My first tank

[Bandito Aquatics]

So this is my first attempt at a saltwater tank. I’m not so experienced in the hobby but I have been doing my research. Hours and hours of research. My brain is a little toasted for all the information I have absorbed and yet I still feel I can learn more.

Any advice comments, questions, concerns please let me know.

It’s currently in the 4th day or so the fishless cycle.

It’s a 24-25gal tank
I have a aquaclear 50 hob filter
100w heater
Sunsun 130 power head
Shallow sand bed
8lbs of macro reg and about 12lbs of dead dry rock.
RODI water (luckily in my town there is a purified water vendor so I only pay about 1.50 a gallon.)
I dont know what else to write. I have a ton of questions about flow and lighting if anyway wants to talk me under there wing for a lesson

 

[iTzJu]

off to a good start!

biggest advise is to be patient and don't rush anything. take your time and do things right!

ask away with what questions you have in regards to flow and light and everyone here will chime in.

 

[diana a]

Congrats on the new tank! It's off to a good start. Welcome to the forum

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

off to a good start!

biggest advise is to be patient and don't rush anything. take your time and do things right!

ask away with what questions you have in regards to flow and light and everyone here will chime in.

With a small tank like this. Which I consider small which is the best placement for a good flow with a power head. I currently have it faced up for surface aggatation.

Also i forgot to mention the dead live rock now looks kinda white and fuzzy could this be organic die off ?

 

[iTzJu]

With a small tank like this. Which I consider small which is the best placement for a good flow with a power head. I currently have it faced up for surface aggatation.

Also i forgot to mention the dead live rock now looks kinda white and fuzzy could this be organic die off ?

feel like that should work out and it could be anything, might be fungal due to the die off. keep an eye on it.

 

[Mark Shelly]

Flow and lighting depend on what you are keeping. I still can't get my flow perfect, but movement without blasting corals appears to be best, especially if the flow direction changes. Great lighting can be expensive, but may not be required for what you are keeping. Small tanks can be more sensitive to water fluctuations. They are also easy to outgrow, so you might not want to sink too much into the first one. Keep the changes slow. I would also suggest keeping easier fish or corals first to gain experience and gain experience. Go to club meetings to see how other people do their tanks. Try to find out what works for them and why. I had a hang-on filter on a tank for 3 years, so it can be done, although I also used a hang on protein skimmer and didn't keep SPS corals.

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

feel like that should work out and it could be anything, might be fungal due to the die off. keep an eye on it.

If it is fungal what should I do about that

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Flow and lighting depend on what you are keeping. I still can't get my flow perfect, but movement without blasting corals appears to be best, especially if the flow direction changes. Great lighting can be expensive, but may not be required for what you are keeping. Small tanks can be more sensitive to water fluctuations. They are also easy to outgrow, so you might not want to sink too much into the first one. Keep the changes slow. I would also suggest keeping easier fish or corals first to gain experience and gain experience. Go to club meetings to see how other people do their tanks. Try to find out what works for them and why. I had a hang-on filter on a tank for 3 years, so it can be done, although I also used a hang on protein skimmer and didn't keep SPS corals.

Thank you by the way the encouragement is really helpful cause I really want this.


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[Mrx7899x]

If it is fungal what should I do about that

Nothing just let the tank cycle.

Do you have an ato

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

Welcome to the club. This site is great as there is no judment. Also welcome to the hobby which there is 1,000s of ways to do something and at least one person will tell you that you are doing it wrong lol.

You are off to a good start. As mentioned above take your time. There a saying 'nothing good happens quick in saltwate tanks'.

What are you plans on keeping in the tank?
Fish only?
Corals?
If yes to corals:
Mix?
LPS?
Sofites?
SPS?

Answers to those questions will help figure out lighting, flow, etc...

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Thanks again and yes I want to keep a few fish nothing that’s going to out grow the tank As for coral yes I do want to keep some but I’m leaning more on the beginner side of coral. Softies and few LPS. Actually my fist coral is going to be a blue green Discosoma mushroom....i dont know why but I just like it.


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[DangerDave]

Actually my fist coral is going to be a blue green Discosoma mushroom....i dont know why but I just like it.

...and that's all that matters...

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Update I have a small hitchhiker in my tank

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[DangerDave]

Asterina. There are many different types. Pay attn. A few types will eat coral. If yours do not, then it's a good CUC member. Even if it doesn't, you will probably need to manually remove to keep their numbers in check.

If you see one, you have 50. If you see 50 you have hundreds. Look at the glass in the middle of the night with a flashlight for a better idea of how many you have.

 

[diana a]

How is the tank? Any new fish or coral?

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

How is the tank? Any new fish or coral?

The tank is doing well I’m currently in the process of upgrading to a 58 gallon.

 

[diana a]

Congrats

 

[MadReefer]

Well that upgrade did not take long. Congrats!

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Sorry I’ll work on posting better photos and work a better format of updating you guys on this tank I didn’t take me long to upgrade but I want to make sure i do it nice and slow I’m in no rush.

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Who the rock works current looks. I have to keep it in the tank to get I a feel for as to make sure my cat doesn’t get any ideas