getting my first saltwater tank

[big train]

What's up mfk poeple's i am getting my first saltwater setup in a few days and i got a few questions for u.It's a 72 gal bow front with stand top lights sump everything but the pump the pump died about a month ago.The tank is half full of water some substrate and 30.lbs of figi live rock is the live rock still alive with no filteration or light?it is sitting at room temp by a window.Do i have enough rock to cycle the tank and how long til fish can go in?I don't know anything about sw fish i am a cichlid guy i know i like the wrasses and a snow flake eel are they compatable and is 72 gal big enough for several?I would like this tank to be a for small pretty low maintance fish/invertabrays because i already got a garage full of monster cichlids who need monster care. Anywho all suggestions are appreciated and hopefully i get some pics up for guys on fridaythanks

 

[BIGgourami]

1) finish filling the tank, and heat it
2) try and get somekind of filter in there
3) if you get the moray the clean up on your tank is going to be a little greater, cause they are kind of sloppy eaters and most of what would be you clean up crew would be eaten. so consider that.
4) wrasses are fairly hardy but do demand attention that the params of the tank don't vary too much
5) in the tank you could do a snowflake and one wrasse or two or three wrasses depending on the type you get. some get 8" some get 3'.
6) most of the wrasses that you'd keep ina tank that size are reef/invert safe
7) get about 20-30 more ponds of live rock and a canister filter.

 

[eman]

As far as compatibility look here:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/compatibility_chart.cfm

The liverock in the tank is most likely still alive but with out any water flow there will be die off. There is no set time on how long it will be until you can add fish. You will just have to test your water many times to follow the cycle. I would suggest that you get a refrugium and a good skimmer. You can DIY the sump into a fuge fairly easy. As with all salt tanks it won't be long till you want a reef then you will only need to upgrade your lights instead of everything. 1-2 pounds of rock per gallon is a good starting point. The heavier rock like Figi 2 pounds or lighter rock like Marshall Island 1 pound per gallon is good. Welcome to the obsession called saltwater.

Troy

 

[big train]

Thanks guys i will get some more live rock set aside for me at the lfs i have not taken a in depth look at the filter system but was told i only need a pump and it's good to go i am going to get it setup friday night i like the chart on the link u provided eman i will put it to good use.

 

[Zoodiver]

If the water has been sitting stagnent for a month, I'd dump it all and start with clean saltwater. The live rock might have a little left growing on it, but not much with it sitting that long.

 

[sprayin70]

I think that you may be ok with the live rock. When you "cook liverock" you put it into a covered cpntainer with a power head and heater. Then you do a 100 percent water changes every week or so then cover again and let sit. This causes all excess nutrients and algae to die off and the bacteria will live fine in this enviroment. Give it a try if nothing els buy a few lbs of fresh live rock and seed your old LR with it. Good Luck!

 

[big train]

Yeah i am going to add some fresh live rock and some lfs made sw so i will get this rock back growing in no time.

 

[big train]

I got in the house and cleaned up the substrate i got the live rock stacked up pretty the heater is on and i took a hob filter off of 1 of my fw tanks to get some bacteria going was that a good idea?Anyway i am going to the lfs tonoght to get some fresh live rock and sea aelt and get it going for real i will get some pics up tommarow.

 

[toehead11183]

good luck. i'd like salt but i don't have the time nor the money right now

 

[BIGgourami]

I got in the house and cleaned up the substrate i got the live rock stacked up pretty the heater is on and i took a hob filter off of 1 of my fw tanks to get some bacteria going was that a good idea?Anyway i am going to the lfs tonoght to get some fresh live rock and sea aelt and get it going for real i will get some pics up tommarow.

did you get live sand? if you did then you may have killed anything living in it when you washed it. if it's just CC or aragonite then that was what was supposed to be done, and you don't need to worry.
the filter wasn't a bad idea but now you can do a fish-free cycle cause the bacteria and waste that was in the filter is going to decompose. yes, sorry, your bacteria is dead, but you will get a huge load when you get your LR, which will end up being the cheif Bio fltration source.