Help a newbie AmI headed down the right road

[Layer3guru]

I have had fresh water fish all my life but I have always wanted a marine
tank but have been scared to try. I finally took the plunge 3 weeks ago.
Here is what I have most of it is equipment left over from my freshwater
setup.

55Gallon
Emperor 400
Fluval 404

Lighting standard overhead but I changed both bulbs to a 10000k coral life
bulb and one to a 50/50. I did not want to mix it but the store did not have
2 of the same, am I hurting things here?

(2) 200 watt heaters on separate sides of the tank set for 77 degrees F
2 Second Nature Powerhead 640's on opposite ends of the tank.
40 pounds of crush coral
40 pounds of live sand
2 pieces of live rock equal to about 21 pounds
1 domino damsel
1 Blue Yellow tail Damsel

Any comments on where I have screwed up would be greatly appreciated or
advise on where I should go next. The tank has only been up with live rock
and fish for 2 weeks but I got the salt and water put in and let it run
empty for a week. This has turned in to a family project so I do want to
succeed. The live rock seems to be doing well nice colors purple and a
little green, but it has like this fine hair which I think is algae growing
on it. The family desperately wants to go get more live rock to fill out the
tank but I am a little afraid to, the ammonia and nitrates are fine and the
salinity holds steady at 1.024. Should I wait or give in and get more live
rock.

[Layer3guru]

Oh yeah I added a digital automatic temperature gauge and also an automatic
light plug basically it turns my light on every 12 hours. Burning for 12
hours day, Ok that is it hehehe.


"Layer3guru" > wrote in message
...
> I have had fresh water fish all my life but I have always wanted a marine
> tank but have been scared to try. I finally took the plunge 3 weeks ago.
> Here is what I have most of it is equipment left over from my freshwater
> setup.
>
> 55Gallon
> Emperor 400
> Fluval 404
>
> Lighting standard overhead but I changed both bulbs to a 10000k coral life
> bulb and one to a 50/50. I did not want to mix it but the store did not
have
> 2 of the same, am I hurting things here?
>
> (2) 200 watt heaters on separate sides of the tank set for 77 degrees F
> 2 Second Nature Powerhead 640's on opposite ends of the tank.
> 40 pounds of crush coral
> 40 pounds of live sand
> 2 pieces of live rock equal to about 21 pounds
> 1 domino damsel
> 1 Blue Yellow tail Damsel
>
> Any comments on where I have screwed up would be greatly appreciated or
> advise on where I should go next. The tank has only been up with live rock
> and fish for 2 weeks but I got the salt and water put in and let it run
> empty for a week. This has turned in to a family project so I do want to
> succeed. The live rock seems to be doing well nice colors purple and a
> little green, but it has like this fine hair which I think is algae
growing
> on it. The family desperately wants to go get more live rock to fill out
the
> tank but I am a little afraid to, the ammonia and nitrates are fine and
the
> salinity holds steady at 1.024. Should I wait or give in and get more live
> rock.
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

you really should not have added fish that soon. its stressful/lethal on
fish during the cycle.

yes go for the rock, in a 55 you need anywhere from 75 to 100 lbs in there
depending on the density of the rock. (more dense requires more rock) your
live rock is one of the best filters for your system.

a suggestion is to not mix crushed coral and sand, the sand will eventualy
settle to the bottom and the CC on top.

do lots of reading and slow down, a successful marine tank takes patients,
patients, and last but not least patients.

reefcentral.com is a great place to read up as well.

kc

"Layer3guru" > wrote in message
...
> I have had fresh water fish all my life but I have always wanted a marine
> tank but have been scared to try. I finally took the plunge 3 weeks ago.
> Here is what I have most of it is equipment left over from my freshwater
> setup.
>
> 55Gallon
> Emperor 400
> Fluval 404
>
> Lighting standard overhead but I changed both bulbs to a 10000k coral life
> bulb and one to a 50/50. I did not want to mix it but the store did not
have
> 2 of the same, am I hurting things here?
>
> (2) 200 watt heaters on separate sides of the tank set for 77 degrees F
> 2 Second Nature Powerhead 640's on opposite ends of the tank.
> 40 pounds of crush coral
> 40 pounds of live sand
> 2 pieces of live rock equal to about 21 pounds
> 1 domino damsel
> 1 Blue Yellow tail Damsel
>
> Any comments on where I have screwed up would be greatly appreciated or
> advise on where I should go next. The tank has only been up with live rock
> and fish for 2 weeks but I got the salt and water put in and let it run
> empty for a week. This has turned in to a family project so I do want to
> succeed. The live rock seems to be doing well nice colors purple and a
> little green, but it has like this fine hair which I think is algae
growing
> on it. The family desperately wants to go get more live rock to fill out
the
> tank but I am a little afraid to, the ammonia and nitrates are fine and
the
> salinity holds steady at 1.024. Should I wait or give in and get more live
> rock.
>
>