Floyd's 60gal first salt water tank ever

[Floyd-]

This is the start of my first dip into salt water. I just got the tank setup and filled 3 days ago with water from the local pet store. They gave me some bacteria starter and some ammonia stuff to get it started. Other than a new hydrometer I dont have anything to test with. What all should I be looking to monitor and when can I stick coral and fish in there? Im reading like crazy but its a lot to take in considering I came from freshwater where you test nothing and it all just works.

How is the setup looking? I have two heaters and a canister filter and a LED bar with dawn to dusk modes. I think its about 30lbs of live rock at the moment. Im looking into coral and fish that are easy for a beginner at the moment.

 

[ExoS]

looks good. You might want some more rock. For testing, you might want to look at red sea’s starter kit. It has what you need to test during your cycle. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and alkalinity.

I look forward to seeing your progress

 

[JuiceByCliff]

Put some More Rock in that bad boy! No expert on fish, but nothing gets your confidence going like green star polyp coral!!! Just keep it isolated on a separate rock and watch it take Off. Congrats on the new tank!

 

[Adolfo]

Congrats on the new tank and welcome to the salt side !

 

[harley32907]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Paheej]

So I would splurge and buy one of those pre-built rock towers with the cylinder in the middle - they are expensive - like $200 to $300; however they are totally worth it. For live rock a couple of pieces should do - maybe even just a few pounds. I would also recommend you get at minimum two powerheads or one of those crazy fancy ones. I did not see one in your setup.

For fish - I would get one blue/green chromis to get you started - peaceful, active, hardy, and cheap - I cannot recommend this fish enough.

 

[Floyd-]

So I would splurge and buy one of those pre-built rock towers with the cylinder in the middle - they are expensive - like $200 to $300; however they are totally worth it. For live rock a couple of pieces should do - maybe even just a few pounds. I would also recommend you get at minimum two powerheads or one of those crazy fancy ones. I did not see one in your setup.

For fish - I would get one blue/green chromis to get you started - peaceful, active, hardy, and cheap - I cannot recommend this fish enough.

I was looking at the powerheads. Is that just for water flow within the tank? ive never had to use one of those in the smaller tanks ive had before (5-10gal) Would one work or do I need two? Maybe one on the bottom right and one on the top left to make it swirl a little? Ill look into those fish definitely, I need something forgiving for a first fish.

 

[Floyd-]

Just got my first "thing" in the tank. Looks like rust on the sand. Should I leave things be? Someone told me that I need to clean out my canister filter every other day with a salt setup?! That cannot be right.

 

[Floyd-]

Finally got the tank cycled and had our first fishes added last night. Also decided to make this a fish only tank as I dip into the salt world.

 

[rustyreefer]

I was looking at the powerheads. Is that just for water flow within the tank? ive never had to use one of those in the smaller tanks ive had before (5-10gal) Would one work or do I need two? Maybe one on the bottom right and one on the top left to make it swirl a little? Ill look into those fish definitely, I need something forgiving for a first fish.

Yes, powerhead is for flow. Will help keep waste suspended in the water column so that filtration can take it out. As you start looking into specific coral, flow will be important.

 

[rustyreefer]

Just got my first "thing" in the tank. Looks like rust on the sand. Should I leave things be? Someone told me that I need to clean out my canister filter every other day with a salt setup?! That cannot be right.

your tank is cycling. I would recommend searching for cycling threads

 

[Floyd-]

Yes, powerhead is for flow. Will help keep waste suspended in the water column so that filtration can take it out. As you start looking into specific coral, flow will be important.

Decided just to stick with a fish only setup on this tank. Simple and easy for a salt beginner.