new 120 galon setup I need some help!

zrs6v4 · 09/10/2006, 04:09 PM

I just set up my 120 about a week ago. everything goes through a 30 gallon sump with a nice skimmer and a fairly strong powerhead. My salinity is at 1.020 and I have added charcoal, and declorinator (because I started it with tap water, but do top offs with RO). I have about 140 lbs of live rock, 160lbs of live sand already in there. I also have been running my coralife 65x4 watt light about 10 hours a day. also in my sump I have miracle mud, and a couple pounds of live rock, and also added a foam filter pad to the last chamber of my sump. so other than that all that I have been doing is topping off water every day.

So with that info am I doing anything wrong? Is there anything I could do to make it cycle quicker? any input is highly appreciated...

thanks, Zach

zrs6v4 · 09/10/2006, 04:20 PM

I was also thinking about adding a small school of chromis in a week or two if my water levels are close. good or bad idea? I have read they are the best tester fish of the small and cheap options...

meco65 · 09/10/2006, 04:30 PM

With that much live rock and sand if it was cured you should be ok just be sure that all your levels are good and watch the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate close to be sure that they donâ€™t go up. I would only add two or three at a time to be safe. The salinity needs to come up to about 1.023 or so most run higher than that but that is a good safe level.

zrs6v4 · 09/10/2006, 09:13 PM

alright thanks, I actually just checked my levels and the amonia is at 1-2, nitrites 0, nitrates-0, ph-8.0..... I will do a water change tomorrow

meco65 · 09/10/2006, 10:43 PM

I would wait till you dont have any Ammonia or nitrite before addingf fish.

arowanadream · 09/10/2006, 11:59 PM

I agree with meco65
Wait

cplklegg · 09/11/2006, 04:44 AM

I agree too. Patience is a virtue. Ammonia should be zero.

eckrynock · 09/11/2006, 05:12 AM

I would not do a water change yet. Wait until you get some trites and trates before changing water, otherwise your bacteria will not colonize as fast.

zrs6v4 · 09/11/2006, 10:42 AM

alright i will let it run some more, I am in no rush to put in fish anyway. how long does it take for ammonia to turn it to nitrites/nitrates usually? I just ask so I know when to test again. thanks

Shooter7 · 09/11/2006, 11:26 AM

Hey there local.

Just let that tank sit for awhile. If you're starting to get ammo, let it ride and just observe. For me, when my tank was cycling, I tested like every other day just simply because I like staying on top of what's going on in there (and I wanted to do 'something!'). Take a deep breath and resist doing anything else right now.

Disagree with the chromis too. It's been my experience and viewing around here that chromis put in a tank that they don't have to worry about predators in spend much less time worrying about schooling and more time killing each other establishing a pecking order. I have had small groups before and always end up with just one or two left. Besides, you don't need fish in there yet. Let your cycle take its course, plan on what your clean up crew is going to be when the cycle is done. I have a 120 myself and am local to you...you can PM me if you have other ??'s

09/10/2006, 04:09 PM	#1
zrs6v4 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: St. Charles Posts: 578	new 120 galon setup I need some help! I just set up my 120 about a week ago. everything goes through a 30 gallon sump with a nice skimmer and a fairly strong powerhead. My salinity is at 1.020 and I have added charcoal, and declorinator (because I started it with tap water, but do top offs with RO). I have about 140 lbs of live rock, 160lbs of live sand already in there. I also have been running my coralife 65x4 watt light about 10 hours a day. also in my sump I have miracle mud, and a couple pounds of live rock, and also added a foam filter pad to the last chamber of my sump. so other than that all that I have been doing is topping off water every day. So with that info am I doing anything wrong? Is there anything I could do to make it cycle quicker? any input is highly appreciated... thanks, Zach

09/11/2006, 04:44 AM	#7
cplklegg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceania, or is it Eastasia? Posts: 169	I agree too. Patience is a virtue. Ammonia should be zero. __________________ "My religion is love" Dalai Lama Namaste Current Tank Info: 20g all-invert reef with Yuma and Florida rics;Xenia;Caulastrea,Fungia;Pacific skunk cleaner;Serpent star,Black Brittle star;Trochus,Cerith,Euplica,Nassarius,and Stomatella snails;Neomeris and Chaetomorpha;bristleworms,spaghetti worms,featherdusters.

09/11/2006, 05:12 AM	#8
eckrynock Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 733	I would not do a water change yet. Wait until you get some trites and trates before changing water, otherwise your bacteria will not colonize as fast. __________________ Ed Genesis 1:21 Current Tank Info: 90 gal

09/11/2006, 11:26 AM	#10
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	Hey there local. Just let that tank sit for awhile. If you're starting to get ammo, let it ride and just observe. For me, when my tank was cycling, I tested like every other day just simply because I like staying on top of what's going on in there (and I wanted to do 'something!'). Take a deep breath and resist doing anything else right now. Disagree with the chromis too. It's been my experience and viewing around here that chromis put in a tank that they don't have to worry about predators in spend much less time worrying about schooling and more time killing each other establishing a pecking order. I have had small groups before and always end up with just one or two left. Besides, you don't need fish in there yet. Let your cycle take its course, plan on what your clean up crew is going to be when the cycle is done. I have a 120 myself and am local to you...you can PM me if you have other ??'s __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

09/10/2006, 04:20 PM	#2
zrs6v4 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: St. Charles Posts: 578	I was also thinking about adding a small school of chromis in a week or two if my water levels are close. good or bad idea? I have read they are the best tester fish of the small and cheap options...

09/10/2006, 04:30 PM	#3
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	With that much live rock and sand if it was cured you should be ok just be sure that all your levels are good and watch the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate close to be sure that they donâ€™t go up. I would only add two or three at a time to be safe. The salinity needs to come up to about 1.023 or so most run higher than that but that is a good safe level.

09/10/2006, 09:13 PM	#4
zrs6v4 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: St. Charles Posts: 578	alright thanks, I actually just checked my levels and the amonia is at 1-2, nitrites 0, nitrates-0, ph-8.0..... I will do a water change tomorrow

09/10/2006, 10:43 PM	#5
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	I would wait till you dont have any Ammonia or nitrite before addingf fish.

09/10/2006, 11:59 PM	#6
arowanadream Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 61	I agree with meco65 Wait

09/11/2006, 10:42 AM	#9
zrs6v4 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: St. Charles Posts: 578	alright i will let it run some more, I am in no rush to put in fish anyway. how long does it take for ammonia to turn it to nitrites/nitrates usually? I just ask so I know when to test again. thanks