Hi im new and soooooo confused..........

[starmom]

every time i think im on the right track i read something that leads to think im all wrong........

i was reading the posts about starting tanks and live rock.

i am getting some uncured figi and tonga branch, i have a 75 gallon tank that im just starting up, what ive been told by my experienced pet shop owner/friend is that i just need my saltwater started and circulating a few days to make it less acidic and get the specific gravity to around l024 and my temps in the 76-78 degree range and then i can put this rock in and expect to do a large water change in a few day and then just let it do its thing....

its this all wrong?

thanks for any help offered........
sue
reptile keeper of l0 cute lizards and geckos and also the proud owner of a freshwater tank with 2 new baby molly fry.......so cute

 

[starmom]

do you all mean cocktail shrimp like what you get in the supermarket?

like just toss it in?

I read to get the water started and get the live rock in then put the sand after so its stable on the bottom of the tank......

thanks for imput in advance........
sue

 

[mogurnda]

If you're getting uncured rock, you won't need shrimp. The stuff dying on the rock will feed the cycle just fine.

Your LFS owner sounds like one of the good ones. Nothing wrong with that advice.

There is always more than one way to do anything, but I would suggest using a protein skimmer and routine water changes during the curing period to save whatever wildlife is left on the rock. The bacteria will still develop, but it will save a few more of the interesting hitchhikers that somehow survived the trip.

 

[starmom]

thanks........i feel MUCH BETTER NOW

Yes I think Ive lucked out..........

I told my him that I need a "mentor" I will spend most of the $$$ with him, and will depend on his advice and guidence...he is cutting me some slack with some stuff price wise, and has also made some nice $$$ too..........I would rather support my local good small business and have the technical support that is good than go to petco or some other large chain where usually from my reptile experience they dont usually know much of anything and you end up spending money that is unnecessary....

he and one of the other owners "all around my age or younger" have reef tanks at home so i feel very comfortable that they do know what they are talking about........

I also have been reading for months on the net and got a fantastic book by this guy mike peletta the new marine aquarium it really discusses every aspect point by point, and gives you pretty good step by step advice as well on the different aspects.

thanks for making me feel better...........

I just would hate to mess this up.........

thanks..........
sue

 

[mogurnda]

If you follow Paletta's advice, you will certainly set up a nice tank. As with any book, he makes a few mistakes, and some of the material is out of date, but it's one of the better ones.

There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and it's easy to get confused. A little experience and a lot of questions will hopefully make it easier.

 

[greeneyedlady]

Just a side note another good book is "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by R.M. Fenner