Feeling a little overwhelmed

[SpeedySurf]

Hello everyone,
You may have seen my previous posts on this thread, but I have begun to feel a bit stressed with the whole beginning process. This is my first saltwater tank, and I am doing my best to ensure it is properly set up before adding livestock and that I have the proper parameters for the species I want to house (1 firefish to start, later I’d like to add in 1 ocellaris). I know it won’t be perfect, and I’m bound to mess up here and there, but I’d like to get it right. In case this is the first time you’re hearing about my new setup, I have an IM Nuvo 15 on a stand from HelloReef, with live sand and dry rock. I am doing fish-only. It has been running since 6/26. I have the temperature set to 77°F with an Eheim Jager 50W heater, located in the back middle chamber. My Fritz Fishless Fuel finally arrived yesterday, so I was able to add in the Fritz TurboStart 900 that arrived via mail about a week ago and has been sitting in the fridge since. Unfortunately, my salinity is at 1.030, which I measured using a refractometer, and I know that is too high. Now, I apologize if these questions seem stupid, but I want to learn how to navigate this hobby properly:

-What is the ideal amount of saltwater I should remove in order to lower the salinity? What is the proper salinity for a fish-only tank?

-Is using bottled distilled water ok to replace the saltwater with/top off? I do not have a ro/di system or an ATO as of now.

-Does the cycling process take a certain amount of time before everything dies and I have to start over? I haven’t gathered all my supplies yet, aka ammonia tests, and I just added in bacteria/ammonia today. I know I should be testing every day while cycling, but I would like to wait until my ammonia tests arrive if possible (ordered today, forgot to pick them up with my other tests).

-Ideal CUC for this tank? How long after cycling is complete should I wait to add a CUC?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

There is no need to test every day for a cycle, once every several days is fine. A dry rock cycle takes about 3-4 weeks, but a test kit is needed to confirm the final result. Once the cycle is complete the bacteria will last forever. Just add a pinch of flake food to the tank once or twice a week to keep it going.

Distilled water is fine, I used distilled water the first few years in the hobby.

I assume you have no fish so go ahead and remove water and fill the tank with distilled until you get it right. Salinity should be 1.023 to 1.026 for fish only. IMO

Wait until you have fish and see algae before getting cuc. They have to have something to clean right

Hope this helps and good luck and post some pics we love pics here.

 

[SpeedySurf]

There is no need to test every day for a cycle, once every several days is fine. A dry rock cycle takes about 3-4 weeks, but a test kit is needed to confirm the final result. Once the cycle is complete the bacteria will last forever. Just add a pinch of flake food to the tank once or twice a week to keep it going.

Distilled water is fine, I used distilled water the first few years in the hobby.

I assume you have no fish so go ahead and remove water and fill the tank with distilled until you get it right. Salinity should be 1.023 to 1.026 for fish only. IMO

Wait until you have fish and see algae before getting cuc. They have to have something to clean right

Hope this helps and good luck and post some pics we love pics here.

Thank you so much, this is very helpful! I will add some pics below, forgot to do that in the thread, whoops

 

[edsbeaker]

There is a lot to learn when starting a reef tank, and I just wanted to let you know that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed! Hang in there, and feel free to let the great people here help you along the way! That is what this forum is all about!

 

[DmitryB]

To start lowering salinity, remove a few cups of tank water and add in same amount of fresh. Wait about 30 mins and test salinity. Keep going until you reach the right levels.

 

[SpeedySurf]

There is no need to test every day for a cycle, once every several days is fine. A dry rock cycle takes about 3-4 weeks, but a test kit is needed to confirm the final result. Once the cycle is complete the bacteria will last forever. Just add a pinch of flake food to the tank once or twice a week to keep it going.

Distilled water is fine, I used distilled water the first few years in the hobby.

I assume you have no fish so go ahead and remove water and fill the tank with distilled until you get it right. Salinity should be 1.023 to 1.026 for fish only. IMO

Wait until you have fish and see algae before getting cuc. They have to have something to clean right

Hope this helps and good luck and post some pics we love pics here.

Thank you so much, this is very helpful! I will add some pics below, forgot to do that in the thread, whoops

 

[DmitryB]

Also don't feel discouraged. It's a big learning curve, but things become second nature over time.

 

[cloak]

I like comic books... "Always trying to think ahead, like a carpenter, who makes stairs..."
That $4.99 book might be worth $20 or more later... An investment so to say....
Same goes with corals....
I live in a small town. Sometimes when I see a cool coral at the LFS and I buy it,,, it lives... (and grows) now I can get credit for fish food, dog food, etc.... (frags)
I hope that made sense. GL.

 

[Fish Fan]

To start lowering salinity, remove a few cups of tank water and add in same amount of fresh. Wait about 30 mins and test salinity. Keep going until you reach the right levels.

I agree with this, you can quite safely lower salinity relatively quickly, you want to go much more slowly if raising salinity

 

[popalud]

Hello everyone,
You may have seen my previous posts on this thread, but I have begun to feel a bit stressed with the whole beginning process. This is my first saltwater tank, and I am doing my best to ensure it is properly set up before adding livestock and that I have the proper parameters for the species I want to house (1 firefish to start, later I’d like to add in 1 ocellaris). I know it won’t be perfect, and I’m bound to mess up here and there, but I’d like to get it right. In case this is the first time you’re hearing about my new setup, I have an IM Nuvo 15 on a stand from HelloReef, with live sand and dry rock. I am doing fish-only. It has been running since 6/26. I have the temperature set to 77°F with an Eheim Jager 50W heater, located in the back middle chamber. My Fritz Fishless Fuel finally arrived yesterday, so I was able to add in the Fritz TurboStart 900 that arrived via mail about a week ago and has been sitting in the fridge since. Unfortunately, my salinity is at 1.030, which I measured using a refractometer, and I know that is too high. Now, I apologize if these questions seem stupid, but I want to learn how to navigate this hobby properly:

-What is the ideal amount of saltwater I should remove in order to lower the salinity? What is the proper salinity for a fish-only tank?

-Is using bottled distilled water ok to replace the saltwater with/top off? I do not have a ro/di system or an ATO as of now.

-Does the cycling process take a certain amount of time before everything dies and I have to start over? I haven’t gathered all my supplies yet, aka ammonia tests, and I just added in bacteria/ammonia today. I know I should be testing every day while cycling, but I would like to wait until my ammonia tests arrive if possible (ordered today, forgot to pick them up with my other tests).

-Ideal CUC for this tank? How long after cycling is complete should I wait to add a CUC?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Helping dial in salinity is one of the more common ways i use AI. based off the info provided above, here is what Gemini provided. Hope it helps.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Helping dial in salinity is one of the more common ways i use AI. based off the info provided above, here is what Gemini provided. Hope it helps.

This is wrong BTW....
use this...
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/SaltwaterDilution.php

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Also make sure your testing is accurate.

Article 'Reef Aquarium Salinity: DIY Calibration Standards'

Reef Aquarium Salinity: DIY Calibration Standards By Randy Holmes-Farley One of the most important issues facing marine aquarists is providing a suitable environment for their aquaria's inhabitants. Among the important properties for a marine environment's suitability is the water's salinity...

• Randy Holmes-Farley
• Mar 21, 2024
• 18 min read
• 5.00 star(s) 4 ratings
• Reaction score: 21
• Reviews: 4
• Category: Reef Chemistry

Also I would not go with such a deep sandbed with your first go around. Personally I would get rid of about 90% of that sand. Look at my sneeky pete build.

Cube Build  Thread 'Sneaky Pete… IM15g Build.'

Jun 21, 2025

Sneaky Pete… IM15g Build.

MTS (multi tank syndrome) has struck again! This is the story on how I snuck another tank into the house in plain sight.
It all started when the Dice aquarium stand was on clearance. I felt for sixty bucks I can always use it for housing electronics or storage and it matches my other cabinets in the fish room. Then IM announced their plans for a price increase, so on the final day I pulled the trigger on the IM15g. When this tank was released I was excited about it, but at the time I had a Fijicube 10g. That tank was only one inch smaller all around so it...

• TangerineSpeedo
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Cube Aquariums

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Also there is a lot of literature that will guide you not the internet. There are some good older BRS Youtube vids.
Also, you maybe in a world of hurt without live sand or rubble. You will need an ATO. A Fzone off of Amazon will be fine.