Tmar
Active Member
Hello,
I am female, Canadian & new to saltwater tanks and R2R :smile:
I have recently (last 3 weeks) been reading, reading, reading and researching everything. Some is sinking in, some ... not so much :neutral:
I bought a 10 gallon tank w/top fin heater, an API superclean 5-20 filter and a coralife 18" light fixture for $10 bucks off craigslist. I thought it was a good deal. I have no hood yet but can use a clean window pane for that Im sure. I have plans of building this into a "nano" reef tank eventually but am starting out with a fowlr tank and very slowly...of course!!
I read about DIY rock and have made about 11lbs of very nice pieces using: cement, washed aquarium gravel, crushed oyster shells AND some washed crushed coral (also came with the tank and stuff). I re"washed" the washed stuff using nothing but HOT water & aquarium salt. My DIY rock was sluiced every single day for 3 weeks, run under running water for a half hour a day, sluiced again and water changed. I tested it for 4 days in a row, the pH = 8ish.
1. bought 6lbs of live wet rock from my local fish store on saturday and put that in a tub with 6 gallons of fresh mixed saltwater (tap + instant ocean) by pkg directions. Added is my new maxijet 400 powerhead on the 500gph setup and the topfin heater.
2. i received my 20lb bag of CaribSea live sand with the powerhead and instant ocean salt mix...
Can I now "setup" my 10 gallon with the live sand, powerhead (on the 110 gph settings), filter, heater and rock and just let it all cycle until ammonia and nitrites read 0??
Should I continue to let my purchased rock and DIY rock just "cure" indefinitely in the tub?
Am I missing any necessary equipment etc to successfully begin a tank cycle?
If I set it up to cycle ... do I use the light or not in the cycling process?
When (if) do I add a hermit crab? Will the tank hold either 1 damselfish OR 1 clownfish (not both)?
Soooooooo many questions still, I really really am in NO huge rush to add fish but would really like to get the tank cycling. I would love to be able to have 1 fish in the next 5 months. Any and all input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I am female, Canadian & new to saltwater tanks and R2R :smile:
I have recently (last 3 weeks) been reading, reading, reading and researching everything. Some is sinking in, some ... not so much :neutral:
I bought a 10 gallon tank w/top fin heater, an API superclean 5-20 filter and a coralife 18" light fixture for $10 bucks off craigslist. I thought it was a good deal. I have no hood yet but can use a clean window pane for that Im sure. I have plans of building this into a "nano" reef tank eventually but am starting out with a fowlr tank and very slowly...of course!!
I read about DIY rock and have made about 11lbs of very nice pieces using: cement, washed aquarium gravel, crushed oyster shells AND some washed crushed coral (also came with the tank and stuff). I re"washed" the washed stuff using nothing but HOT water & aquarium salt. My DIY rock was sluiced every single day for 3 weeks, run under running water for a half hour a day, sluiced again and water changed. I tested it for 4 days in a row, the pH = 8ish.
1. bought 6lbs of live wet rock from my local fish store on saturday and put that in a tub with 6 gallons of fresh mixed saltwater (tap + instant ocean) by pkg directions. Added is my new maxijet 400 powerhead on the 500gph setup and the topfin heater.
2. i received my 20lb bag of CaribSea live sand with the powerhead and instant ocean salt mix...
Can I now "setup" my 10 gallon with the live sand, powerhead (on the 110 gph settings), filter, heater and rock and just let it all cycle until ammonia and nitrites read 0??
Should I continue to let my purchased rock and DIY rock just "cure" indefinitely in the tub?
Am I missing any necessary equipment etc to successfully begin a tank cycle?
If I set it up to cycle ... do I use the light or not in the cycling process?
When (if) do I add a hermit crab? Will the tank hold either 1 damselfish OR 1 clownfish (not both)?
Soooooooo many questions still, I really really am in NO huge rush to add fish but would really like to get the tank cycling. I would love to be able to have 1 fish in the next 5 months. Any and all input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
