Setting up a new tank

nk290 · 07-02-2005, 08:55 PM

Hi everyone. I am new to TRT and first would like to introduce myself. My name is Nate and I live in Colorado. I have a 50g FW Oscar tank and am in the middle of the cycling process of my 25 gallong SW tank. Currently, I have 15 lbs. of live rock, a Bio-Wheel 200, a SeaClone 100 protein skimmer (eek), heater, crushed coral w/ argonite, and two powerheads. I am two weeks into cycling my tank. I bought an Arrow Crab and a drawf electric blue hermit crab two days ago. The lady at the LFS said those two could live throught the cycling process. My first question has to do w/ the skimmer. Since spending $90.00 on it, I have heard it is a bad skimmer. I have two options. Keep it if it won't damage the creatures in my tank (i want to start with clowns and coral). Second options is to try to return it to Petco for store credit, and then get a different skimmer, which doesn't leave me with a wide selection. They have a prism skimmer, and a berlin airlift (are those good?). Second question- There is a sea squirt on my live rock. The lady at the LFS said there would be enought bio matter to keep him alive, but I question this since I only have two crabs. I know he is still alive after these 2 weeks, because he closes everytime I walk by. Is it too late to save him, or can I try to feed him w/ liquid plankton.

Thanks for the help. (And sorry for the length...first post)

Nate

autochek · 07-02-2005, 09:22 PM

Welcome to TRT!!! Stick around, it becomes as addictive as the hobby itself.
The sea clone should get you thru for a while since you have virtually no bio load at the moment. Not knowing how your setup is I'm hesitant to suggest one of the Geoff DIY skimmers. They work great but are hard to hide.
You can cycle your tank the way your going and add a cleanup crew in the next week or so, You can even throw a piece of raw shrimp to decay in the tank and start the process. Was the rock live when you bought it? One suggestion I would have is to remove all the media from the Bio wheel filter and replace it with live rock rubble. You will probably over time want to change this around and go with a sump under the tank and an in sump skimmer.
Your off to a good start. Just remember to go very slow. Let the bio build up before adding too many things. Everytime you make a change the tank will go thru a small cycle and this cycle will go quicker after the tank ages a while. Resist the temptation to add too many fish or fish that grow too large. In a 25 you will have very little time to react if the parameters go crazy.
Get a good test kit for the basics for now and bild on it over time.
Happy Reefing and welcome.
Tom

tims · 07-02-2005, 09:43 PM

Welcome To TRT!

yup see if youcan get credit for it. if not use it for now but think about making your own or buying a much better one.
basicaly you need a very good skimmer adn live rock. just about everythingelse is extra.
think about replacing the CC ( crushed coral) now. since you are in the middle of cycling the tank. the CC will be a headache down the line. If youdecide you want to keep it, make sure you clean it everytime you clean the tank.a lot of detrious ( gung/excess food / poop) gets trapped in it.
what are you parameters in the tank? i really would not put anyone in it until all levels are zero.
what type of lighting do you have? this willcome in to play when you decide what type of corals you want to keep.
have you picked up and books yet?

well anyway. welcome to TRT...

Dont be afraid to ask anything. you will find veryone very helpful!

xtopher · 07-02-2005, 09:57 PM

Welcome to trt, the folks here will treat you good and are a vast source of knowledge and info, good luck on your tank...p.s. you will definately want to upgrade your skimmer

nk290 · 07-02-2005, 10:18 PM

I have had "live" live rock for about 2 weeks now. There are new organisms growing on it already, little plants (which are clear now). What would be better than the crushed coral? By cleaning it, do you mean just using the siphon end and stirring it up at clean up time? Petco does have the "Prizm" skimmers, are those good? I could also send it back to Drs. Foster and Smith and get my money back. What is the DIY skimmer like? Can I be w/o a skimmer for a week or two in this stage of my tank?

Thanks again,

Nate

VWD · 07-02-2005, 10:21 PM

Welcome!

nk290 · 07-02-2005, 10:35 PM

BTW: I have a 130 Watt PC with two fans and two lunar lights on its way. Should be here sometime next week.

autochek · 07-03-2005, 06:57 AM

Look into the aqua C brand of skimmers. You would be alot happier. As for the substrate, you can go with aragonite. You can also go with Southdown sand from Home Depot if the one in your area has it. The CC is too corse but I'm sure someone will pipe in soon and have a different oppinion.

tims · 07-03-2005, 08:27 AM

the prism skimmer is another one that is on hte cheaper end of the scale. using a skimmer now is a good wa to help the tank.
having a 3-4 inch deep sand bed (DSB) would be great. if youcan also raise the LR ( live rock) off of the sand that woudl be better. keeping detrious ( excess food and poop) suspended in the water column so it can be removed if best. a lot of times with LR on a DSB or CC you will get algae growing in that spot. making your own skimmer is an easy way to get around paying for one if you can not spend the money. check the sponors here.
remeber slow is good in a reef tank. and never add anything to the tank that you can not test for.

Loverotties · 07-03-2005, 04:16 PM

You need a good skimmer like a Aqua C by Remora,check them at www.proteinskimmer.com , to start out if money is tight ,then buy up later or look on e-bay or sometimes here find a deal on a great skimmer.But Skimmer and lights are the trwo top things to water quality is there also!