[tboneplaya36]

Hi every one! I have been working on my tank for a couple of days now, its a jbj 28 gallon hqi. I have been asking questions on other threads but I have decided to start and official build thread. Today I added the sand finally. I used some oolite. I'll be getting live rock sunday, then I'm going out of town for a few days, hopefully nothing will happen two bad. Then i come back for a day and then leave again for two weeks. Luckily my parents will be watching it for the two week trip. I'll be adding pictures as soon as I can find my camera

 

[zero186]

lucky for you most of that time your tank will be cycling so you wont need to much work or anyone to watch it really

 

[tboneplaya36]

also they one day I'm back i'm going to order my cleaner crew and have my parents put them in for me

 

[tboneplaya36]

So the water is murky from adding the sand, how long do you guys say it will take for that to clear up?

 

[aquawolf]

Depending on the filtration, and how badly the flow is stirring the sand bed if at all, it can take a couple of days for it to settle down.

Your best bet with you going away so much may actually be to wait on the cleaners until you get back from the 2 week vacation. First of all you want to make sure the tank has fully completed the nitrogen cycle. Then you are going to want them to have something to eat. This usually happens when you start to see the diatom bloom.

Best of luck, and I hope you find the camera before someone breaks out the squirrel on you.

 

[tboneplaya36]

no not the squirrel!

 

[zero186]

Yea i would wait for the Clean up Crew and just let the tank cycle and trust me you being gone is great, i know how hard it is for a new reefer to sit for weeks staring at an empty tank and they normally jump the gun to early on livestock

 

[Loverotties]

Ditto! just waite till you get back the 2nd time and take your readings to see if it cycled.

 

[TahoeMtn]

Is this the Bryce from Nevada? When you get back from vacation come see me for rocks and frags !!!

 

[tboneplaya36]

Nope, not the Bryce from nevada, sorry. I'll still take the rocks and frags though

 

[tboneplaya36]

The rock I am getting is from my LFS where they cure all their rock. They say I only have to wait a week. I think I'm going to wait two.

 

[Reeftanker3295]

well you should test the water and youll see the big spike and then downfall in nitrates due to the bacteria building up, after it goes back down to zero you can slowly start adding things

 

[tboneplaya36]

don't worry, i'll test them. I was just saying that even if the test show zero at week one, I'm still going to wait, although it won't actually matter because i'll be out of town

 

[Reeftanker3295]

haha yup sounds like a good plan. My tanks cycling right now too But i added some LR from my other tank which is already cycled so shortened cycle. Good luck and dont rush it!

 

[tboneplaya36]

so every review I have read complains about heat problems with the system. My tank so far hasn't gotten above 80, although we do keep our house a little cool. So far I am very pleased with the system. No changes needed yet. I'm sure they will come though

 

[tboneplaya36]

my salinity is at 1.023. I'm thinking about raising it, what do you guys say?

 

[Reeftanker3295]

I dont think thats bad, because most LFS reccomend 1.021 to around 1.023, but most people keep salinity at around 1.025-1.026

 

[aquawolf]

:agree: 1.025 - 1.026 is good to go.

 

[tboneplaya36]

So, just curious, this is the one thing I have yet to really understand, what chemicals do you think I should buy?

 

[Kakalakasha]

So, just curious, this is the one thing I have yet to really understand, what chemicals do you think I should buy?

None, unless you can test for the chemicals you're adding.
And even if you can test, water changes will normally keep your tank up to par.