Still planning a few things, and want to specify some questions I have about a future nano-reef. (I never had a SW tank, but have a general knowledge)
I know the basic set-up is something like...fill the tank with water, add salt mix, use powerheads to help mix salt, put a heater in, get the water to about 78F or so, cure the live rock/sand, add the rock first, and then the sand, let it cycle, add fish.
But I know there are some key details in between those...but here are a few of my questions:
I plan on having a small number of fish (1) and invertebrates (2-3), and I was wondering when the salinity level in the tank is all set and it's time to cure the rock and add that, do I need to wait a certain amont of time before adding the sand? Or can I just add it immediately after, rinsing it off first.
Also...if I plan on adding additional invertebrates after the live rock and sand, should I wait until it is finished cycling? I was thinking about adding a scarlet reef hermit crab and a pistol shrimp.
Finally (I think :lol When a website says live rock needs "moderate" lighting, and corals/polyps need "moderate-high" just exactly what does moderate and high mean in terms of like wattage and that kind of stuff? Pretty sure I will just stick to live rock, no coral, but I was just curious. I'm still deciding on the whole light set up, trying to not spend a whole lot.
Oh and one quick thing, I read a bunch of things on the Watchman Goby, and I really like these guys, and how they have a symbiotic relationship with the pistol shrimp. Is a 10 gallon nano too small for one of these guys? It would be my only fish if I were to get one.
Thanks in advance...and sorry if these questions were answered already.
I know the basic set-up is something like...fill the tank with water, add salt mix, use powerheads to help mix salt, put a heater in, get the water to about 78F or so, cure the live rock/sand, add the rock first, and then the sand, let it cycle, add fish.
But I know there are some key details in between those...but here are a few of my questions:
I plan on having a small number of fish (1) and invertebrates (2-3), and I was wondering when the salinity level in the tank is all set and it's time to cure the rock and add that, do I need to wait a certain amont of time before adding the sand? Or can I just add it immediately after, rinsing it off first.
Also...if I plan on adding additional invertebrates after the live rock and sand, should I wait until it is finished cycling? I was thinking about adding a scarlet reef hermit crab and a pistol shrimp.
Finally (I think :lol When a website says live rock needs "moderate" lighting, and corals/polyps need "moderate-high" just exactly what does moderate and high mean in terms of like wattage and that kind of stuff? Pretty sure I will just stick to live rock, no coral, but I was just curious. I'm still deciding on the whole light set up, trying to not spend a whole lot.
Oh and one quick thing, I read a bunch of things on the Watchman Goby, and I really like these guys, and how they have a symbiotic relationship with the pistol shrimp. Is a 10 gallon nano too small for one of these guys? It would be my only fish if I were to get one.
Thanks in advance...and sorry if these questions were answered already.