My First Reef Tank

[shimergloom26]

I have started my first reef tank this week end and here is the equipment list. I decided not to use the flat back hex that I had wanted to in my other thread.

-29 gallon tank
-200 gallon box of reef crystal salt
-18.5 pounds of live rock
-24.5 pounds of dry base rock
-20 pounds of Fiji pink live sand
-20 pounds of live reef sand
-bag of chemi pure
-bag of purigen
-whisper 20 power filter
-digital thermometer
-150 heater
-small magfloat
-hydrometer(for now)
-hydor evolution 750
-API saltwater master test kit
-150w metal halide with two blue actinic and four moon lights

I checked my parameters today and I believe my cycle has started. Here are the parameters.
-temp 78.4
-ammonia .50ppm
-nitrite 5.0ppm
-nitrate 40ppm
-sg 1.024

Here are a few pics of the tank with the blue actinic lights on.

alt="" />

alt="" />

alt="" />

Let me know what you think about my progress so far and also will this be enough flow for this tank to grow beginner corals and lips corals

 

[shanepike]

I love that rock work. I would slide it away from the wall, though, both so you don't have dead spots in the flow and so you can keep the glass clean.

 

[frantz]

+1 on rocks off the glass, it only stays pretty for a short time without scraping!
And I also started with the API.... not very good. I sorta thought it was people being snobby about their test kits but there are several problems, if you take a syringe and fill it to 5mL you'll find it's often no where near the line of the glass, I figured maybe that was causing the errors but I've also had grossly off readings when compared with better test. Certainly better than nothing, but I'd start buying better test as you can. Is that a pair of cracks in the rim? You will wanna replace that if so, it helps hold the tank together.

It'll look pretty sweet once you get through the cycle and have some life in there!

 

[shimergloom26]

The only rocks that are touching the glass is that small one on the right and the very back point of the flat top rock on the right. I will move the small so that I can get a flat scraper behind it. Thanks for the heads up about the rocks.
@Franz yes those are cracks in the ring but before this was a salt tank I had it set up as freshwater for 5 years with the top cracked like that. Just to be safe do you think it would hurt to super glue some plastic strips over the cracks. I'm not sure where to get the braces at for these tanks.

 

[frantz]

Well if you find a broken 20g long or 29 you could salvage the brace. Maybe ask some LFS if they have one or ask around. Someone has one (-=

 

[shimergloom26]

I can try that. I have a quick question. Do you think there is enough flow in the tank for soft and lps coral with the 750 and the whisper 20?

 

[falos]

Yea should you should be good for flow softies and lps

 

[shimergloom26]

With the lighting I have I should be able to put sps and clams in this tank right. I have a 150w metal halide with 2 blue actinics and 4 blue moon lights. Also so far without the lights on my temp goes from 77.6 at night to 78.9 at night. Will these temp swings hurt anything when I start adding live stock.

 

[shimergloom26]

I done another test tonight and the results were as follows
-temp 77.9
-ammonia .50ppm
-nitrite off the chart(highest range is 5.0)
-nitrate 40ppm
-eg 1.025

Is it normal for the nitrite to be this high during the cycle. Also how often should I do my tests.

Edit: Sg is 1.025 not eg

 

[shanepike]

It wouldn't surprise me to see numbers that high during a cycle. I've cycled three tanks, and you do see some crazy numbers. I'd give it a week and test again.

Of course, you may be like me and not be able to wait a whole week

 

[shimergloom26]

I think instead of every day I'm going to test every third day until my cycle ends.

 

[shimergloom26]

I bought a pound of live rock rubble today at a lfs and to my surprise when I opened the bag I seen three tiny hermits in it. I hope they survive the cycle but I'm not sure they are really tiny.

 

[frantz]

I had a muscle survive through the cycle and over a year longer till something ate it. Ya never know

 

[islandreef]

Many may not agree with me on this one, but I knew I would be impatient so I did a bunch of research and decided to try Dr. TIms One & Only Nitrifying Bacteria. First saw it on youtube with Mr. Saltwater Tank who tested everyday. I tried it in my 135 with some live rock and my tank cycled within 5 days. Took water to optimum and jenn to test to make sure everything was fine and to this day my levels are at 0. Ammonia 0, nitrates 0, nitrites 0, so I cant speak for anyone else but I love it and will use it on any new tank I setup.

 

[shimergloom26]

Where did you get it from. I'm not really that impatient but I would like to see something in my tank in the next week or so. Also I have been reading up on coralline and have read that for new tanks to run the blue actinic for 24 hours a day. I was wondering if this would cause a premature algae growth.

 

[islandreef]

Google it, you can pick it up from his website.

 

[shimergloom26]

I done another test tonight and here are the results
-temp 78.6
-ammonia .25ppm
-nitrite 5.0ppm
-nitrate 80ppm
-sg 1.025

I am alittle worried about my nitrate it really jumped up from the last time I tested. Is this normal or should I do something about it. I hate to keep asking questions but as the title states this is my first reef tank and I don't want to mess anything up.

 

[KrisDeitz]

Shime Its all Normal. If you have access to Other test kits( Other then API) id go by the,.

Im sure I have a few Serchem Kits half used I can give you to give you a better Reading.

Ill look around.


Also Dont leave the lights on 24/7 No need for that. Set it up to the light cycle that you plan to have. I dont go over 8 hours as it causes lots of Algae growth.

I have my Blue one at 12 Pm till 8pm Whites on at 2pm off at 7 Pm

 

[shimergloom26]

The only lights I have been running so far is the blues and the moon lights. The blues come on at about 8 am and go off at 11 am then come back on at 7 pm to 10 pm.the moon lights come on at 9 pm and go off at 9 am. I will be running the metal halide for 8 hours from 11am till 7 pm. Will that work out OK or is that to much.

 

[KrisDeitz]

That should be Fine. But remember MH produce tons of heat and corals should be Introduced slowly if they are not under MHs. Most corals now are under LEDS