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Newbie from Katy /Cypress area (1 Viewer)

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Hello everyone. Like the title says, I am new to the saltwater aquarium scene but very excited. I'm looking forward to interacting with you all. I have a 75 gallon tank (1 & 1/2 years old) that I purchased used from someone. Over the last week I have filled with RO/DI water, 75 lbs of dry rock, and 40 lbs of live sand. I have mixed the water with reef salt and the salinity is currently 34 ppt. I am running a Fluval FX4 filter with various sponges and biomedia. I also have a heater, 3 wave pumps and a Fluval 48 in led light.

I feel like I am ready to add fish and would like to start with 2 Clownfish. Do you guys and gals have any advice for the new guy? Does it seem like I am on the right path?

Attached is a picture of the tank with sand and rock, no water at that time.
 

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steveb

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I would say its important to setup a QT tank. That way your not possibly adding an infected fish to you r tank which would then infect the other fish.

I don't know much about the fluval 48 led but it may or may not be strong enough for the corals you want to keep in the future (kind of depends on what you want..).

If you don't already have one, auto top off is important (especially when keeping corals).

How long has the tank been up and running? It needs to go through the nitrogen cycle before adding fish (or you will need to use ammonia binders, water changes) to keep ammonia levels down. You can add bacteria products to help jump start that process.

Patience is the key to success.

Read, Read, Read and ask questions. There are no dumb questions.
 
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ITreefer

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Welcome to the forum! There are several people on your area that frequent this forum including myself. We'll all be glad to help out.
Do you have any basic test kits? Those are pretty important to know what your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels are before you add fish. They will also tell you if your cycle is complete or not.
 

Bullitt519

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I would add Pajama Cardinals as a first fish. Those things are tanks and pretty peaceful.

What do you plan to do with the tank? FO, Softies, Mixed, SPS?
 
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I would add Pajama Cardinals as a first fish. Those things are tanks and pretty peaceful.

What do you plan to do with the tank? FO, Softies, Mixed, SPS?
I would like to do mixed. I was thinking of starting with 2 or 3 fish of the same species and maintaining them for at least a month before adding anything else.
 

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Welcome aboard. +1 on the QT. Get used to it and live by it. That way, you can stave on any potential disaster in the future.
 
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Welcome aboard. +1 on the QT. Get used to it and live by it. That way, you can stave on any potential disaster in the future.
Would I have to QT the 1st fish that I plan to keep? Please correct me if I am way off with my thinking. I assumed that because they are no other fish in the tank, there would be no other fish that would be in danger of greeting sick. Once I have had those fish for a month or 2, then I would consider adding additional fish.
 

Alex77619

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But u will bring the parasite into the new tAnk.


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But u will bring the parasite into the new tAnk.


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Until I get a QT up and running, would it be a good idea to order the fish online from Diver's Den? I know it still wouldn't be a guarantee but I have read that they do a much better job at making sure they send out healthy fish.

I'm not avoiding or against putting together a QT. I'm just considering what my options are.
 

Alex77619

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Until I get a QT up and running, would it be a good idea to order the fish online from Diver's Den? I know it still wouldn't be a guarantee but I have read that they do a much better job at making sure they send out healthy fish.

I'm not avoiding or against putting together a QT. I'm just considering what my options are.

One thing u can do is put a small piece of raw unshell table shrimp in to the tank and let it cycle, and than prepare ur QT tank and also cycle it. This is the best route if I were to start over fresh again. Buying pricy fish and risking it is not really a good way to start in my own opinion.


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Filter pad/filter floss from an established tank
All good ways to speed up the nitrogen cycle.
 
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One thing u can do is put a small piece of raw unshell table shrimp in to the tank and let it cycle, and than prepare ur QT tank and also cycle it. This is the best route if I were to start over fresh again. Buying pricy fish and risking it is not really a good way to start in my own opinion.


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I have read about using a pice of raw shrimp and letting it cycle for a month. That being the traditional way.
 
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Biospira
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Filter pad/filter floss from an established tank
All good ways to speed up the nitrogen cycle.
Thanks ITreefer, I planed on using a bottle of Biospira. I have not heard about using pad/floss from an established tank. That's a good tip but unfortunately that is not something I have access to.
 

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Just remember no matter what bacteria u add it need a food source to grow population. A ammonia source


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steveb

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Would I have to QT the 1st fish that I plan to keep? Please correct me if I am way off with my thinking. I assumed that because they are no other fish in the tank, there would be no other fish that would be in danger of greeting sick. Once I have had those fish for a month or 2, then I would consider adding additional fish.

Until I get a QT up and running, would it be a good idea to order the fish online from Diver's Den? I know it still wouldn't be a guarantee but I have read that they do a much better job at making sure they send out healthy fish.

I'm not avoiding or against putting together a QT. I'm just considering what my options are.

You don't HAVE to but suppose your very first fish comes in with velvet or ich. Now your tank is infected and every subsequent fish you add will get infected. So you have to wait approx 60-90 days with tank empty (fallow) for the parasites to die off. I forget the exact length but its available online.

Its always a gamble regardless of the source of your animals.

QT can be as simple as a 20g with hang on filter and a small heater.
 
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