Not new to aquariums but new to saltwater

[213chrisp]

and you guys would know this best, as i have downloaded the manual to my tank, it says if i am doing a reef setup, i dont have to cermic rings bag and the bio balls , "maintaining an average of 1lb of lr will create a live bio filter system as well as denitrification system ultimatly creating a balanced biotpe" so basicaly just run the sponges and a sack of crushed live rock in the back ? and then the pump back to my tank and thats it?

[213chrisp]

and would you suggest i just buy pre mixed water from gerbers, i beleive they still sell premixed ready to go water for saltwater tanks or should i just do it myself? and any suggestions on sand substrate??? jacks had mentioned one name that has biological life in it to help start cycling the tank and supposbably best for the fish i just forget the name of it..

[HUNGER]

and would you suggest i just buy pre mixed water from gerbers, i beleive they still sell premixed ready to go water for saltwater tanks or should i just do it myself? and any suggestions on sand substrate??? jacks had mentioned one name that has biological life in it to help start cycling the tank and supposbably best for the fish i just forget the name of it..

noooo mix it ur self take u time do it right u dont know what is realy in there watter dont know how long has it been mixed up

[TechGuy]

noooo mix it ur self take u time do it right u dont know what is realy in there watter dont know how long has it been mixed up

Double, no wait, triple ditto that.

Make your own.

[213chrisp]

thanks for the advise! thats why i asked...

[213chrisp]

Question about heating now, the heater i have currently, should i just use it for water cycles and when i buy my new one, get one that sould work for my new nano? as i know tempature is critical on tanks, so was thinking that may be the best way as ill need one for my water cycle setup with the powerhead to move the water around..

[Sunny]

I mix my water in a tote.  I have a heater and a power head in it.  Keep the heater on the same temp as your tank.

[213chrisp]

correct, but should i buy a new heater for my tank and use the old heater for my tote? or just use the old one in the tank and use the new one in the tote? i guess if it doesnt work, then it solves my issue LOL

[HUNGER]

i would use a new one on the tank just to be on the safe side

[213chrisp]

kinda what i was thinking because i know how impt the water temps are , and invest in a good one for the nano would be better then a decent one that will get used just once in a while...

[Kenn]

kinda what i was thinking because i know how impt the water temps are , and invest in a good one for the nano would be better then a decent one that will get used just once in a while...

 

[213chrisp]

Another question . Since i dont have le or fish yet would it hurt if I put sand and mix the water directly  in the tank instead of a conyainer for a day for  the dirst day? And add le in a day or two.

[HUNGER]

thats what i did i had all the sand in the tank  than i filled it all up with fresh water and had it up and running and than added the salt to it i than let it run for about a week to make sure everything was ok than i added about 3 cheap fish and about a week latter i added 2 live rocks and some live sand than let everything cycle

[213chrisp]

so its not best to use live sand at first? because i was thinking thats what was required in my smaller tank because of lack or rocks and everything, and help the coarls and fish once i get that far...

[UDJustin]

if you start with "live sand" and then add fresh water and then salt and let it mix in the tank your "live sand" will be dead sand.

[cyberwollf]

if you start with "live sand" and then add fresh water and then salt and let it mix in the tank your "live sand" will be dead sand.

Yep, When you come get this rubble from me, I will give you some live rock from my sump.  Have you tank allready up and running correct SG, temp, etc.  Then put the rock and rubble into your tank, It will help start the cycle. I'll even give you a cup of sand to seed

[HUNGER]

if you start with "live sand" and then add fresh water and then salt and let it mix in the tank your "live sand" will be dead sand.

yup

[213chrisp]

sounds good, ill go to lfs and get salt and get it running tomorrow after work. and worry about the sand once i get the rocks from you...

[213chrisp]

just got the tank up and running, added what is recommended for salt and the declorinator and should be ready in by wednesday i would hope.....

[Blown76mav]

declorniator?  Your not using RO/DI water?  At the very least distilled water from Wal-Mart.  NEVER use tap water, that is hair algae waiting to happen.  If this is a Nano it can't cost that much to use distilled.

[213chrisp]

guess im use to my freshwater ways, i will cycle it out tomorrow and change it for distilled water then. i guess i learn from my mistakes, all the reasearch i did, not much was even mentioned about using tap water or distilled water , everything i read was just saying make sure you its chlorine free.........

[TechGuy]

guess im use to my freshwater ways, i will cycle it out tomorrow and change it for distilled water then. i guess i learn from my mistakes, all the reasearch i did, not much was even mentioned about using tap water or distilled water , everything i read was just saying make sure you its chlorine free.........

Chlorine, nitrate, phosphate, and heavy metal free

[Blown76mav]

Some guys use tap water, but they usually have a bad algae problem down the road and can't figure it out or something bad happens and they try to make a lot of water quickly and end up killing the whole tank.  Its best to start out with pure water from the begining and save a headache down the road.  Later on I would recommend a RO/DI unit, being a Nano you could get away with a 25 GPD one and save some money.    That was my most cost saving purchase so far, I was buying 80-90 gallons of distilled every month or so when I first started.  I can make 150 gallons a month and my water bill only goes up 2-3 dollars.

[cyberwollf]

Some guys use tap water, but they usually have a bad algae problem down the road and can't figure it out or something bad happens and they try to make a lot of water quickly and end up killing the whole tank.  Its best to start out with pure water from the begining and save a headache down the road.  Later on I would recommend a RO/DI unit, being a Nano you could get away with a 25 GPD one and save some money.    That was my most cost saving purchase so far, I was buying 80-90 gallons of distilled every month or so when I first started.  I can make 150 gallons a month and my water bill only goes up 2-3 dollars.

You could get away super cheap with a DI only system if you arent affraid to play with muratic acid and lye once a month  to recharge

[TechGuy]

You could get away super cheap with a DI only system if you arent affraid to play with muratic acid and lye once a month  to recharge

Ohhhhh yeah! This is what I am moving to.