Follow up, new tank

Question
QUESTION: I have had several tropical tanks and I am now starting a new saltwater tank set up. My tank is planned as a fish only and live rock tank. I have purchased 2 power filters for my 30 gallon tank. I am in the waiting period. I just set the tank up 3 days ago with cured live rock (34 lbs) and live sand. I am only using the one filter right now, it is the appropriate size for the tank. Should I use the second bio wheel filter as well for circulation, or not worry about that? And are bio wheel power filters the same for both fresh and salt water? I purchased the one from a marine only store, but the second today from a shop that has both, I never thought of asking. I am letting the tank sit without any lighting for two weeks before adding any fish. I haven't come across this anywhere in my research, but was suggested by my local shop, what is the correct time length to add fish?

ANSWER: Hi Brent,
You can never have too much filtration. I have over 3,000 gallons of aquariums in my house, and all but 1 have a bio-wheel or 2 on them. Hang on the back filters work the same way for both fresh water and marine. They do require a bit more maintenance for marine. You can get a detritus/nitrate build up quicker with a marine system, so the media and the housing needs to be cleaned more often. I do mine every 15 days. Just rinse the media and the housing in a little water from the tank. This prevents any build up or "nitrate factories" and prevents the biological filter from being disrupted by a too thorough cleaning in fresh water. And I always time my monthly water changes 3 or 4 days after a cleaning of the filters for the same reason.
Was the live rock cured and cycled or only cured? There's a difference. The tank sitting without lighting doesnt speed anything up, or really have any benefit. It might inhibit an early growth of alga but thats about it. The system needs to receive normal photo periods(10 to 12 hours, never more than 12) to cycle and get a healthy biological filter building.
You'll know when youre ready to add fish by testing the water quality. If the live rock was cured but not cycled you will see an ammonia spike from any detritus then nitrite and nitrate as with any aquatic cycle. This can take weeks depending on size of the system. Yours I would say should be ready to go in the 3 to 4 week range, but test the water to be sure. Just as with your tropical systems you want zeros. And most marine fish are not nearly as tolerant of ammonia or nitrite levels as tropical fish can be. Tropical and marine systems arent really all that different, you just need a tad bit more patience in the beginning stages of marine systems. The set up and cycling. Just be patient, test your water, and you'll be fine. Let me know how it goes or if you have any more questions. Always glad to help.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Glenn,
Thanks for your help previously. I have 2 more questions now.
1. Have an off white worm type animal coming out of my LR, it seems to have a very pointed head that is a bit darker than the rest of it. I cant seem to see the rest of the body since it comes out of the LR where I have an overhang of live rock. It can stretch out so far to about an 1 1/2 from where it is living. When I shine light on it, it retracts quickly. Later when I hit it with light it looked maybe a little darker. It is smooth (without bristles) and very thin... maybe mm and round. I cant get a picture since it moves out of light so quickly. What could it possible be. It seemed to be foraging in the LR around it.
2. I have all kinds of minute white (calcium colored) very tiny little things all over my glass and filter tubes. They look like little tight "c"'s. I can't get a picture on them since my digital camera only wants to focus on the scenery. OK I have a 3rd. There are little minute transparent eggs all over my glass hanging by short 1/2 mm strands, they all seem to be tear shaped. I sponged them off, they where everywhere and some seemed to be in a webbing?????

HELP

Brent

Answer
Hey Brent,
Not help... good job. The worm, well there are millions of marine worms, but yours based on description is probably a peanut worm, harmless benefactor to your tank. The "little c's" are spirorbids, filter feeders. Little worms as well. They feed on detritus and waste so bonus! And the eggs are snail eggs, probably Cerrith. All of these things are good healthy signs in your system.
Its good that you are very observant, stay that way. It will help you become a great marine aquaraist!