newbee checkin in. cloudy water...

[Jamaica_sun]

Hello all-
I just purchased my first saltwater aquarium. I have been wanting it forever, and finally found the perfect one for me. I even drove a 10 hour round trip after I got off work Friday to pick it up.

-65 Gallon Tank w/ glass hoods, & Black Stand
-Wet/Dry filter with bio-balls and 660GPH pump
-In sump Cyclone protein skimmer w/pump and hang on CPR protein skimmer)
-UV Sterilizer
-Coralife nite and day light light complete with separate timers,Built-in
ballasts ,Two cooling fans.
Bucket of salt
6 stage R.O. water purifier with a 3 gallon reserve tank

I struggled for several hours trying to get the tank pumping properly. It is now set up. Very cloudy.. but none the less the water is slowly rising in temperature.
Two questions
1) how long until I put the live rock in? and then fish?
2) Should I put any chemicals in the water? I used tap water. I don't know if the cloudy water is because of the salt or if it is needing conditioner (like the fresh water tanks)

Any clarification is greatly appreciated.

Jeremy

[fishflyer]

Welcome JS 3 reef has a lot of great info as you get up and running. Usually when you mix your salt or add substrate you will get some cloudy water for a day or so. It will clear.

Since you have used tap water I would be concerned about chlorine/chloramine!
Did you use anything to treat the water before you mixed your salt. If not I would recommend Seachem's PRIME or similar product to be safe.

[coral reefer]

Welcome Jeremy to 3reef!!!!!!!!
One question:
1) you said you purchased a ro unit-why did you use regular tap water to fill your tank? Use the ro water!!!!!it is so much better for your tank, especially if you want to have corals. Since the water is already in, just make sure
there is no chlorine, chloramine etc. If you plan on having corals and making your tank a (reef) tank-lose the bio-balls.
Be careful if you plan on having corals, read up on light requirements!!! Different corals require different light intensities. For example-Octocorals(soft corals) require much less light than say Goniopora or most Acroporas.How much light do you have on your tank? (wattage per gallon) Do you have metal halides or pc,vho or t5's?
Alot of times when a tank is set up for the first time a cloudiness is seen. Try using carbon in a cannister or hang on filter, or just put some carbon in your sump with a strong water flow.
What do you have in your tank to cycle your tank? VERY IMPORTANT!!!before you put something in the tank you have to cycle your tank!Try damsels, clowns or even some shrimp that you would buy to eat at the supermarket.(you need to remove the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate out, or most of the living things you plan on putting in your tank will perrish.)
You can put the live rock in your tank as soon as the water is at the right reef parameters ie. salinity, temp and ph.
The bottom line is to take it slow and do alot of reading. Any questions-ask us here a 3reef- someone will be able to answer your question!
Most of all, have fun and enjoy!!!!Tom

[Diver_1298]

http://www.3reef.com/modules.php?nam...category&cid=1
Jeremy,
Do yourself a favor and read Matt's 3 steps to a reef aquarium.
It answers almost all the basic questions you are going to have.....

Enjoy,

Jim

[Jamaica_sun]

I have the RO filter saddle-valved into my supply line for my laundry room. It has a 3 gallon resevoir, but it takes forever to filter the water and to be honest I do not know too much about the process. I will be the first to admit ignorance with my new found hobby.
I am going to purchase a closeable trash can to hold the purified water/salt mix for water change and top-off.

Today I added tap water conditioner and a stability additive both made by made by Seacham.

The water levels are hospitable enough to sustain live rock according to the specialist at the local marine store, so I have added about 40 lbs to the tank.

As far as the lights, I have Coralife 96 watt 10,000K and 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue. I know that one is for day and the other for nite time.

What am I supposed to replace the bio-balls with? I am planning (after much more reading) to have a reef and fish environment. I am not in a hurry, so I am counting on about six weeks of waiting before I start thinking of adding fish .
Thank you nboth for the advice and suggstions.
J

[telman2010]

Actually you can run the actinic during the day as well. The actinic light will bring out the colors of your fish and corals. Personally I would just get rid of the bio-balls and use live rock for you biological filitration needs. Good luck.

Eric

[Jamaica_sun]

So would I put the LR where the bio balls are now in the wet/dry trickle chamber? I was under the impression that the rock had to be submerged in water.

[telman2010]

My mistake. I didn't notice you were using a wet/dry filter. I was just talking about having live rock in your display tank for filtration purposes.

[Jamaica_sun]

Would the protein skimmer be sufficient filtration in conjunction with the live rock once the tank has cycled?

Also, what is the reason for not having bio balls with a reef tank?

[telman2010]

Yes in my opinion skimmer and live rock are more than suffecient for filtration purposes. Bio-balls tend to be nitrate traps. I run only a skimmer and live rock and have been very pleased with the results.