New to salt and way over my head!!!

Hi, this is my first time posting on this site, but I really just need some specific advice! So after some research, I went to go ask about starting a betta sorority and walked away with a 29/30 gallon tank with salt, live rock, and live sand. Mind y’all, I’ve never had a saltwater aquarium before and I’ve only ever had bettas, mollies, and goldfish in the past in tanks no bigger than 5 gallons. I fear I am WAY over my head, but excited. I’ve been researching a lot and keeping notes, but if you could help me out I’d really appreciate it. I’m freaked out, but I’m dedicated.
So currently I have two tanks, a 5 gal freshwater for a betta and that huge saltwater tank with only live sand and live rocks in it right now. I’m at the point where I’ve got it the saltwater set up, conditioner has been added and the biological booster has been added. I’ve only had it set up for about 48 hours. I’ve read up about the nitrogen cycle and studied it, so I’m familiar with the process, but I still have questions.
I read somewhere that I could turn off the light and crank up the heat and it would make it go faster; is that true? I set the temperature at 82 F°.

The ammonia levels are really high and the hardness is very hard, is this normal when establishing a cycle, or should I correct it?

Is the ideal salinity for a 30 gallon tank 1.020-1.026?
Thank you for the help, and any more advice and tips that you have I would appreciate it.

 

Why are the ammonia levels high of there is no livestock in there. Something is wrong? Are you using a saltwater test kit or fresh water?
If you have ammonia now post the number and did you add ammonia?

Are you doing fish only or a reef tank? Yes the hardness is normally high in saltwater tanks and the PH and alkalinity are measured not the general hardness. Ph should be 8-8.4 and alkalinity around 10-14dkh.

Salinity can be a bit variable if it’s for fish only. Reef and inverts need it around 1.025-1.026. Fish only can go lower. I normally try to match my LFS salinity to reduce acclamations stress on my new livestock. This is within reason.

Get yourself a refractometer, an RODI unit or buy RODI water. Normal tap water is problematic in SW tanks.
Get test kits for saltwater. Also keep in mind saltwater tanks are stocked much more sparsely than fresh water tanks. You’ll be looking at 3-5 fish in that tank max. Also what filter are you using and how much live rock. Is this a newly set up tank or was it running and you purchased it as an all in one set up used off like craigslist.

 

My guess is if you used live rock you are getting die off from the rock. Just wait it out until the ammonia drops to 0. Also hardness should be high but your 5ds should be low. If you aren't using rodi like saltwater60 said get some it will save alot of hassles in the future. I would try to keep salinity between 35-36 specific gravity or 1.025-1.026 salinity.

 

Why are the ammonia levels high of there is no livestock in there. Something is wrong? Are you using a saltwater test kit or fresh water?
If you have ammonia now post the number and did you add ammonia?

Are you doing fish only or a reef tank? Yes the hardness is normally high in saltwater tanks and the PH and alkalinity are measured not the general hardness. Ph should be 8-8.4 and alkalinity around 10-14dkh.

Salinity can be a bit variable if it’s for fish only. Reef and inverts need it around 1.025-1.026. Fish only can go lower. I normally try to match my LFS salinity to reduce acclamations stress on my new livestock. This is within reason.

Get yourself a refractometer, an RODI unit or buy RODI water. Normal tap water is problematic in SW tanks.
Get test kits for saltwater. Also keep in mind saltwater tanks are stocked much more sparsely than fresh water tanks. You’ll be looking at 3-5 fish in that tank max. Also what filter are you using and how much live rock. Is this a newly set up tank or was it running and you purchased it as an all in one set up used off like craigslist.

Alright, so I wrote that up last night and did not test the ammonia, I’m not sure why I wrote it, I think I was thinking of just the hardness and was mistaken. This is a fish only tank. I am using saltwater test strips. There was an alkalinity test on the fresh water strip and I dipped that one? Is that accurate for just the alkaline or do I need specifically a saltwater one? I multiplied the dkh You suggested for the alkalinity to convert to ph to see if that level was fine, but on the test it says it’s somewhere between 300-720 ppm, but again, I don’t know if that’s normal or because the alkalinity was for freshwater.
I have a hydrometer and ordered a refractometer that should be arriving today. I looked up RODI water last night and plan I’m using it for any top off or changes.
I bought this directly from a fish store, empty. tank is a white Fluval, and I’m not sure what the filter in it is, but it’s whatever came with it. It has the little rock things for the bacteria and charcoal(?? I can’t remember if that’s what it was). There’s two medium live rocks, a smaller one, and one regular one. I will take a photo when I can.
The woman that set me up said I could pick out a few small crabs, snail, and a small starfish in a week or two. She showed me a banded coral shrimp and said he was small enough to fit in. In a while when things are done, I’m thinking about doing a pair of clownfish and either a dottyback or a royal gramma. I haven’t done much research yet, still on making the tank right, what do you recommend?

 

Definitely not a dottyback in that small of a tank they are mean little things. The royal Gramma and clowns might fight some but they should survive. With the live rock you might be cycled already. I would test ammonia and nitrates. If you have 0 ammonia and nitrates then u should be cycled. You could most definitely add a clean up crew look into snails crabs and shrimp. Research what snails and crabs and shrimp are sand sifters and which are rock cleaners get some of both. I would do a shrimp and goby pair 2 clowns and either firefish or royal Gramma. But know that the clowns and Gramma might fight might not.

 

I would not do a starfish on that size tank. Likely won’t last long. I agree with fish stocking mentioned above. Also look at small gobies. Clown gobies are cool.