[sohoal tang]

Hi, I would appreciate any and all input on what YOU would recommend for next move in cycling and progress of my new reef.

#1 90 gallon set up 12 days ago
#2 30lbs of cured live rock was put in with 2 bags of bio figi pink
sand
#3 Mag 12 for circulation
#4 DAS skimmer in operation immediately (although I am not sure that I should have fired it up)

#5 2 x 1200 maxi jets for excellent circulation
#6 2 x 175 MH lights and 2 x 40 watt actinics for supplement

tank is just starting to get some brown algae in front left corner...

What now?
Thanks
Tim


I have done this before-and well...but cob webs are bugging me so I am double checking everything with fellow reefers. thanks.
:beer:

 

[Geoff]

keep an eye on all of your water params for at least another week. within the next week you should start seeing the critters from the LR showing their tiny heads. in the these first weeks you just need to keep an nice stable environment. if you would like to speed things up just a tad, then put a raw shrimp in the tank for a couple of days.

Welcome to the TRT!!

G~

 

[thefatman]

follow what geoff said.. and you'll want to let the tank cycle for about 6-8 weeks for a good full cycle before adding anything in.

test the water about once a week, in my opinion. then plop in 200 fish on the 8th week.. .no no no just kidding... seriously though, after the cycle is totally complete, then i'd add in your first inhabs.

during the cycle stage, i'd plan out what fish you would like to have, what types of corals, etc... then start asking for advice about which you'll be able to hosue with the others, what order they should be added, etc... so that when your cycle is complete you'll know what the next step will be.

WELCOME TO TRT :dance:

 

[yardboy]

To Do

I think an important component of setting up a successful reef tank is sitting and staring at the bare tank, trying to visualize how you want it to look. That way, when you go to get more live rock, you have some idea what pieces you want, as if you'll actually be able to find them! Good luck to you!
I just set up my 20L as a refugium, but when I got a deal on the lights, I realized that it would be more than just a refugium...Just One piece of live rock, dear! And maybe start fragging some of those Xenia's, and oops, accidentally broke off a piece of the staghorn....

 

[yardboy]

By the way, what is the philosophy on cycling a refugium? I put oolitic live sand, started water flowing from my main tank, while adding new water (sorta like a 20 gallon water change) to the sump, plopped in a rock with turtle grass on it, gathered all the loose pieces of live rock I'd bought as a pound of Fiji branching some time ago and put it in. In other words, I didn't try some separate cycle at all. Yeah, the oolite made things foggy in the main tank for a few hours, but everything seems okay now, three days later. No nitrate or ammonia spikes, pH, calcium and alkalinity the same. I continued my standard regimen of additives, Seachem buffer and calcium, through the top-off and never saw any effect from the addition of the refugium. Was I courting disaster?

 

[Geoff]

yardboy-the only time i think you have to worry about what you did, is when the volume of water in the new add on tank is significant compared to the main. i think as long as it was less than half the main tank volume you should be fine. i hope someone has a better percentage number.

of course this is assuming the main tank is mature.

G~