bdunn13

I am in the planning process for starting my first tank. I am pretty sure i want salt with an acrylic tank around 80 gals.

I have done a TON of research so far trying to learn what I need to in order to get started.

I know I want to cycle my tank with live rock and without fish. I can see at first, the live rock could provide the NH4 if it were not cured. However, cured rock should not provide much NH4 correct? If this is the case, where does the NF4 come from? Should I add it?

Also, once the tank does cycle, should I start adding NH4 myself to help prevent the bacteria from dieing off if I don't want to add any fish right away or will live rock be self sufficient in a tank with no other NH4 producers?

Thanks first post,
BD13

sirdarksol

From what I have recently read, it sounds like, the more cured live rock is when you buy it, the more nitrifying bacteria are in the rock. Therefore, putting the stuff in your tank basically puts you further on the cycle's road.
I do not know this for sure, however. It's second-hand information (as is all of my saltwater info). Some of the more experienced SW folks should be around.

I do not know if you need to add ammonia after the cycle has concluded, though.

Lastly, and the main reason I responded:
Welcome to Fishlore!

Tumbleweed

Welcome to Fishlore.

As for the cycle sirdarksol is correct. With the live rock in your tank it will cycle your tank quicker. Once it has completed it's initial cycle you will not need to add anything to keep the bacteria from dying off. As with any tank you will have some increase in your water readings when adding anything new to the tank, this happens untill the tank addapts to the new inhabitant. How long do you plan on waiting to add fish after it is done cycling?

bdunn13

Thanks for the information.

I am not sure how long I will wait to get fish after the cycle is complete. I doubt it will be very long, but in the planning stage, I like to try and cover as many bases as I can.

I started pricing acrylic tanks today. I went to one of the local fish stores and they don't carry any rectangle acrylic tanks, only glass. So if I order locally, I will have to wait about 6 weeks just to get the tank. That will put me getting my first fish around Oct or so. This is not a hobby you can just "jump" into, thats for sure. Likewise, with the price of the hobby, I don't think its a good idea to jump into it anyways.

Thx,
BD

Tumbleweed

Just out of curiosity why do you want an acrylic tank?
I have a 100gal glass tank and love it. They are a little heavier but scratch a lot less. It is very easy to scratch an acrylic tank and it shows.
My next tank will be acrylic, but that is only because it is 240gal and a glass tank that size is very expensive and very very heavy.

bdunn13

Looks, I don't like corners in a glass tank, weight, the glass one that I looked at earlier weighed over 120lbs and its acrylic counter part I think would be around 1/5th that.

Leaks and cracks in the glass as well. I would not have to worry about that with acrylic.

I know it scratches but is my ignorance hiding the fact that it will scratch VERY easily?

Tumbleweed

I have a glass tank, with rounded front corners, there is a picture of it on my blog on this form. True acrylic tanks are less likly to crack under stress, but as long as your stand is level, that is really not a concern, and happens very rarely.
Where is the tank going to be placed? Down Stairs, upstairs, basement? As long as you have people to help you set up the tank the weight is not really a problem. Most home floors can tank this kind of weight as long as you have the tank close to a wall, which most people do.
Yes acrylic tanks scratch very easily, and can be scratched just by cleaning off the front of it when algae grows on it. You just have to be extra carefull when you clean it or place things in it. 1 rock falling in the the tank against the panels will scratch it, and there is nothing worse then having a beautifully set up reff tank and having a scratch on the front panel. Just my 2cents

bdunn13

I have a one story house with a concrete foundation. Weight as far as the house goes is not a problem. You are having me second guess myself now.

Tumbleweed

Ultimetly you need to get what you want, and what will work for you. I am just trying to help you get all of the facts about what is out there

bdunn13

I am going to take the ball and chain Saturday to look at a few tanks... mainly glass as that's all they really have locally in stock. We will see what she says.

bdunn13

I guess I married the perfect woman for Tim Taylor. When we were looking at tanks, she liked the bigger ones. I was going to be happy with a 75-90 and well, she basically talked me into getting a 120.

So I am now the proud owner of a 120g glass tank with dual overflows. I also got a pretty black stand and canopy. That's all I purchased today and its not even together. The tank is on the floor as I need help to put it on the stand. I got the tank before I picked up the stand and my help for unloading the tank was gone so the wife and I just set the stand in the living room where its going.

I will post pictures of it later on when its setup and maybe start a new thread about the entire process.

I did ask(the local fish store) what I think is the infamous question(from my slight knowledge) about cycling the tank.... .they passed. They said to cycle it with just live rock and no fish.

BD

Tumbleweed

Congrats on the new tank. My only suggestion is to plan out what you are going to do and how you want to do it before you start anything. ie. are you going to run a sump and refugium or just sump. How big of a sump can you fit into the stand and how do you put it in the stand.
Again Congrats

agsansoo

Congrats on the new tank ! Make sure you level the tank and leave at least 6" between the tank and the wall. Good luck.

bdunn13

Here she is.. Now I have to take the next step and start picking things out I guess...

I will make a new thread in the sub-forum.

Attached Images

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bdunn13

Oh - and the canopy is in the other room. I thought it would be a bad idea to put that on now as I will be working with things too much.

sgould

Congrats! Setting up a new tank is great fun...one of my favorite parts of the hobby!

bdunn13

Okay, I got my tank filled up over the weekend with some RO/DI water. The pump has only been running for about 8 hours and the live rock / base rock has been in there for about 24 hours (cured).

I took my water to get tested a little bit ago as I am going out of town tomorrow and I won't be back until Friday. I wanted to get some numbers to compare to for when I get home.

Here are my numbers.

Am 0
nitrite .3
nitrate 12.5
pH 7.9
SG 1.030

I know my sg is a little high but with no fish in there now I should be okay. The guy at the fish store said my am levels should spike in the next week.

However, right now, why do I have a nitrite and nitrate reading?

Thx,
BD

r0ss0

Nice mate im loooking at coming over to SW as ive got a FW. Two diffrent tanks in one room- Need more plugs!! Nice tank tho i really like that