Well..where to start. I have had Freshwater Aquariums for about 5 years, and have had much luck with all my fish ( I still have a 3-year old Silver Hatchett in my Eclipse System 6)
I am now 15, and have made the decision to move to saltwater, but first, a long list on n00b Questions, here they are:
The tank is 72in by 18in by 24in, so it is long enugh for Tangs(
)
-For salt, what mixture do you feel is the best (Not value, but nutrients and other ingreedents)
-I plan to cycle my tank with good old Jumbo shrimp, but what order should I add all the parts in? Water, Salt, turn on filter, then add live sand and rock, then cycle for 4 weeks?
- I plan on using a wet/dry filter as they add more of a buffer for a newb in case of error(I plan on that). But, who makes fairly good wet/dry systems for a 100 gal tak (Marineland or MAXi Reef, or what others would you Reccomend?) and what is this drilling I hear of? or is that just for if you don't use an Overflow skimmer? After the filter is picked, what Pump is apropiate and costs <$120?
-During Cycling, do I need the lights on?
-I live in an area where we have very hard water, and I don't have an R/O machine, nor do I want to purchase one. Can I just use the tap water, de-chlorinate it, cycle it, and have it Suitable for fish?
-If I use a Wet/dry filter, wil that provide enough movement, having the intake in the center back, and outflow in the back coroners? or will I need powerheads?
-Also, who can Reccomend an All-around decent test kit with all the essential tests in it?
-How many Watts of heat will I need to keep is 78F in ~ a 68-72F room?
How much Live rock/sand will I need?( I plan on mixing in some Play sand too, to cut down on cost, let it build up during cycling)
-Lighting, I'll need to call the shop about the hood(Don't even know if it has a Ballast) But I plan on using 3 Actinic white and one Actinic Blue VHO bulbs, or is that overkill? i'm planning on 4-5 watts per gallon so I can get coral sometime in the future. I plan on a 12-hur cycle, and I wil have 2 bulbs per Ballast, so can I turn on 1 blue and 1 white to start, then after 1 hour have the others turn on for like 10 hours, than black to blue/white for an hour, than off? Or can I use one ballast, and controll a decent "Sun Phase" effect (don't think that is possible tho). Are those also the Correct Bulb combinations?
-As for a skimmer, all of the "Good" ones need an external pump, but can I just use the pump on my wet/dry to power it also, just run them in-line(Please Specify skimmer Capiable of this)? Or, if not, what skimmer can I get to andle 100 gallons, that has it's own pump?
As for food and fish help, I think i'm good (Love that fish chart all over the internet, tells me what works well together).
Thanks in Advance, and thanks for your Patience with the long post, i'm looking foward to entering the salty side
I am now 15, and have made the decision to move to saltwater, but first, a long list on n00b Questions, here they are:
The tank is 72in by 18in by 24in, so it is long enugh for Tangs(

-For salt, what mixture do you feel is the best (Not value, but nutrients and other ingreedents)
-I plan to cycle my tank with good old Jumbo shrimp, but what order should I add all the parts in? Water, Salt, turn on filter, then add live sand and rock, then cycle for 4 weeks?
- I plan on using a wet/dry filter as they add more of a buffer for a newb in case of error(I plan on that). But, who makes fairly good wet/dry systems for a 100 gal tak (Marineland or MAXi Reef, or what others would you Reccomend?) and what is this drilling I hear of? or is that just for if you don't use an Overflow skimmer? After the filter is picked, what Pump is apropiate and costs <$120?
-During Cycling, do I need the lights on?
-I live in an area where we have very hard water, and I don't have an R/O machine, nor do I want to purchase one. Can I just use the tap water, de-chlorinate it, cycle it, and have it Suitable for fish?
-If I use a Wet/dry filter, wil that provide enough movement, having the intake in the center back, and outflow in the back coroners? or will I need powerheads?
-Also, who can Reccomend an All-around decent test kit with all the essential tests in it?
-How many Watts of heat will I need to keep is 78F in ~ a 68-72F room?
How much Live rock/sand will I need?( I plan on mixing in some Play sand too, to cut down on cost, let it build up during cycling)
-Lighting, I'll need to call the shop about the hood(Don't even know if it has a Ballast) But I plan on using 3 Actinic white and one Actinic Blue VHO bulbs, or is that overkill? i'm planning on 4-5 watts per gallon so I can get coral sometime in the future. I plan on a 12-hur cycle, and I wil have 2 bulbs per Ballast, so can I turn on 1 blue and 1 white to start, then after 1 hour have the others turn on for like 10 hours, than black to blue/white for an hour, than off? Or can I use one ballast, and controll a decent "Sun Phase" effect (don't think that is possible tho). Are those also the Correct Bulb combinations?
-As for a skimmer, all of the "Good" ones need an external pump, but can I just use the pump on my wet/dry to power it also, just run them in-line(Please Specify skimmer Capiable of this)? Or, if not, what skimmer can I get to andle 100 gallons, that has it's own pump?
As for food and fish help, I think i'm good (Love that fish chart all over the internet, tells me what works well together).
Thanks in Advance, and thanks for your Patience with the long post, i'm looking foward to entering the salty side
