New to hobby

[Angelajean]

Hi,
My name is Angie. I am a stay at home, homeschooling mom of a 13 year old son. He has been interested in marine biology for 7 years always interested in Nat Geo shows and the Baltimore aquarium. We purchased a Biocube 14 and are setting it up this weekend with live sand and live rock. Our plan is using R/O water. Can anyone help me with the best reasonably priced testing kit to get? How long do I need to cycle tank before adding a hermit crab, shrimp or goby?
My plan is to have him observing, testing water, etc for a grade in science as well as studying biology which we have just begun.
Thanks for any help. I have experience in freshwater, but none in salt.

 

[little_fish]

Hello and Welcome!!!

How long you need to wait depends on how long the tank takes to cycle. Using all live rock usually means a fast cycle, so about a week. But you wont know until you actually do. So drop in the piece of table shrimp as soon as you can to get the cycle going.

The best test kits for basics IMO are the API test kits. You can get one with all the basics for around $20 online. Just make sure the kit has ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and pH. That will be everything you need to start off with.

I would read this article for a good rundown on the water chemistry and the tank cycle.
https://www.livingreefs.com/water-chemistry-t31270.html

 

[chichimom79]

Welcome aboard Angie! :D

 

[Waddi]

Welcome to the Reef!

 

[Angelajean]

Thanks everyone. If I use RO water, do I need the table shrimp? I am guessing they introduce bacteria for the tank to cycle.
Thanks,
Angie

 

[marcah]

howdy and welcome to the site..:D
You need an ammonia source to feed the bacteria that process the first part of the nitrogen cycle.

 

[little_fish]

no, you need to use the table shrimp.

RO/DI water had better be not introducing ammonia, otherwise you are going to have some major issues.

 

[Angelajean]

I have read so much that I feel like my brain is mush. The RODI water does not have ammonia. I read about the nitrogen cycle and now it makes sense.

We will let thinks settle out at least a couple of weeks and test the water as we go.

What would be the best first thing to put in the tank? We will be waiting for corals.
Thanks for all your help. I want to help my son have success with this.
Angie

 

[marcah]

well once the cycle finishes you want to do your waterchange then throw in your CUC ( clean up crew) consisting of snails ( astrea, cerith, dwarf cerith, nass, maybe a turbo or two) brittle star.. Then start looking for what you want to throw in for fish, rule of thumb 1 fish per 10 gallon

 

[little_fish]

Check out this link, it contains many fish that can live happily in a small tank

Nano Fish

 

[Smitty]

Hello and welcome to the site...glad to have you aboard.

 

[ErinCahir]

Hello and welcome to the site!