New guy... new tank

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by cbc, Mar 14, 2004.

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  1. cbc

    cbc Plankton

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2004
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Gulf Coast,
    Hello all....

    been a pleasure reading the forums here.

    I have a new tank 55 gallon collumn. I am wondering how to know if there is enough salt in the water? I have looked and looked and no where have I found this answer. Is it all up to adding the salt to the water before adding to tank? I used Red Sea Salt to start the tank, as I read its not the best but to be honest got a killer deal on it. it recommends 1 cup per 3.75 gallons and I was filling up 5 gallon jug, so I added a touch more, on average 1 1/4 cups per 5 gallon jug.

    If all the other readins, ph, ammonia, nitrate, calcium etc... are good am I suppose to believe the water is good for adding fish, and rock?

    Thanks all, I appreciate the help.
     
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  3. NUGIO

    NUGIO Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2003
    Messages:
    734
    Location:
    MO VAL, CA
    Hi and welcome.
    You need a hydrometer to test the specific grarvity of your water(how much salt is in it) You can buy a inexpensive but not very accurate one for under $15 these are "swing type" cause they have a needle that umm ...swings.
    The best is whats called a refractometer this is the most accurate, but costs more.About $50 I just bought one from a sponsor here Premium Aquatics and the diffrence between the two was scary.
    Do not add any livestock untill you know exactly what your SG is typical range is between 1.021 -1.025 +/-.003 I keep mine @ 1.025 which is what natural sea water is.
     
  4. NUGIO

    NUGIO Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2003
    Messages:
    734
    Location:
    MO VAL, CA
    Heres a pic of a swing type hydrometer
     
  5. Craig Manoukian

    Craig Manoukian Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2002
    Messages:
    3,330
    Location:
    Marina del Rey, California
    Nugio is right on, the Swing arm will get you close, but a refractometer is the only way to go in my opinion. Just wish I hadn't waited so long to get mine.
     
  6. tdevil

    tdevil Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2004
    Messages:
    200
    Location:
    Marion, IN,Indiana
    [quote author=cbc link=board=Newbie;num=1079290619;start=0#0 date=03/14/04 at 10:56:58]If all the other readins, ph, ammonia, nitrate, calcium etc... are good am I suppose to believe the water is good for adding fish, and rock?
    [/quote]

    first, welcome, glad to meet you ;)

    for a brand new tank, after you get the salinity and the temp set, which i agree with above, refractometer are the way to go, but not a must ;), then you can start the cycle
    depending on what you want, as far as a reef tank, fish only, this will decide the best way to start the tank

    for a reef, try to get as much Live Rock (LR) as you can afford, for a 55g i say try to get around 55lbs to 75lbs, more the better, add the LR and this will start the cycle for you, (if you add fish to a new tank, this will stress the fish out and might kill them)
    the cycle will take around a month or a bit more to complete, in either type of system
    for a fish only, get a piece of coctail shrimp and throw it in the tank, as it decays it will start the cycle, you can take it out after a few days(maybe a week)

    an feel free to ask all the questions that you want

    td
     
  7. cbc

    cbc Plankton

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2004
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Gulf Coast,
    great just the info I was looking for! I actually saw one of the SeaTest things today, now that I am reading this post I smack myself for not buying it.

    Right now there is only about 15 lbs of live rock in the aquarium now, hooked up with a friend and bought 100 lbs of fiji rock, 50/50 should be here this week. Got a good deal from LFS.

    Thanks again.