some questions before I put the water in...

[psariandras]

I need some help regarding starting up my new tank.



BACKGROUND
I have done research but there are a few things I could use some advice about. I don't want to jump in and do things carelessly when I have the resource of this forum to ask questions in and prevent careless New-B type mistakes.

my tank and stand are ready and I have the nearly all the necessary items to start my tank. I am setting up a reef tank although I am not going to add any inverts beyond shrimp for a long time.

EQUIP
Just for clarity this is what I have: standard 55 gallon tank, 4 200 gph powerheads, 30lbs sand 30lbs LS, Ro water to fill the tank, standard fluroscent lighting
<I need to buy a heater(atm the temp is steady + or - 4 degrees), PS, lighting>

I am going to be ordering LR in one week(going to try to get about half of what I need at one time[~35lbs to start with], and add more as I get it)

QUESTIONS
1) I have ro water, is adding the salt just a matter of buying some from the LFS and reading the instructions or is there more to this?
2) When my rock arrives, should I do things in this order: put sand in tank, add water, put in rock, add shrimp and cycle, OR should I cycle with tank with the shrimp and LS then add LR? Will the LS be affected by the ammonia spike generated by the decomposing shrimp?
I don't understand if it will be bad to cycle the tank with nice online premium LR - I don't want critters to die while the tank is going through its cycle, or if it is better to add it and cycle it with the tank.
4)Can I get by without a PS? and would a power filter serve any purpose for me?
5)I want my rocks to be secure(I'm not getting any large sifter though, at some point a speckled goby perhaps) and I don't want to make mistakes setting up the rock now that will be hard to change later.
6)I am going to set up a sump/fug at some point in the future, will my tank be unable to function without a sump/fug(I will keep the bioload low and maintain water parameters)?


Sorry this post is so long.
thanks for any help.

[Tikidude]

Hi and welcome to the world of saltwater.

I can't help with the water prep because I bought mine pre-mixed.

I put my base rock (not live) on the bottom of the tank on a thin layer of sand and the put my regular sand in the tank. I then added some water to the tank and added my live sand. I then put more water in the tank so I could start adding the live rock.

The live rock combined with the live sand will get your tank cycling quickly. You can put some fish food in the water and it will create ammonia as it sits in the tank.

I'm also no help with a sump or a skimmer as I have neither and my tank is functioning. Jsut remember to go slow and not rush things.

[Grins]

1. For your first fill, yes you'll follow the directions on the back of the bag or tub of salt mix and you can mix it in the tank with a heater and a powerhead. You will want to mix it out of the tank in the future though. Many use Rubbermade Brute trashcans and such for this. One for RO/DI storage and one for the saltwater mix.

2. Depending on how clean your rock is when you get it yes you can add it to the tank while it is cycling. I actually prefer to put the rock in first, and then the sand so that I assure the rock is solidly placed (I have a goby). Yes, add a prawn to help with the cycle although some of the dieoff from the rock will cause some of the cycle as well. You'll still have lots of life live through the cycle.

4. If you're wanting a reef you'll want a skimmer in my opinion. I have a cannister filter but I use it mostly to run a bag of chemi-pure and the added movement.

5. Set the rock on the glass before the sand. If you put sand in first, push it to the side and make sure the rock is on the bottom. Some also choose to use egg crate under it and some use PVC stands. Others even tack their rocks together but I chose not for the most part because it makes a really heavy awkward situation if I ever need to move any of them.

6. You can start withthout a sump/fuge. I did but am in the middle of installing one now.

Alsp you made a note that you'd not get any inverts other than a shrimp to start (after the cycle I'm hoping). I'd strongly encourage you to get some snails for clean up after your cycle is done.

[psariandras]

yeah haha I meant a dead shrimp for cycling and then later once it is cycled a live shrimp :) thanks for the advice, I will get some snails for clean up.

I am planning on not getting any fish for 2 months, I'm not sure exactly how long i should wait before I put in a cleaner or pistol shrimp.

I got a nice testing kit(at least I think so) from petsmart. it is normally 46 dollras but was on sale for 26.