Starting first saltwater tank.

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sktydsntkno

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 15, 2009
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Jersey
Hey guys im starting my first saltwater tank. Its a 29 gal and has been up and running for about 3 days now with some live rock in it and thats it. any suggestions on how long i should wait to stat to put some fish in and what kind im thinking damsels? Also what shuld the water parameters be right now its

nitrite 0 ppm

ph 8.0

nitrate 10 ppm

temp 74 Deg F

also any stocking advise on a tank this size?

thanks .
 
really high... lower it to at most 1.025


unless you plan on having only damsels in the tank, or actually enjoy tearing tanks down to cath fish... don't start with damsels

is this going to be a bare bottom tank? eventually a reef?
 
I would buy a PH buffer and try to get it in the 8.2-8.4 range. Most buffers will do this easyily.

Also, your temp seems a bit low. Mine is around 80, but I would at least try for about 78ish.

As far as time to wait for fish, it really depends on what you put in there. I would try something cheaper like a chromie or something and see how he does for a week or so, then move on to other inhabitants. However, fix the PH and temp first.
 
the pH is fine.. mine run about 7.8-7.9 for years now
 
For a fish to start the cycle a damsel works great (there are tricks to getting them back out). As far as a stock load I was a little heavy when I got my 29 to the point that I had to uprgade. I had a young coral beauty, yellow coris wrasse, leapord wrasse, fiery wrasse, and six line wrasse (I like wrasses). Along with hermits, snails, brown button polyps, a small zoanthid colony, common green shrooms, and a toadstool leather. It was pretty heavy load, but I've seen heavier. In the same respect as fresh water more frequent water changes with a heavy bioload.

You have to slowly build your stock level I got to that point after about 15 months. And I went 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon. Also I did water tests every other day and recorded the outcome. Now 2 and a half years in and I still test my water every week (I stoped recording after about 4 months).

This is all of course after you fix that salinity. But once you do can throw a damsel in. I've also heard of a way to cycle with a fresh (never frozen) shrimp from a market. Although that's tough if you aren't on the coast.
 
i sudgest u get a few starter fish n let it run for a while,thing's change when u least xpected it ,when u'r first starting off .im not sayng u dont know what u'r doing or nothing like that.it very much look's like u'r right on track but just hold off at least for a month or 2 b 4 u put something in there thats cost u big money...n congrats on the saltwater tank bud...:)
 
Oh yeah I forgot the damsel trick. Ok so you put a net in the tank and let it sit on the live rock on one side of the tank for a few days (I waited 4 days). You feed your damsel fish on the opposite side of the tank (the not net side) with your hand in the tank on the net side. When the fish is comfy with this weird feeding method (it might take a few days) net it from underneath while its destracted. I've done it twice and a few friends have done it. Hasn't failed me yet.
 
Thanks all the information guys, i think i will try the chromis first in a bout a week or so once i get the salinity at the right level. I mixed according to the directions on the bag of instant ocean, but i guess i over did it. Do u think 5 gal water change with fresh declorinated water should do the trick ?

Thanks again for the advice i will keep you guys updated
 
BIGgourami the tank has white sand substrate

Thanks SMIELY ive had a 45 fresh for a while now and im pumped the get this up and running
 
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