Very new guy with new tank!

Good luck on that one (finding test for cheap). I just scored last week from a local reefer that got out of the hobby and had boxes of Salifert test kits unopened for sale at $5 ea. Some of these tests go for $40-50ea and I picked up 9 different tests for $45. Look at the local reef clubs postings (that is how I found my deal) or anything similar before jumping in and spending a fortune on tests. I also scored a Hanah TDS meter for $20 and a SQWD for $10. In the beginning you will only need a few during the cycle.. but after that you will need more.

1 Nitrate
1 PH
1 Carbonate Hardness/Alkalinilty
1 Calcium
1 Magnesium
1 Phospate
1 Iodine
1 silicate
1 Strontium
 
Ace25 said:
Good luck on that one (finding test for cheap). I just scored last week from a local reefer that got out of the hobby and had boxes of Salifert test kits unopened for sale at $5 ea. Some of these tests go for $40-50ea and I picked up 9 different tests for $45. Look at the local reef clubs postings (that is how I found my deal) or anything similar before jumping in and spending a fortune on tests. I also scored a Hanah TDS meter for $20 and a SQWD for $10. In the beginning you will only need a few during the cycle.. but after that you will need more.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying cheap I'm just saying I don't want the electronic ones. I know I can't get them all right away so I'm just looking for good brands and styles I guess. I would like to know which ones work the best to make my life easier.
 
Well, for PH I recommend an electronic pen. It is much easier and quicker and those don't cost much.

The rest.. well, let's just say I have never found that "perfect" tests that you can tell with 100% acuracy what the result is. Most tests go by color, you do x drops of 1 and x drops of 2 and hold it up to a color chart and read the results.. some, like calcium you keep adding drops of #2 until you get the desired color. You are usually left wondering, looking under different lights, asking others.. is this test tube this color.. or this color? lol. Still pretty close but not quite perfect.

I think salifert is as good as any for an average priced test. Seachem is ok to I guess. You can buy one of those basic or Reef Special salt water tests kits and those will help out a lot. You would still need a Calcium and Magnesium test kit.
 
Thanks for the links and I'm gonna check them out.
 
We're going to get sand for the tank today and I was wondering How much I should get. I think we want about a 3" bed in the display tank and I'm not sure about the refugium. Should I go 4" in there?
 
A little tip, place your base rock in first before the sand or else any gobies to buy will make a possible avalance by digging in the sand under your base rock. Put in your base rock directly on the glass bottom, then put the sand all around it.

Just guessing, but I am thinking probably 5 bags of sand and 1 bag of "live" sand would probably be more than enough. It took me 2 bags of sand and 1 live bag to do my 29G and fuge area.
 
As far as the placing rock befor sand thing I don't think we are going to have the base rock or the live rock right away. I want to get the sand and the water in the tank so it can get cycling. I know that isn't the best way but I think all it will do is take longer to cycle. Now are you figuring 30lb or 20lb per bag?
 
20lb per bag. Again though, I am just guessing. You could go 3 Sand 1 Live and see how well it fills it and then go for more if need be, or go the other route, but more than you think and bring back the unopened bags.. up to you.

You can always brush the sand away from the area your putting the rock down at and brush it back against the rock when you placed it. Another lesson I learned the hard way having a collapse due to my engineer goby.
 
That's what I plan on doing. I'll just brush it out of the way just like if you rework your tank.

We got the sand and some other stuff tonight. We found a really good deal on sand at Pet Smart. Now I wouldn't buy fish or anything from there but I figured sand would be fine. It was only $6.99 a 20lb bag. We got 5 bags. The next closes price was $16.00 witch isn't that bad but $6.99 is great. I only got the dead sand and still need 1 bag of live. 1 bag of live sand 20lb $30.00. I'll get that on Friday. I didn't want to get that at Pet Smart. We also got a hydrometer, pH buffer, pH test kit and salt mix. In total we spent $112.00. I think that is pretty good.

Here is a picture of everything we picked up.

Stuff.jpg
 
I have never used that sand before nor have I read anything so I can't comment on it. I know the brand name so by that I would guess its ok.

Buffer, good to have, I use it myself. Don't forget the B-Ionic though later on. It's not really needed during the cycle.

I have that Hydrometer also (as well as a refractor) and while it works, its not the most accurate and can be a minor PITA getting the microbubbles off the swing arm so you can get a good reading. It's fine for now though. If you find a good deal on a refractor down the road I would jump on it.

Test kit, alway good to have.

Salt, you know my opinion on it from the past. If people are saying it has improved then I would have to take their word on it. Always test first batch mixed regardless of brand with as many tests as you have. If RC salt has got to be stable and have all that it claims (trace elements, calcium, etc) then it should be a good salt again. I used IO salt for many many years until the problem period they had.

So whats on the aquarium shopping list for Friday other than a bag of live sand?
 
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