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help setting up saltwater tank

Discussion in 'Saltwater Fish Forum' started by Anonymous, Oct 7, 2008.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    i'm trying to convert my 150g fw to a sw. i have one big canister filter and getting a skimmer pretty soon. my light r color moon light(is that ok for saltwater?), and i also have a powerhead. i'm looking to start with just liive sand(50/50) and live rock(40-60lbs) and later on will add some fish. i will be getting a few water testing item also.

    now my ? r. do i need a skimmer or a blue light? do i mix the salt and water while i have the live sand and live rock in the tank or do i have the water ready before i put sand and rock in?

    anything will help.
     
    Anonymous, Oct 7, 2008
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Well, you're going to need more live rock. Generally the rule is about 1lb per gallon of water.

    You should mix the salt and water prior to putting it in the tank. After you have the salinity at the correct level you can then add your live sand and live rock.

    You should have a skimmer. As for the blue light, I assume you mean actinic lighting. The lighting is only important if you're planning on keeping any corals. Live rock will be fine with normal aquarium lighting.
     
    Anthony, Oct 7, 2008
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  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    wat about the light for the fish. do they need actinic light too. and just another question. how long do i have to wait to add fish or for the tank to be set and runing.
     
    Anonymous, Oct 7, 2008
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Basic 50/50 bulbs are fine for the fish and live rock. That will provide the fish with the lighting requirements to support their biochemical reactions. How soon you can add fish depends on if your rock is completely cured or not. Uncured rock will have to cure in your tank for about a month. While the rock is curing it will release ammonia which is toxic to fish. After your rock is fully cured you can then add some hardy fish to get your tank going.
     
    Anthony, Oct 7, 2008
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  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    thx
     
    Anonymous, Oct 7, 2008
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  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    i just got my tank set up 3 day ago. it got about 50/50 live sand and cure live rock. i dont have a skimmer. i have a very big sump(55g custom) and overflow all running. just wanna know wat can i all to my tank as of right now. i.e. goldfish, snail, shrimp...etc
     
    Anonymous, Oct 10, 2008
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  7. trajik ink

    trajik ink New Member

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    you should get some good flow in your tank........i say get four koralia 4's and place 2 in the front top of the side glass and 2 on the mid level back of the side glass facing each other.....it might seem like alot but if your planning on going with a reef tank you'll need it......and it will also take care of the deadspots where debris can settle.........it's onlybeen 3 days, take your time....it's the key for a successful marine setup. ;)
     
    trajik ink, Oct 10, 2008
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  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    wat is that thing u want me to get. r u talking about powerhead or something like that.
     
    Anonymous, Oct 10, 2008
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  9. trajik ink

    trajik ink New Member

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    yep....look them up....koralia #4
     
    trajik ink, Oct 10, 2008
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  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    man i should have wait. i got myself a pump and a powerhead. my sump pump is too strong. i think it doing all the pumping in the system. [dancing]
     
    Anonymous, Oct 11, 2008
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  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    what is a good uv sterilizer for my 150g tank? or should i not get one for now until i add any fish.
     
    Anonymous, Oct 11, 2008
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  12. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    If you get a canister filter you can add an inline UV Sterilizer. Something like the Tubro Twist should be good.
     
    Anthony, Oct 11, 2008
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  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    i'm using just a sump not the canister filter. should i be using a canister i have also.
     
    Anonymous, Oct 11, 2008
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  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    You should be able to hook it up to your sump too, depending on your connections.

    The only problem with that will be how quickly the water flows through the UV Sterilizer. If it's too fast it won't do much as far as sterilizing goes.
     
    Anthony, Oct 11, 2008
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  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    ok so should i run the canister filter too???
     
    Anonymous, Oct 11, 2008
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  16. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    You could or you could pick up a UV Sterilizer and just hook a pump up to it so you can control the flow.
     
    Anthony, Oct 11, 2008
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  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    ok if i hook up to the canister. do i hook it to the inline or the outline?
     
    Anonymous, Oct 11, 2008
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  18. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    I THINK the intake. It will tell you in the directions though.
     
    Anthony, Oct 11, 2008
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  19. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    wat i mean is do i hook it to the inline of the filter or the out line of the filter where water is going into the tank.
    well i just got back from a pet store and they test my water for me and said it all good within spec. they suggest that i get like a densal(black strip and white strip fish) the get the cycle going. i think that is the cheapest fish they got. it like $5 a fish. i'm thinking of getting a cheap fish but i only got my tank running for 4 day now. and i just got all my piping and stuff finish and just waiting to the silicon to dry no. should i get a fish like the guy at the pet store said or should i just wait till next week or two.
     
    Anonymous, Oct 11, 2008
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  20. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Yes, I know what you mean.

    I'd wait until you're done setting everything up in the tank before adding anything into it.
     
    Anthony, Oct 11, 2008
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