Looking for feedback on a new setup

amundine · 07/28/2007, 11:32 AM

Hello Everyone. 2 weeks ago now I setup a 75gallon with a 20 gallon sump under it. It came to me with an old VHO Daylight bulb and an old VHO Actinic bulb. I am planning on switching these out ASAP. I bought a T5/MH retrofit kit (48", 150W HQI). I've installed the T5s and rewired the hood to accomodate the VHOs and T5s. Right now I'm just cycling the tank so I figure I've got some time before I need to install the MHs. 1/2 of the sump has a trickle filter with the standard blue bio ball media. The other side of the sump is getting kinda crowded with the main return pump (submersible) and the protein skimmer which I just added last night. So the water has been in it and the pumps and lights have been on (regular day/night cycle) for 2 weeks now. I added 50lbs of sand and shells from a trip I just took to the Sea of Cortez two weeks ago and one base rock at the same time. Last night I took readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (still need to get the Ph kit). I had 0 ammonia, 0.25 nitrite, and 0 Nitrate. I've got quite a bit of golden/brown algae on the glass and sand and am beginning to see the red cyano bacteria. I'm planning on adding aragonite until I reach a sand bed depth of 3-4 inches. The only tank inhabitant right now is a volleyball sized wad of cheato caulerpa that's growing at an impressive rate. I'm planning on getting "the Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater in another 2 weeks. I'm not going to be doing much more than cleaning the glass and stirring the sand for the next two weeks. I was wondering if a total of 4 weeks would be enough time to wait for the break in especially with the readings I'm currently getting? Also, as I've read on the TBS website, do I really need to do the Package in two separate steps with a tank that's already gone through the break in?

rhino509 · 07/28/2007, 01:01 PM

depends on if they are on their way up....or on the way down....4 weeks should be enough time to complete a cycle but different tanks are different.fist thing,i would prolly get rid of the bio balls as they can become a factory for ammonia/nitrates if not very well maintained.but......i just now look up ans see that you have 3 years into a reef tank already,so maybe you have already had luck with them so.....dont fix if it aint broken i guess,or different folk,different strokes....just my thoughts...

papagimp · 07/28/2007, 01:58 PM

Seems liket he cycle is finishing up to me, so far so good. I probably would do away with those bioballs though, for the reasons mentioned by rhino509. Also, I'd be very wary about using sand/rock from the beaches unless you collected about a mile off shore. fwiw, the shores and waveaction on them, is natures "protein skimmer" and is some of the dirtiests sand and water when compared to whats actually on the reef proper.

I think 4 weeks is enough for a cycle to complete, but as for "break in" that can take a little longer, up to 3 months actually for any real stability to show up. But I'd wait until those nitrites were completely 0ppm before adding any livestock at all, nitrites are still toxic, even if not as toxic as ammonia.

Scuba_Steve · 07/28/2007, 07:48 PM

BTW, when you add your tbs, your cycle will start over. I dont agree with their 2 step process though, but who am I to argue with that much experience. IMO, They should send all the rock and sand at once, then send cleaners after ammonia and nitrite has 0ed out.

07/28/2007, 11:32 AM	#1
amundine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 5280 Posts: 24	Looking for feedback on a new setup Hello Everyone. 2 weeks ago now I setup a 75gallon with a 20 gallon sump under it. It came to me with an old VHO Daylight bulb and an old VHO Actinic bulb. I am planning on switching these out ASAP. I bought a T5/MH retrofit kit (48", 150W HQI). I've installed the T5s and rewired the hood to accomodate the VHOs and T5s. Right now I'm just cycling the tank so I figure I've got some time before I need to install the MHs. 1/2 of the sump has a trickle filter with the standard blue bio ball media. The other side of the sump is getting kinda crowded with the main return pump (submersible) and the protein skimmer which I just added last night. So the water has been in it and the pumps and lights have been on (regular day/night cycle) for 2 weeks now. I added 50lbs of sand and shells from a trip I just took to the Sea of Cortez two weeks ago and one base rock at the same time. Last night I took readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (still need to get the Ph kit). I had 0 ammonia, 0.25 nitrite, and 0 Nitrate. I've got quite a bit of golden/brown algae on the glass and sand and am beginning to see the red cyano bacteria. I'm planning on adding aragonite until I reach a sand bed depth of 3-4 inches. The only tank inhabitant right now is a volleyball sized wad of cheato caulerpa that's growing at an impressive rate. I'm planning on getting "the Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater in another 2 weeks. I'm not going to be doing much more than cleaning the glass and stirring the sand for the next two weeks. I was wondering if a total of 4 weeks would be enough time to wait for the break in especially with the readings I'm currently getting? Also, as I've read on the TBS website, do I really need to do the Package in two separate steps with a tank that's already gone through the break in?

07/28/2007, 01:58 PM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Seems liket he cycle is finishing up to me, so far so good. I probably would do away with those bioballs though, for the reasons mentioned by rhino509. Also, I'd be very wary about using sand/rock from the beaches unless you collected about a mile off shore. fwiw, the shores and waveaction on them, is natures "protein skimmer" and is some of the dirtiests sand and water when compared to whats actually on the reef proper. I think 4 weeks is enough for a cycle to complete, but as for "break in" that can take a little longer, up to 3 months actually for any real stability to show up. But I'd wait until those nitrites were completely 0ppm before adding any livestock at all, nitrites are still toxic, even if not as toxic as ammonia. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

07/28/2007, 07:48 PM	#4
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	BTW, when you add your tbs, your cycle will start over. I dont agree with their 2 step process though, but who am I to argue with that much experience. IMO, They should send all the rock and sand at once, then send cleaners after ammonia and nitrite has 0ed out. __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

07/28/2007, 01:01 PM	#2
rhino509 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: spokane,wa Posts: 552	depends on if they are on their way up....or on the way down....4 weeks should be enough time to complete a cycle but different tanks are different.fist thing,i would prolly get rid of the bio balls as they can become a factory for ammonia/nitrates if not very well maintained.but......i just now look up ans see that you have 3 years into a reef tank already,so maybe you have already had luck with them so.....dont fix if it aint broken i guess,or different folk,different strokes....just my thoughts...