Hi all. I've finally set up my 1st reef and have a few questions.
I have a 120 gallon tank. 48x24x24.
I set a plenum.
4 inch sand bed:
80lbs aragonite crushed coral. CaribSea
60lbs aragonite reef sand. Caribsea
60lbs aragonite fiji live sand. Caribsea.
73lbs live rock total for now:
60lbs live fiji rock.
1 13lb rock encrusted with purple coraline. Not sure what kind.
Skilter 400
2 powerheads. An AquaClear 802 - 400gph
A Seio M1500 - 1500gph
Currently have a glass top
Lighting= Marineland T5-48 Deluxe (48"quad HO T5)
2-54watt daylight
2-54 watt actinic
I used Reef Crystals to mix. Salinity 1.023@78
When I purchased the live rock a snail and 2 blue hermits showed up with it. I am doing a fishless cycle. I plan on having only a few fish.
I have a few questions I was hoping you folks could help with.
This has been set up for 3 days. Yesterday I put a cocktail shrimp in to help the cycle along. How long should I leave it in there? Other than that should I be feeding the sandbed during the cycle?
I am not running the skimmer right now. Just the filter. Should I remove the filter pads? I have a filter bag with phosphate remover and reef carbon in the filter right now and was wondering if the pads were necessary. I removed the pads last night and today I have a white sandy lookin film at the top...
My ph is @ 7.7. Will this bounce around? If not should I use a buffer right now or wait for cycle to be done with? Any reco's?
Are there any trace elements I should add while cycling?
That Seio powerhead is kicking all my sand out of the corner. I cant find a spot in the tank where it doesn't kick sand. Currently both heads are in opposite corners. Is this normal? Is it ok? Any suggestions on my powerhead set-up?
I know thats a lot to ask :? I've been researchin for quite some time and would like to actually hear from some people who have done this b4.
Any input would be helpfull.
I have a 120 gallon tank. 48x24x24.
I set a plenum.
4 inch sand bed:
80lbs aragonite crushed coral. CaribSea
60lbs aragonite reef sand. Caribsea
60lbs aragonite fiji live sand. Caribsea.
73lbs live rock total for now:
60lbs live fiji rock.
1 13lb rock encrusted with purple coraline. Not sure what kind.
Skilter 400
2 powerheads. An AquaClear 802 - 400gph
A Seio M1500 - 1500gph
Currently have a glass top
Lighting= Marineland T5-48 Deluxe (48"quad HO T5)
2-54watt daylight
2-54 watt actinic
I used Reef Crystals to mix. Salinity 1.023@78
When I purchased the live rock a snail and 2 blue hermits showed up with it. I am doing a fishless cycle. I plan on having only a few fish.
I have a few questions I was hoping you folks could help with.
This has been set up for 3 days. Yesterday I put a cocktail shrimp in to help the cycle along. How long should I leave it in there? Other than that should I be feeding the sandbed during the cycle?
I am not running the skimmer right now. Just the filter. Should I remove the filter pads? I have a filter bag with phosphate remover and reef carbon in the filter right now and was wondering if the pads were necessary. I removed the pads last night and today I have a white sandy lookin film at the top...
My ph is @ 7.7. Will this bounce around? If not should I use a buffer right now or wait for cycle to be done with? Any reco's?
Are there any trace elements I should add while cycling?
That Seio powerhead is kicking all my sand out of the corner. I cant find a spot in the tank where it doesn't kick sand. Currently both heads are in opposite corners. Is this normal? Is it ok? Any suggestions on my powerhead set-up?
I know thats a lot to ask :? I've been researchin for quite some time and would like to actually hear from some people who have done this b4.
Any input would be helpfull.