Tank help :)

[Stephjls]

Okay, so I purchased a "project tank".
Dresser stand, 55gal tank, hood, working lights, a canister 100gal filter, and a couple of rocks/castles and little accessories all for $70.00

The dresser could use a paint job, and the sealing on the tank was deff. redone, sloppily. It didn't leak, but it just looked cheap. There are also a few scratches in the tank, I haven't really read to much into it, but from what I have, it looks as if there is nothing I can really do about that. Oh well.

So, today I stripped 90% of the sealing off, and plan to reseal it following simple directions on another site. I will let it dry for 48 hours or so, do a leak check, then start setting it up and doing water changes.
So here are my questions:

I am starting with fresh water, because thats where Elvis is now.
1. Does it matter if I put sand in it, whether is fresh water or salt? I want sand in the tank for when its BW. I just don't know if it makes a difference. Also, it was mentioned before I should get it from a pool supply store?
2. Should I start with the 0.002 when I put Elvis in, or keep it fresh for a week then add it. Does it matter? I figured moving tank would be stress enough for a week.
3. If I start with fresh water, should I get those feeder gold fish? Petsmart always tells me to get them first because they "help cycle" the water. But, the problem with those fish are, they never die. I would just have two more fish with no room. (Seriously, don't laugh. I have had two feeder goldfish for a year and a half now.)


Oh, and just out of curiosity. When I do water changes on the feeder fish, I use rain water from my rain barrel. I used it for my moms pea puffer as well. I never use any kind of water dechlorine stuff. I have never had a problem, and like I said above, my feeder fish have been alive for a year and a half. Don't have that available here where I live with Elvis and the community tank. (The pea puffer is at my moms, along with the goldfish due to no room!). Has anyone else ever tried this? When I was young I used my well water. This is the first tank I ever used any kind of dechlorine chemicals.

[Pufferpunk]

Use aragonite sand--1-2" layer should do.
When you fishless cycle (cycling fish is unnecessary & barbaric), then do it at whatever SG Elvis is at now.
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

[Stephjls]

Thank you thank you!

Okay, making a checklist of everything I need to purchase.
Aragonite reef sand
Instant Ocean salt
I need a thermometer for this new tank
Ph checker strips (name?)

[Stephjls]

Oh, and just putting it out there, I want this
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 8gIwBDgA#p

[Flutter]

You don't need pH checker strips. There are liquid test kits for pH that will do a better job.

[xrayjeeper83]

Oh, and just putting it out there, I want this
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 8gIwBDgA#p

thats cool looking

[Stephjls]

Okay a liquid test kit sounds right. It was on the tip of my tounge, haha a.

Another stupid question. When doing salt water changes, how do I go about that? When I add the water should I have already tested the new waters salinity, before I pour it in?

[Brandon8521]

Just match the salinity of the new water with what the tank water is. Unless your raiseing the Sg. For that there is a chart somewhere on this site (im sure someone has bookmarked and can provide you with a link.) Its best to let the salt mix for a few hours (just a precaustion with brackish but a requirement once you go full marine.)

[Stephjls]

So, I should be pouring all the water in a big bucket and let it sit/add salt?
I am using rain water, so I usually add chemicals to dechlorify.

[purplecandle]

rain water and well water do not have chlorine so you should not need to de-chlorinate...but you could use it anyway. I use stress coat during the spring thaw and during large water changes if I think the fish may need it.

You should let the salt mix overnight, or at least several hours in a bucket that has a heater and a filter machine (without media) to mix the salt water.

[J-P]

rain water has a very very low ph level. Do you know what yours is coming out at?

[Stephjls]

I feel stupid.
How will I know how much salt to add to the bucket water, so I don't over salt everything when I pour the bucket back in? The filter machine will do it?
Does anyone have a link to where it explains water changes for me?

[Pufferpunk]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19348

[purplecandle]

rain water has a very very low ph level. Do you know what yours is coming out at?

Also, spring thaw = very low PH

I lost a couple of puffers that way last spring, either from the ph drop or from other spring thaw issues..

[J-P]

spring thaw is snow.. which = rain water

just re-checked that post.. Ph was 5.7 for me. Those near the cities I would expect it to be lower.