New 54Gal Corner

joeb558 · 01/03/2012, 08:25 AM

I started this 54 Gal corner 3 weeks ago. 40lbs live sand and 65lbs of Live rock. I have a 10 gal refugium with a skimmer for now (thats all I can fit in the odd shaped stand). I am upgrading to a Reef Octopus 1000SSS this week and have my Ecoxotic Panorama Pro on order. For now just a few snails and hermit crabs to help clean up the rock. I will start adding livestock as soon as the lights get here. The tank cycled rather quickly and I was a bit surprised about that. Is there any chance the tank would cycle a second time once livestock is added? I will update pictures and progress periodically.

thegrun · 01/03/2012, 08:38 AM

With that much cycled rock you should not see a new cycle unless you add several fish at once (not a good idea). I would ghost feed the tank a pinch of flake fish food daily to keep the bacteria population feed. That way once you begin to add livestock the bacteria population will not need to increase much to handle the new bio-load.

joeb558 · 01/03/2012, 08:53 AM

I'll take that advice. I notice one of the snails kicked the bucket. Should I leave that in the tank to feed the bacteria population as well? Thanks.

windyridge · 01/03/2012, 08:58 AM

I like your nice open rock work.
There is a corner club: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=corner+club

joeb558 · 01/03/2012, 09:14 AM

Thanks for the link and compliment. Excellent link. Yes, scaping the corner tank is a challenge. Really tried to keep open space in the back and flow through the rocks. I hope its adequate. So much to consider when setting up a reef tank. I have kept FO for years but this is my first attempt at a reef. Nice to have a forum to exchange ideas and knowledge.

Ron Reefman · 01/03/2012, 09:17 AM

Leave the snail in, the hermits will appreciate it. What are your current water parameters? How many snails and hermits do you have in there now? Did they go in at the start or after the cycle? Do you guess the snail died from ammonia at the start of the cycle, or starvation (no diatom algae to eat) or what? thegrun is right about ghost feeding the bacteria until you get a fish. Don't go overboard with that. Add fish slowly and watch the water parameters. If all goes well, you probably won't have a 2nd cycle. But even if you do, it's not the end of the world, just a short delay.
Good luck, have fun a use RC as a resource.

joeb558 · 01/03/2012, 09:54 AM

Ron, I think the snail was half dead when I put him in the tank. Right now I only have three small crabs and three snails. They went in a few days ago and my water parameters are good. 0-NH3,NO2 and NO3, salinity it 35ppt, ph8.2. Thanks for the advise. Its very much needed and appreciated.

joeb558 · 01/03/2012, 02:30 PM

Can anyone suggest when to do my first water change?

dzfish17 · 01/03/2012, 07:32 PM

Its time for you to start doing regular water changes.

joeb558 · 01/04/2012, 07:56 AM

Thanks Dave. I thought so. Wanted to verify so not to interrupt the natural cycle. Looks like I am past that now anyway.

01/03/2012, 08:58 AM	#4
windyridge Fish Mother Join Date: May 2011 Location: South Otselic, NY Posts: 1,403	I like your nice open rock work. There is a corner club: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ht=corner+club __________________ 92G Mixed reef, SCA-302 skimmer, 15g sump w/fuge & Eheim Compact Plus @650 gph, AI Sol Blue, Koralia 750 &Tunze Nanostream 6025, Apex Jr,Tomini, 6-Line, Brittle star, damsels, Gramma, RBTA/clown, PJ c Current Tank Info: 92G Corner Bowfront Mixed Reef

01/03/2012, 09:17 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Leave the snail in, the hermits will appreciate it. What are your current water parameters? How many snails and hermits do you have in there now? Did they go in at the start or after the cycle? Do you guess the snail died from ammonia at the start of the cycle, or starvation (no diatom algae to eat) or what? thegrun is right about ghost feeding the bacteria until you get a fish. Don't go overboard with that. Add fish slowly and watch the water parameters. If all goes well, you probably won't have a 2nd cycle. But even if you do, it's not the end of the world, just a short delay. Good luck, have fun a use RC as a resource. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

01/03/2012, 07:32 PM	#9
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	Its time for you to start doing regular water changes. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

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01/03/2012, 08:38 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	With that much cycled rock you should not see a new cycle unless you add several fish at once (not a good idea). I would ghost feed the tank a pinch of flake fish food daily to keep the bacteria population feed. That way once you begin to add livestock the bacteria population will not need to increase much to handle the new bio-load.

01/03/2012, 08:53 AM	#3
joeb558 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 26	I'll take that advice. I notice one of the snails kicked the bucket. Should I leave that in the tank to feed the bacteria population as well? Thanks.

01/03/2012, 09:14 AM	#5
joeb558 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 26	Thanks for the link and compliment. Excellent link. Yes, scaping the corner tank is a challenge. Really tried to keep open space in the back and flow through the rocks. I hope its adequate. So much to consider when setting up a reef tank. I have kept FO for years but this is my first attempt at a reef. Nice to have a forum to exchange ideas and knowledge.

01/03/2012, 09:54 AM	#7
joeb558 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 26	Ron, I think the snail was half dead when I put him in the tank. Right now I only have three small crabs and three snails. They went in a few days ago and my water parameters are good. 0-NH3,NO2 and NO3, salinity it 35ppt, ph8.2. Thanks for the advise. Its very much needed and appreciated.

01/03/2012, 02:30 PM	#8
joeb558 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 26	Can anyone suggest when to do my first water change?

01/04/2012, 07:56 AM	#10
joeb558 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 26	Thanks Dave. I thought so. Wanted to verify so not to interrupt the natural cycle. Looks like I am past that now anyway.