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Beginning 30 gallon FOWLR aquarium

3030 Views 15 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  greyreef, 
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I have a 30 gallon tank with stand that I am going to be setting up in the next few weeks. I've been doing a ton of research on saltwater aquariums. I have decided to do a fish only with live rock. I have purchased 40 lbs of sand, Instant Ocean salt, aqueon 700 circulation pump, Instant Ocean Bio-Spira, and Stress Coat+. I also have a heater, air pump, thermometer, and the secondnature whisper filter that hangs on back with active carbon, and 15-20 lbs of dead rock from a previous aquarium. I ordered a hydrometer, saltwater test kit and a second heater. I have nets, cover, light, siphon,and buckets for water changes.My end goal is to have a snowflake eel with a couple fish. I know that I will need a bigger tank before long but I want to start with 2 or 3 fish and once I'm use to regulating the water I will upgrade. Is there anything else I will need for start up? Any recommendations?

Also, where is the best place to place and point the circulation pump in the tank? I have a 30 gallon rectangular tank. Should it be pointed down towards the rock?

To start the cycle in my tank, Ill add the sand and live and dead rock,(Ill probably buy 1 or 2 more piece of live rock) along with what I already have. Add the water, salt, and conditioner. Add Bio- Spira. Then I know you have to add ammonia to start the cycle. What do I add? How much? How often? Etc.

Once the cycle is complete (after about 2 weeks I'm guessing)and my water is at 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites, and 20 or below nitrates (With appropriate salinity, pH, temp) I can slowly start adding my clean up crew. What would you recommend? I want to keep them compatible with my snowflake eel that I plan on getting down the road.

Thanks!!

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greyreef
Good plans!
I would just add a small raw shrimp, fresh from the grocery store
Would start to cycle your tank, just leave it in for at least aweek, see if its turning to mush and measure your parameters
Better to pull it out with some left
After 1-2 weeks, can add CUC
I prefer cerith snails, but if your having a FOWLR tank, might need nassarius as well
I dont like crabs (personal opinion)
Hahaha!
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greyreef
Dont know what your water is like an sioux city, but that is critical for success of a saltwater tank...
Gonna use water from your lfs?
Consider starting by buying a cheap tds handheld meter...
Great device that will be a check for all the water you introduce into your tank, try to ensure close to 0 tds
The devices I use most are
1 refractometer
2 tds meter
3 pH meter
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greyreef
And as far as your circulation pump is concerned...
Dont worry about it!!
I remember wondering about that too before I started...
Its actually fun to try to direct flow around your tank, get detritus to settle or not, keep sand bed intact
Youll figure it out
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greyreef
And...
Welcome to TRT!!
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I don't have a refractometer yet. Petco is the only LFS and I don't think they sell one. Sioux City water is terrible and I wont be using tap. I am looking into buying a RODI unit... however with school starting I just wanted to get my tank set up and the cycle started. I've read forever about RODI units and it looks like they are about 130 on the cheap side. Would I be able to get away with filling the tank with RODI water from petco or distilled water until I have enough money for my own unit. I would rather start off the right way that's why I am in no hurry to rush into starting. But its all just sitting there and I cant wait to begin! LOL.

Also, I have dead coral that's been sitting in a bucket covered with a plastic bag. Do I need to do anything before putting it into my tank besides rinsing it with tap water? I've read bleaching... but to me that just sounds like a bad idea no matter how thoroughly you rinse it.
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Ashley1018 said:
I don't have a refractometer yet. Petco is the only LFS and I don't think they sell one. Sioux City water is terrible and I wont be using tap. I am looking into buying a RODI unit... however with school starting I just wanted to get my tank set up and the cycle started. I've read forever about RODI units and it looks like they are about 130 on the cheap side. Would I be able to get away with filling the tank with RODI water from petco or distilled water until I have enough money for my own unit. I would rather start off the right way that's why I am in no hurry to rush into starting. But its all just sitting there and I cant wait to begin! LOL.

Also, I have dead coral that's been sitting in a bucket covered with a plastic bag. Do I need to do anything before putting it into my tank besides rinsing it with tap water? I've read bleaching... but to me that just sounds like a bad idea no matter how thoroughly you rinse it.
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I am using distilled water from Walmart (88 cents). It actually cost more then buying RO/DI water (69 cents) from my LFS but is just a little more convenient for me and also don't need to worry about buying a bunch of 5 gallon jugs to fill up with the water. That can be another $70 or so expense just to buy the jugs.

RO/DI is definitely said to be the best though. Not sure how it truly differs or what it does or doesn't offer that is found in distilled water. Researching it gives you a lot of different opinions.
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greyreef
Yeah, distilled water IMO is just as good as rodi stuff, its usually more expensive and not worth the extra cost, but if thats more convenient to you...
Improtant to reduce your chance of phosphate and other nutients entering your system in high quantities feeding your algae

Small tank,probably not worth your while setting up your own rodi unit
Better to buy
Spend a few bucks a month for your water is not that bad

Maybe get that tds meter to test it out...
If you dont trust your source
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greyreef
Distilled should have 0 tds for sure
rodi only if all the filters are working properly
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greyreef said:
Yeah, distilled water IMO is just as good as rodi stuff, its usually more expensive and not worth the extra cost, but if thats more convenient to you...
Improtant to reduce your chance of phosphate and other nutients entering your system in high quantities feeding your algae

Small tank,probably not worth your while setting up your own rodi unit
Better to buy
Spend a few bucks a month for your water is not that bad

Maybe get that tds meter to test it out...
If you dont trust your source
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That is good to know as I thought I was selling myself short using distilled water and paying more for it. I run a 29 gallon tank so buying water for water changes is not that much money a month.

I guess a good thing about buying distilled water you always know what you are going to get if you stick with the same thing. When purchasing RO/DI water from your LFS you have to be sure they are keeping up with their filter changes or you can get water that is not so great.

The cost of an RO/DI unit does not make sense for smaller tanks like you said as you have to consider the cost of the unit, the cost of replacement filters and I have to imagine your water bill must take some sort of hit on it. Of course for larger aquariums it makes sense.

The cost of maintaing a 29 gallon SW tank is large enough for me, I can't imagine the cost to maintain these larger tanks you guys have.

Talking about water, I have been doing a 5 gallon wc weekly, siphoning out my sand bed and then pulling any additional water out to equal 5 gallons for the change. Do you think I can get away with doing 4 gallons a week on 29 gallon tank or should I not go lower then 5?
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greyreef
How long have you been doing it?
Is your cleaning good, no algae?
Might be time to extend if everyything is perfect and its been 6-9 months in
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greyreef said:
How long have you been doing it?
Is your cleaning good, no algae?
Might be time to extend if everyything is perfect and its been 6-9 months in
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It has been running for 2 months now. When you say extend it, do you mean in 6-9 months I can get away with doing less frequent water changes?

What would your suggestion be for maintence at this point and then what would it be at 6 months if all is well?
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Petco in sioux city doesn't sell ro or rodi water. They use premixed saltwater prepared in 5 gal jugs. If I remember right they were $12/ 5 gal. That is not an option. I know i shouldn't believe everything I read on the internet... but I read someone that distilled water may contain copper I believe they said. I also priced RO water from culligan and it was 6.14/5 gal or 8.14/5 gal delivery (in town). Also, you can rent ro systems for $20 a month. Still I'm not sure their water is 0 tds. I've pretty much looked into every option and it looks like I will be purchasing a ro/di unit from bulk reef supply. Yes it will cost me more but if I plan to upgrade to a bigger tank I will need it. Plus, I would rather pay a little more up front than have big problems later. Cheap refractometers? Lol where are you finding those? I can't seem to find any cheap
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Ashley1018 said:
Petco in sioux city doesn't sell ro or rodi water. They use premixed saltwater prepared in 5 gal jugs. If I remember right they were $12/ 5 gal. That is not an option. I know i shouldn't believe everything I read on the internet... but I read someone that distilled water may contain copper I believe they said. I also priced RO water from culligan and it was 6.14/5 gal or 8.14/5 gal delivery (in town). Also, you can rent ro systems for $20 a month. Still I'm not sure their water is 0 tds. I've pretty much looked into every option and it looks like I will be purchasing a ro/di unit from bulk reef supply. Yes it will cost me more but if I plan to upgrade to a bigger tank I will need it. Plus, I would rather pay a little more up front than have big problems later. Cheap refractometers? Lol where are you finding those? I can't seem to find any cheap
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$25.99 - http://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Tem...upplies_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0WKG1Z186YT13NPCNGWD

Also, back in the day places used copper for their distilled systems but everyone should have changed over by now. I use Walmart's and Harris Teeters distilled water with no problems at all. You can even buy a copper test kit and test for yourself. Plenty of people are using distilled water, especially for top offs.
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Thanks for that information.

Im going to be setting my tank up within the next week. I have absolutely everything I need for start up now except for water. Ill let you know how it goes! :)
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greyreef
Good Ashley!
Let us know (with pics) how it goes
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