New to sw!

I need the assistance of saltwater experts!

I'm looking to set up my first sw tank. I was thinking a 20 long, but maybe even a 40 b.

I pretty much understand all the equipment needed and stuff. My questions are about cycling, and matinence. How exactly is a sw tank cycled? Is there a certian order your supposed to add livestock to a new cycled tank?

If I were to do a reef tank, with some nice easy hardy corals to start, what kind of weekly matinence and testing am I looking at? i know about weekly water changes, and testing for pH, ammo, nitrITE, nitRATE, but what is needed for a reef?

Are there any other chemicals/prouducts i have to add to the water for a reef?

Thanks for all your help everyone

 

Answers in the quote. are you looking to get a sump?

 

Are you the George9 I know? LOL

The tank is cycled when it can go through 2-4ppm of ammonia within a 24 hours period.

Some nice starters are mushrooms and leathers. I try to stay away from zoas because they contain palytoxin which can be deadly.

 

Thank you! Lots of good info! I was just going to get like an aq 110 hob filter. How would I go about making a sump with a glass tank, wouldn't I have to cut holes in the glass or something like that? Since your the same age as me, how the heck do you find the cash to do saltwater tanks?

Thanks! Yes, this is the George9 you know! lol I will look into mushrooms and leathers. And I'll be sure to stay away from zoas lol, I don't wanna be killed from starting sw haha.

 

You could convert that AC 110 into a Refugium! It's pretty simple, just google it.

No drilling required, just use an overflow, then from the sump use a return pump to pump water back to the tank.

Haha, lots of lawn mowing.

An don't be afraid of zoas, just handle them with care and wear gloves.

 

Cool! That looks like something I could definately try! Then I just fill it with some live rock rubble and maybe some cheato? So then that would be the filter, along with the live rock inside the tank right?

 

Exactly