advice and tips needed please

[toddmh]

Hi guys I really need some advice on my new tank,let me tell you guys where I'm at now on my tank build,
I have been looking through many threads about topics that are similar to mine,but I see lots of varying options.

I am in the third week of a cycle of my tank, I have as of now..

75 gallon tank
Reef Octopus bh-2000 hob skimmer
3 Hydor Koralia 3's
Lights.. 2 -Current USA Nova Extreme T5 X2
One 54 Watt SlimPaq 10K and one 54 watt 460nm Actinic Blue T5 HO fluorescent lamp
Dimensions: 48" x 5.5" x 2"
108 Watts
Individually contoured reflectors


and well that pretty much it for now lol

I have 30lbs of macro base rock..
60 lbs of figi rock,that was not in the best shape,the guy I got it from took his tank down and had it in a plastic trash can for 3 weeks with a powerhead and no lite,lots of die off..
20lbs of rock I got from LFS had lots of life on it,coraline,some plant life, a few sponges and who knows what else lol..

Right now I'm getting a huge bloom of algae,first it was brown/red diatom now it's green algae,thick it is spreading quick..As of yet I have done nothing just letting it cycle,I used tap water to start my tank,I was ignorant about the use of rodi water at the time and need to get a unit(in a week or two)

My tank parameters are..My phosphate test has not come yet,so unknown..

Temp..78
SG..1.024
pH- 8.3
ALK- 2.4
Ammoina- 0.12 ppm
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 4.2
Ca 500ppm+

Any tips/advice on equipment needed is greatly appreciated

Thanks Todd..

[fihsboy]

Everything is looking good according to your numbers. I would say your just starting to cycle with ammonia that high and no nitrates. Equipment sounds primo. I would wait it out for a week or so and then do a nice 20-30 gallon change (at least) with RO/DI saltwater. That will help your algae problem a lot. You dont need to be running your lights......unless you want to. Are you running a FOWLR? those lights wont be enough for any corals to thrive. But your setup sounds solid.

[chrisd]

i'm a little confused about the lights did you mean that you have 2 nova extreme for a total of 4 bulbs?

[toddmh]

Originally Posted by chrisd

i'm a little confused about the lights did you mean that you have 2 nova extreme for a total of 4 bulbs?

yes I have 2 fixtures atm, with 2 lights in each one..

I was going to get into some corals down the road,but I have much to learn first right now well when it gets stable, maybe a few fish a couple inverts and what ever grows out of my rock

[fihsboy]

After you learn how to keep your salinity (sanity too) ph and calcium to the proper levels, I would grab a ricordea or two and get your feet wet in the coral stage. I started off with ricordeas.....my salinity would swing from .020 to .033 and they didnt die. I had NO CLUE what I was doing. I didnt even know you were supposed to top off your water. You could do ricordea without a problem.

[chrisd]

ok thats what i thought you ment you should be fine with most corals. any sps would have to be kept toward the top.

[toddmh]

Originally Posted by fihsboy

After you learn how to keep your salinity (sanity too) ph and calcium to the proper levels, I would grab a ricordea or two and get your feet wet in the coral stage. I started off with ricordeas.....my salinity would swing from .020 to .033 and they didnt die. I had NO CLUE what I was doing. I didnt even know you were supposed to top off your water. You could do ricordea without a problem.

haha sounds like a plan, thanks

[fihsboy]

I just realized you have four T5HO bulbs, yeah, your good. Your options are endless. If this is your first setup.....your in good hands! Thats a great setup to start out with!