New 13G Nano Received! Need help starting step by step....

Sorry about the delay, it's hard to get a block of time to think and write these days.

If you do the TBS package, just get the Marine white sand, and lay down a layer 2-3" deep. You will get live sand that is much better than anything in a bag from TBS.

On the other hand, shipping may kill you, spending $100 for a 13 gallon tank. It might be worth doing half dead rock, cycling, then do a single order with TBS. They like to do their package, but you would do fine just getting some live sand, "corals on rock" (if that's what you want), plus some astreas, hermits and a serpent star.
 
Hello! I may do the package b/c it seems their live rock is so great and I kind of like the idea of it...

If so, they said I wouldn't need to put other sand, just their live sand...

If you think though, I will put some of the marine sand, too.

When I get the LS, should I mix it with the marine or layer it on TOP of the LS???
 
I would put the TBS sand on top. The marine sand is finer, and will make a nice DSB. The TBS sand is fairly coarse, but full of worms and stars, and makes a nice top layer. It's what I did, and you can see that worms and things from the TBS sand are burrowing into the finer sand.
 
Spoke to TBS on Thursday and they are out of LR right now. She's going to get back to me...

Well, now I'm starting to wonder about the $100. shipping and if I should do just a single order from them after the cycle- like you suggested earlier...

I'm thinking of getting a bag of live sand at the LFS (not as good as TBS's sand?) and some LR to cycle.---which is what LFS would have sent me to start... It seems they want you to do frequent water changes after the first shipment so that the creatures won't be killed off during the cycle...

"We send all the live sand and half of the live rock on the first shipment, you wait until the tank cycles, call us back and we send the rest of the rock and all the critters. This way the tank cycles without stressing the full amount of rock and sand stirring critters. The second shipment is the rest of your rock, some with hard corals, and the sand stirrers which are introduced to a cycled tank and do much better than adding everything at once!"

"Now the important part, you need to have premixed saltwater ready to go to make water changes as your ammonia level goes up. When your test kit shows a rise in the ammonia levels change enough water to bring the ammonia level to to the safe zone on your reef tank. Your tank will cycle in about two weeks as the bacteria needed to start your tank is in the sand and on the rock.
After your tank cycles with The Package you call us back and we ship you the rest of the rock and sand stirrers."

By putting in my own live sand and 1/2 LR, could I save anything living by making water changes then??? Then after the cycle order more LR and snails, crabs, etc... from TBS... How does that sound? any suggestions?
 
I'm thinking of getting a bag of live sand at the LFS (not as good as TBS's sand?) and some LR to cycle.
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Live sand in a bag is nothing compared to stuff fresh from the Gulf. If you start with the white sand, base roch, and a little live rock to kickstart things, then throw rotting seafood in to feed the cycle, you should be good to go.

Then top it off with some nice TBS rock after the cycle's done.
 
And forget about the live sand from TBS?

If I do what you just said, should I do water changes during the cycle to try to preserve some of the LR?
 
If you are ordering live rock anyway, I would order 5-10 lbs live sand.

I would do water changes during the cycle if you use live rock, trying to keep ammonia at 0.5-1.0 ppm.

I did basically the same thing when I started the 90. Cycled within about 6 weeks. Once I put the TBS rock and sand in, the ammonia never went above 0.5.
 
My Tank

OK---got tired of talking and bought the white marine sand and 10 lbs. live rock. Added to tank a few hours ago. I have the pump running and the skimmer off. Should I put it on? How soon should I start testing for ammonia? How will I know this is enough bacteria to cycle? Didn't add the cocktail shrimp. LFS wanted me to put a fish in but I told him I'd prefer not to cycle with fish!

The above link takes you to a page with pics of my tank so far! Once you get to the page you can do a slideshow or click pics to make them bigger... Please check it out!

PS- IT'S BEEN A FEW HOURS SINCE ADDING THE LR AND THE AMMONIA IS 0.50... SHOULD I DO A WATER CHANGE WHEN IT GETS ABOVE THAT? WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WATER SHOULD I CHANGE AND DOES IT HAVE TO BE AERATED AND HEATED TO TEMP OF THE TANK?
 
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If you have that much live rock, I'd run the skimmer to help keep it alive. Keep an eye on the ammonia. How much stuff do you see on the LR?
 
Don't see too much stuff on the LR. What am I looking for?

Put skimmer on last night. How long should it take to fill the cup? Having trouble adjusting it... It either fills to fast or isn't filling! I'll have to play with it...

should I check any other levels besides ammonia yet?
 
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