Setting up a new tank

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jdavid

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I have heard various things about how to set up a tank. Most say RO is the only way to go, when I have been told that real ocean water boxed from petco is the absolute best water to use. Obviously for larger tanks it is sort of impractical at the price. I have heard that it is good to pour a half a bottle of prime in the tank and let it sit for a month. And other various dosing methods and I don't know if it's even necessary or beneficial. It just doesn't make sense to me because I don't understand why or how what I am being told applies. I don't really understand what a cycle is.. Al though I believe it refers to the nitrogen cycle which starts with extra organic impurities and ends with excess ammonia.

So I'm asking you, what would you do to start a new tank, and why would you do it. Detail would be helpful, I'm not opposed to links or reading as long as it is from a good source and up to date.

Thanks for reading
JD
 
hey man.

yea. in a nut shell a cycle is just getting the good bacteria set up to consume bad stuff.

Edit: oh to set up a new tank heres what I do.

set it up with sand rock and all equipment and let it roll :)

if you're not using lr.. .say dry...

then you'll probably want to introduce something to start the cycle.

b
 
Starting off clean sounds nice.
Add shrimp from the grocery store to start a cycle?
 
JDavid;837696 wrote: Starting off clean sounds nice.
Add shrimp from the grocery store to start a cycle?
Click to expand...

You can use anything that wil decay and create ammonia... hell I have even heard of people peeing in their tank to start it.
 
au alum;837701 wrote: You can use anything that wil decay and create ammonia... hell I have even heard of people peeing in their tank to start it.
Click to expand...

I peed in a tank a few weeks ago. The whole room smelled like piss until I turned the skimmer on and pulled it out. :)

I probably wouldn't reccommend it, but it did the job!
 
haha I know a guy who did that with his personal aquaponics system. Thought it was strange that he needed to pee in the water so that he could grow lettuce
 
Use a salt mix... It will have trace elements needed for our closed environments.
Use some live rock, mostly dry rock, and a cup of live sand from a donor tank... This will provide the bacteria and microscopic livestock needed to start your tank.
No need to kill a fish, pee in the tank, or add other dead organic matter to start the cycle. Dead matter will come from the live rock when a portion of it dies off during transport.
The cycle will be complete when bacteria multiplies and consumes the dead material.

Advice - Research and read through ARC - Start slow -Don't get in a hurry.
 
Trust me- I won't be peeing into any fish tanks :)
OK. So the goal is to get the beneficial bacteria going before adding any livestock?

Now I can get some donor sand and rock no problem, the only thing is what comes along with it?
What could I get from a well established tank through a cup of sand?

Is there a method that most people agree upon for starting a new tank? Its not a rush but I do have a couple fish that are waiting for a tank to be ready for them.I have just purchased a new biocube 29 and a used biocube 8. I'm going to be setting up the 8 first as the shipping on the 29 has been delayed.

The 8 came with some crushed coral in it, and I have a couple pieces of dry rock and some nice looking pink/purple barnacles. I could probably get a small piece of rock and definitely a cup of sand from my brother no problem. but once all this is added into the 8 along with some RODI/salt mix how long would you wait before adding 1 fish? its a snowflake clown and it goes without saying I don't want to take any risk of losing it.

So I have one person saying boil all the rock before you put it in your tank and one person saying take LR/donor sand to start the process. its okay to have different opinions, but what is the risk with donor rock sand. I have even been told to fill the tank up with water and a capful of bleach and let it run for a month. seems a little overboard... and I would use vinegar long before I would put bleach in my tank.

so I'm thinking...
remove crushed coral, rinse the tank well and clean it with vinegar, rinse again
wash crushed coral (boil?? has some green algae in it)
add crushed coral (add donor sand?)
add RODI/salt mix water (ideal specific gravity???)
wash dry rock/barnacles (boil???)
add to tank
(add donor rock???)
(add beneficial bacteria and prime???)
(add a bit of shrimp?)
Let tank cycle (how long???)
Add snowflake clown/CUC (what's a good CUC for an 8g?)
Let tank run (how long?)
add some corals

opinions? please feel free to disagree with eachother lol. everyone doesnt have to have the same opinions and that is OK
 
All good questions... And you will have many more.

I suggest you start your journey by reading through these links:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=73">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=73</a>

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43292">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43292</a>


Live rock can be expensive and can contain bad hitch hikers. By starting with part live rock and part dry rock you will save money and lessen the chance of getting bad hitch hikers.
 
Cut and pasted your comments here:

Now I can get some donor sand and rock no problem, the only thing is what comes along with it?
What could I get from a well established tank through a cup of sand?

------
A cup of sand from a donor could bring some good stuff as well as some unwanted "hitchhikers" that may be very difficult to surpress down the road. I would recommend you take a sample of the donor's tank to a "trustworthy" local fish store and have it tested. If one is good with a microscope, analyze the water under a microscope. Last months ARC meeting touched on the topic of "Investigating what's living within your little ocean." Testing the donor's water may raise some red flags and then it may not. If you choose this route, only time will tell if your donor's stuff was good or bad.

Someone has already given this advice, but I will repeat it again. "Take it slow, very slow" and "research" will become your best friend.

Wannabee
 
My thoughts are to read and read...books like this one..The Conscientious Aquarist by one of the foremost authorities...Robert Fenner. It's an investment that will pay off. Go slow or you will waste a lot of money.


Most people mean well and will try to help but peeing in the tank, recommending adding bleach to the tank, etc. is just not recommended. The book will get you grounded in facts and not opinions.

Also, starting off with an 8 gallon tank is the hardest way to go...too many things can go wrong with the water quality very fast...
 
Thanks all, i just found the stickies and was coming back here to post this linkhttp://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43292 for anyone UTSE who finds this thread, elFloyd. just read through it.

I know smaller tanks are harder, but I just can't afford all the equipment and salt and everything needed to maintain a larger tank. This is why I sold my 55. Trying to do things right this time around.

Any thoughts on Dr Tim's one and only denitrifying bacteria for reef tanks?
also, are the "dip strip" all in one testers good? I have a API test kit for freshwater also, and I believe the only thing needed is color cards for saltwater which you can probably find online
 
I'm sitting here with the laptop in my lap reading.. and my girlfriend keeps distracting me by leaning over me giggling and saying things like "can I have a kiss?" or "oh wow, look at the Walking Dead"

I just want to say to her.. "Honey. Can you let me concentrate?! I'm trying to read and understand the nitrogen cycle so I can be a successful saltwater aquarist!"
..but she wouldn't understand.. :)
 
It is too late for that LOL
I read until by brain hurt and now she will have nothing to do with me!

Still not convinced on the best method for achieving a balance between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria when setting up a tank. I guess it is up to me to make the decision. But the time to add the fish will be when my ammonia and nitrite are at 0, correct?
 
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