But that’s a lot of live rock to buy, especially at $6/lb.
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If you really want to go cheap. Buy mainly dry rock, a small live rock, no bacteria and test kit for ammonia and nitrate. Toss a raw shrimp in it until you see ammonia rise, then pull it out. I suggest putting the shrimp in a small net for easy removal. Keep testing until ammonia drops to 0 and nitrates are high. Then ghost feed the tank until you see no more ammonia showing up and nitrates are continuing to rise.
This by far is the cheapest way to cycle the tank.
I would get the clowns first, they are more hardy. Also would give you something to look at swimming around the tank.I think I mentioned this above, but I’ll be adding the Goby first, then inverts. And the clowns.
Er, yes, sorry, this is so confusing.Ok so the plan changed again. Before you had no mention of dry rock. Now your saying your getting mainly dry rock?
Question: how much dry rock vs live rock are you getting? How much rock in general are you getting?
Also
I would get the clowns first, they are more hardy. Also would give you something to look at swimming around the tank.
Then it won’t be a instant cycle, and it’s going to take a few weeks to be fully cycled after adding the rock. It doesn’t matter if the live rock is on the bottom or top of the dry rock. But your going to have to wait til the dry rock becomes live rock.My plan is to get more dry rock than live rock. Sort of build a base out of dry rock, then add live rock on top.
I have that same RO/DI system it works great ! I get 5 gallons in a few hours but 0 TDS and it’s perfect for my 20 gallon AIO I do biweekly 10% water changes since it’s a softie/LPS tank also have 2 clownsJust order the RO/DI system! Should get here Wednesday.
I agree with this ^ I bought 45$ of dry rock for saltwater aquarium.com the real cheap stuff and bought fritz turbo start 2 weeks of ghost feedings and my tank was ready for 2 clownsThen it won’t be a instant cycle, and it’s going to take a few weeks to be fully cycled after adding the rock. It doesn’t matter if the live rock is on the bottom or top of the dry rock. But your going to have to wait til the dry rock becomes live rock.
if your dosing bacteria anyways.. why not just buy all dry rock, it’s cheaper. Look on offer up. You can get it for like $1 - 1lb, you might have to clean it in bleach if you get it from someone. But you only need like 20-30lbs
I think it’s still good to seed it with some real live rock. To me a reef tank isn’t a reef tank without all the microfauna.I agree with this ^ I bought 45$ of dry rock for saltwater aquarium.com the real cheap stuff and bought fritz turbo start 2 weeks of ghost feedings and my tank was ready for 2 clowns
But he’s dosing with bacteria? Also it would eliminate unwanted/unneeded pest? The live rock he’s getting isn’t exactly from the ocean, it’s in the LFS tank... which is scary in itself...I think it’s still good to seed it with some real live rock. To me a reef tank isn’t a reef tank without all the microfauna.
Oh I 100% agree I do have a few pieces of live rock in there there not huge but there in there I was lucky to get copepods and bristle worms and an Astria starfish.I think it’s still good to seed it with some real live rock. To me a reef tank isn’t a reef tank without all the microfauna.
Wow, I went a completely different route... I went full dry and added the stuff I wanted in the tank.Oh I 100% agree I do have a few pieces of live rock in there there not huge but there in there I was lucky to get copepods and bristle worms and an Astria starfish.
I mean I didn’t buy the live rock must of my soft corals came on live rock instead of frag plugs also my anemone came on a big piece of live rock I feel like having dry rock makes the the tank mature better then just shoving live rock in thereWow, I went a completely different route... I went full dry and added the stuff I wanted in the tank.
Successful attractive saltwater reef aquariums all share one common item: good biology. Quality live rock, live sand, and preferably water ALL preferably from an existing system such as that found at your LFS are key. Trying to create good biology with a bottle of bacteria and tap water is like playing ball with one hand tied behind your back. It can be done, but it won't be ideal.
I recommend you start taking advantage of the best resource in your own back yard and go to them for advice and not here, but hey when I was 15, no way would I have taken advice from some old dude like me
PETropolis in Lawrenceburg, Ky
For reference of what I mean by good biology here's my one year old nano and my main reef in it's heyday:
Yup! That’s my LFS it’s an awesome place.PETropolis in Lawrenceburg, Ky
It takes that long to get 5 gallons of water!?I have that same RO/DI system it works great ! I get 5 gallons in a few hours but 0 TDS and it’s perfect for my 20 gallon AIO I do biweekly 10% water changes since it’s a softie/LPS tank also have 2 clowns