New tank setup

[celticstarb]

I am working on a new tank. I think it is 27 gallons. The filter is a simple over head filter that uses cut to fit filters. I have a small protein skimmer, but it is an internal skimmer. I'm planning on using a phosphate sponge to keep algae at bay.

I will be adding about an inch of Ocean Direct live sand.

The light is a Odysea quad T5 HO fixture. I plan on using 2 10k bulbs and 2 actinic. There are two switches for the lights, so I plan on setting them up with one white and one actinic each. Depending on par readings, I think I will have one set come on in the morning and one set come on for 3 hours in the afternoon.

Attached are pics of the empty tank dryscaped. I still need to clean it with vinegar.

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[celticstarb]

Sorry pics are sideways

[FarmerTy]

Nice setup! Are you planning to run a mixed reef or focus on a specific type?

[celticstarb]

Thanks.

Mixed. Softies LPS, and SPS

[alton]

Nice start, please keep us updated

[celticstarb]

I hope to get it wet by this weekend! I'll post pics as I go

[celticstarb]

I rearranged the rock and took out the largest piece. I made one huge mistake with the pukani rock. Apparently it needs to be "cured." There is a lot of organics inside the rock. I didn't soak it for several weeks before adding it to the tank. Now the tank water is very yellow.. Hopefully, with several water changes, the rock will be clean about the time the tank cycles!

[celticstarb]

I rearranged the rock and took out the largest piece. I made one huge mistake with the pukani rock. Apparently it needs to be "cured." There is a lot of organics inside the rock. I didn't soak it for several weeks before adding it to the tank. Now the tank water is very yellow.. Hopefully, with several water changes, the rock will be clean about the time the tank cycles!

[leliataylor]

Hey David, how do keep water in the tank when it is on it's side?

[celticstarb]

LOL. I control the gravity in my house!

[celticstarb]

Here's an update. The T5's are 6500K, giving it a more yellow appearance. I will be changing out to LEDs next week. There are currently 2 protein skimmers to remove some of the organics from the pukani rock. I ordered some TurboStart 900 from Polly's Pets that should be here Thursday. We thought about how we want to balance Calcium/Alk. Finally we decided to go minimal and see how things go with weekly 25% water changes before deciding on dosing methods. I have a spare doser and lots of BRS 2 part dosing supplies, so that may be an option in the near future. At first, I don't think the tank will be using too much calcium/alk since we plan on starting out with softies and slowly adding LPS/SPS. Let me know what you guys think. I left a decent size sand bed for rock flower anamones and maybe a GSP island. I plan on adding a nice gorg to help hide the PVC coming up from the pump.

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[celticstarb]

Just an update for you guys. I tried using TurboStart 900 to cycle the tank. Unfortunately, the bottle came from the distributor 2 months expired. I foolishly didn't check the date since it was a special order. I called the pet store and they ordered me another bottle, but it's currently on back order.

The tank is cycling fairly fast but not as fast as it would if all the bacteria had been viable. The tank will convert 1 ppm ammonia to nitrites in 12 to 16 hours. The nitrite part of the cycle is slowly improving. It takes about 2 days to convert the nitrites.

Here's how I've been doing my cycle. I raise the ammonia to 1 ppm after a water change. I then preform additional water changes when the nitrites raise above 5 ppm or the nitrates rise above 20 ppm. Then I bring the ammonia back up to 1. I'm thinking that 1 ppm ammonia is a good place to start since it will be mostly photosynthetic coral and no fish (for 3 or 4 months after initial stocking.) When I cycle a seahorse aquarium, I bring the ammonia up to 3 ppm during the cycle since seahorses produce so much ammonia.

I'm currently in the diatom part of the cycle. I've blacked out the tank to help control the diatoms.

Let me know what you guys think. Does it sound like I'm handling the cycle correctly? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[Troy Valentine]

David, you've really go your nitrogen cycle down to a science. Impressive! There is a much faster way that is tried and true. Just go to a few fellow reefers with health tanks, and get a cup of sand from them. It will supply a bunch of life to a new system. And if you get from several health systems you will have a terrific bio diversity.

[Troy Valentine]

Either way you are off to a great start;)

[celticstarb]

Just a personal choice, but I don't like using substrate from other tanks. Most pathogens are benthic and attach to substrates. Every tank has pathogens no matter how healthy it seems. Sometimes, different parameters in a new tank can allow some of those pathogens to grow and start attacking livestock. This is especially true for new tanks that haven't balanced out good bacteria with the bad bacteria.

That being said, I know the "sand from and established tank" method works well. But, after dealing with an aipstasia outbreak in my seahorse tank, I decided that I will always start with bagged sand, bottled bacteria, and dry rock.

I really hope I'm off to a good start! Everything seems to be progressing at a good pace

[Jasonb]

How is the cycle going?

[celticstarb]

Everything is going great now. The tank it done cycling. Diatoms mostly cleared overnight. Looking great!

[Jasonb]

Very cool, I am in seguin also if you need anything.

[celticstarb]

Thanks Jason. Do u have any inexpensive frags for sale?


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[Jasonb]

I do, PM sent

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[Justin]

nice setup man. Looking forward to the progress of the tank. Let me know if you need any SPS frags. I have a lot and I'm trying to clear out the frags in my grow out tank. I forgot the names to a lot but honestly, they are all accidental frags from my Display so letting them go for like $10 to $15 (depends on size rather than actual coral) is no problem to me. Just PM when you are ready.

[celticstarb]

Everything is looking great! Ammonia and nitrites are staying at zero, and nitrates are slowly rising. I've been doing water changes when nitrates get close to 20, but I'm wondering if that's too high? I know they should be close to zero, but how high should I let it get before water changes?

[alton]

20 is a little high but zero is not the norm. I like 2 to 5ppm. But then I have a bunch of fish.

[Justin]

20 nitrates is not that high if you have a little phosphate. After a snapfu of overdosing kno3, my trates have been at 20, but i keep my po4 at .03 and everything has been fine

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