to reach into the tank, the above question applys here.

3) How long before I can safely add live rock and critters?

Thats all for now, Thanks Again.

Ed.

cwby416 · 09-08-2002, 02:49 AM

If it was me, I would add the live rock NOW and a couple of cheap damsels to cycle your tank. How much Live sand do you have? thickness...

As for puting the water quality at risk by putting your hand into the tank...... just make sure you have no lotions, soap or Anything on your hands. I know I am always reaching into the tank for some reason or another, I think most would say the same

I use a Mag-float to clean the majority of the tank, that way if it disconnects from the outer magnet it floats to the top...very cool

Have you done any reading on keeping a Saltwater tank?
Are you just going to have a Fish only tank or a Reef tank?

~Randy~

Rick O · 09-08-2002, 06:15 AM

Hi ED. Welcome to the reef tank.

Before you go much further I would read some books. I would choose the top two books from our recommended books list. This will answer many of your questions. I would also suggest you check out our reference page.

As for the LR you can go ahead and add it now but no fish yet. Use a raw shrimp from the grocery store to cycle the tank.

gregt · 09-08-2002, 07:58 AM

You don't want to use a magent cleaner on an acrylic tank unless it is designed specifically for acrylic. If you use the "velcro" magnets on acrylic you'll scratch it.

Brooke · 09-08-2002, 09:24 AM

Hello and welcome!

Definately check out the books Rick recommended. Reading everything you can and asking lots of questions are the best things you can do to ensure a successful tank. Besides that getting off to a good start using RO/DI water and the right equipment will help as well.

Cleaning acrylic tanks is more difficult than glass. Check out http://www.petwarehouse.com They have a section of scrubbers, etc. that are safe for acrylic. You will need to clean the outside glass with a soft cloth...not even paper towels.

Go ahead and add the live rock now. If you have well cured live rock, then throw in a cocktail shrimp to get the cycle going. Get test kits for ammonia and nitrite and nitrates. Your ammonia and nitrites will spike then fall to 0. Nitrates will increase over time and are not toxic to fish and inverts except at higher levels.

Give your tank about 6 weeks to get through the cycle before adding a clean-up crew and a fish. I would not recommend adding damsels to the tank. They are hardy...but mean and very hard to catch.

HTH...please feel free to ask if you have any further questions.

Brooke

edkao · 09-08-2002, 11:38 PM

Thanks for the help.

I got about 100 lbs of live rock ordered. A mixture of Tonga, Fiji and Marshall Island. So I can also get a shrimp at the same time, if I understood correctly.

My next concern is the water quality. Do I need to get a test kit? Now do I tell the nitrate level, ammonia level etc. Can I tell by the water test kit?

What is a good test kit to get?

My current reference is Live Sand Secrets by Bob Goemans.

Ed.

Junkzoo · 09-09-2002, 03:14 AM

WELCOME!!!! and ditto to the answers to your prior questions

on the magnet on your acrylic tank , do make sure you get one that is made for same,,, AND make sure NO sand or substrate gets between the magnet halves,,,you could scratch the tank big time!

Test kits: in my opinion,(bought a lot of them over the many years)get Salifert kits ,,, a lil tough to get used to reading at times, but very accurate, get the first,, avoid the learnig curve

Junkzoo · 09-09-2002, 03:17 AM

also, try the Kent brand of scrapers (with the aqua-mop) seems a bit pricy, but WELL worth it (learning curve thing here too)
we are here to help you go to the head of the class
(and save the $$ a lot of us spent in our beginings,,,)

OodleyBoodely · 09-09-2002, 03:57 AM

Welcome to TRT, Ed!

"...So I can also get a shrimp at the same time, if I understood correctly."

Rick was not refering to a live shrimp in this case, but, a dead one from the supermarket. The idea is that as the shrimp decays in the tank, it will give off ammonia which is needed to feed the beneficial bacteria in your filtration system (live sand/rock). Using live fish to 'cycle' a tank is really an unneccessary and inhumane practice that (regardless of how hardy the fish might be) exposes the fish to toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite. If you are using fresh live rock as opposed to fully cured, the die-off on the rock will do the same as adding the shrimp, so, you can fully cycle your tank with just the rock. Hope this clears things up a bit.

Geoff · 09-09-2002, 10:41 AM

Welcome!!!
What kind of lighting do you have?

G~