EyeShield

just buy $4000 salt water tank with live rocks n sand.
I setup the tank using tap water mixed with salt.
3days runing the tank I check for amonia I get 1.0
My question when I can put fish to my aquarium?

fishingman001

How are you cycling your tank. I don't have salt water tanks but I believe the cycling method is the same.

kloseo

it takes longer to cycle a SW tank vs a freshwate, how much live rock do you have, if you have an ammonia of 1 showing the cycle has started, but you will need to wait until the ammonia drops to zero, then the nitrites will rise and fall and then the nitrates, so give it another month or so. Thats one of the hard things about sw tanks, patients, but it will give you time to start setting up a stocking plan
best of luck

EyeShield

I gat 80p of live rocks
Amonia is now .5
nitrite .1
nitrate 2.5 or 12.5 PPM
pH 8.2

EyeShield

I gat high nitrates how I can fix it?

riddik1

nitrates are reduced with water changes but i dont think you are done cycling yet. also i think you might need more live rock. i keep hearing to use at least 1 pound per gallon and up to 1.75 pounds per gallon... and dont add fish untill your readings are 0 amm, 0 nitrite, and showing some nitrates.

EyeShield

I gat 0 amonia 0 nitrites 50 nitrates 8.6 hp

How I can lower my hp
Can I put fish

locoyo386

Are you going to be doing a reef tank?

EyeShield

Ya but for now fish only

locoyo386

In my opinion your pH is not that high, 8.4 is the ideal level, thus give it a plus/minus of 0.2, and you get 8.2-8.6.

Also note that once your tank is running, the chances are that it will go down on it's own. My tanks are running at 7.4, but they are fish only tanks, no corals.



As far as your nitrates are concern, you will need to bring them to no higher then 5, for corals but ideally at 0 (zero). Thus the big issue in saltwater fish/coral keeping; "How to bring the nitrates down?".

This is a very compiated process, if not, at least varying in methods. The most commond method is water changes. Skimmers are used to help reduce the proteins before they can become nitrates. There are other methods aswell, remote deep sand bed, macro lagae or turf filters are some. Personally I do not keep corals, thus I really don't worry about it too much. The mothod that sounds the most convincing to me is the turf filter.

EyeShield

How many fish can I add each week?
Thanks for ur help

locoyo386

Well depending on the size of the fish, around 2-3 every other week, ofcourse once your tank has cycled.

The amount of fish that you could add initially will depend on how much ammonia you introduced to cycle the tank.

EyeShield

i getting a new light i need help picking one can u guys help me my reef tank is 24 x 24 x 72 i want 2 buy the best light thanks a lot 4 u helps

kloseo

i would check at drfosterand smith web site under lighting, i bought mine there, got great service and the had the best pricing, for coral you need 3 to 5 watts per gallon ( around 720 total watts) I also really like the timer lights that have set timers for the white lights, actinic lights and then the moon lights. Would expect lighting to be around $550. if not skimping on setup, be sure and get a protein skimmer, for reef tanks you should have a skimmer that is rated for a tank twice the size of what you have for example you would want one rated for 360 gallons...also be sure and have some power heads, I like the korialis, would recommend the level 4 for you one at each end of the tank
best of luck