Here we go... My first tank start off :)

heydude · 10-06-2005, 12:57 PM

Hey guys I just started cycling my tank about 5 days ago

. So far my nitrites are lowering and my nitrates are rising. It is a 100 Gallon tank with 80lb of LS and 50Lbs of live Tonga rock. I have a wet/dry sump with a top phantom 100A protein skimmer 2 MH 175W at 14K and 2 Florecent blue at 40W. I have a question on the skimmer. The first day i had it on and it collected a lot of water with some foam on top. I lowered the water level and now its collecting foam but a darkish brown color of water at a slow rate. I was getting about a full cup of this for about two days. This is the kind of foam that I want right? also now it is not collecting as much foam. It is about 1/4 of the collection cup a day. Is this Normal? Ill be posting up some pictures as soon as i can find my digital camera

..... OH yea one more thing. I am running all the lights about 3 hours a day. I've heard mixed thoughts about not to run lights during cycling. Whats your input. Thanks again Reefers

Brent Cone · 10-06-2005, 01:01 PM

I did not run my light's at all during cycling, Maby some one will coment?

PaulKlug · 10-06-2005, 01:03 PM

The skimmer sounds fine as long as it is still pulling stuff out it should be fine. There might just be less to pull out now. Also you might want to think about getting some more LR if this is going to be a reef tank. Probably total 100-150 lbs of it. (about 1-1.5X lbs of LR to gallons. Also lights during cycling I dont really know about. I think I ran mine about 4-5 hours during cycling but it was mostly so I could see the tank when I was home. Didnt have anything to do with whether or not is was good or bad. Good luck and cant wait for the pics!!! Also welcome to TRT this place is great and pretty much my only source for reliable info.
Paul

pnkpanther · 10-06-2005, 01:13 PM

light not needed

more live rock needed (you can buy some cheaper base rock and it'll seed w/ current LR and become live)

skimmer sounds normal, probably just less to collect.

Sounds like you're off to a good start, now its' time to hurry up and wait

Justin · 10-06-2005, 01:58 PM

Ive been seeing a wave of tanks with less LR, and must admit they CAN look good, and still serve purpose and allow your fish and critters some great swimming room. The general consensus is 1lb of rock per gallon. But this isnt set in stone, 50lb is a lil shy and you may want to consider getting another 20-25 lbs or so, but if you do definately do it before you stock your tank, or even come close stocking as more live rock can set your cycle back another 2 weeks to month depending on its curring process. But your definately off to a good start and even better your rubbing elbows with these good folks at TRT(only good things can come of that

), welcome to the family and best of luck!

-Justin

Loverotties · 10-06-2005, 02:25 PM

Welcome to TRT!Your skimmer needs to break in,but it sounds good.No lights or 3 hrs is ok.But you'll need more Live rock, the rule is 1 - 2lbs per gallon.Sounds like your on your way!Good luck and just remember take it slowwww!

motorslave · 10-06-2005, 06:21 PM

Sounds like a good start! Welcome to TRT!
I ran my lights on a full photo period from the start. This will help any light loving hitch hikers that make it through the cycle. As far as the amount of rock you have, I would get maybe another 30-40 lbs and skimm a little waet. If you keep up with your husbandry and have some good flow, youll be okay. The flow should be set in a way that helps keep all the junk suspended so the skimmer can get it. With less live rock you will have less biological filtration so the sysytem needs to be designed to take full advantage of flow and skimmer.

Robert

VWD · 10-06-2005, 06:45 PM

heydude, Welcome to TRT!

btang · 10-06-2005, 07:24 PM

Yes more rock. Also, how about a pic??

xaoss23 · 10-06-2005, 08:18 PM

what are your plans for the tank? If youre doing FO then maybe you can get some baserock instead of more LR. (help cut down on cost) 50 lbs is enough that within 6months the rest of the rock should have color but ultimately LR will give you better overall filtration capability. (if reef then get more LR, not base)

I ran the lights on both of my tanks during cycle... The MH's may be too much to run all the time tho so if youre going to have them on, then limit the time the halides are on.
Everything else sounds good... tell us more about what youre plans are!
Livestock, etc...

Bob NY · 10-07-2005, 12:30 AM

Welcome to TRT !
Brown water in your skimmer is good.
I agree with the others. More live rock would be good. I personaly like the look of the less rock more open water setups. About 1 pound per gallon should be a good look.
I have 180 lbs im my 90g. IMO it looks a bit to stuffed with rock. It very hard to do a nice aquascape. I may pull some out and do another tank with some of it. More important than the looks is having the propper biological filtration.
The suggestion of using base rock is good if you want to keep cost down. 80lbs of my rock was dry base rock. It's been less than 2 months since I set my system up, and the base rock is starting to get covered with coraline algea. Soon it should look just like the live rock.
As for the light... the rock I got had some zoo's on it, so I ran a full light cycle.
I never did get a cycle as my rock came fully cured from a established system.
If your rock is uncured with no hitchhiker's that require light I would save the bulb life for when you need it.

heydude · 10-08-2005, 01:44 AM

Thanks guys for all the replies

... yea I know that 50lb is not that much live rock but that was all that i could afford... I am planning to add between 50 to 100lbs more but that probably wont be till a while more due to funds I cannot spend anymore money... I am planning to just let the tank settle how it is for about a month or two....The guy at the LFS said it would be best to do that so that the rock can boom with life is this a good idea?..... The cycle is almost complete my nitrate has about reached its peak. As for my plans on the tank.... not too sure as of yet but I am going to put those MH to use

Im still looking for my the camera so pictures should be up soon!... Thanks again for your posts

wolfie · 10-08-2005, 02:09 AM

Welcome to TRT..

Adding rocks in after your tank are done with the cycle and after you add in your corals and lifestock is an BAD idea. Unless you are 100% sure that those rock are cure, else your tank could go through another cycle and kill your corals and lifestock.

I use baserock at the bottom of my tank to hold up the LR, did not see the need to wasted money on LR that will just sit and hold up anther LR..

btang · 10-08-2005, 07:30 AM

I have to agree with wolfie, not a good idea to add more rock down the road. High risk the tank will be go i to cycle again and kill off all the good stuff that has grown. Since you are already going down a path, you should make sure that the rock you add is 200% cured. You will have to pay top dollar for that. But its the only way you can feel safe about the rock. Of course, you can cure it yourself in a seperate container and then add. That would take care of your problem and might be a interesting part of this system.

Well good luck and did you find your camera

tims · 10-08-2005, 07:56 AM

Welcome to TRT.

yes what are the major plans for the tank?
you said trickle filter. not hte greatest for a reef tank. as you tank becomes established you can start to run in to problems with your parameters. trickles do not let the full di nitrofication process happen.
how is the trickle ( components in it ) laid out?