My first salt water reef tank!!

[Zack_Man777]

This is my first salt water reef tank just got it this morning and finished setting it up this afternoon. Its already been cycled and now just awaits more fish, rock, and coral.
I have as follows:
30g Oceanic Cube w/ stand
150w MH light with white and blue LED's
Deep sand bed about 5-6in
Only 2 pieces of live rock(ismall) and no fish and coral.

Im working on getting a sump, here in the future but its guoing to be a while.

Wish me luck on the epic adventure im about to take into the amazing world of salt water fish tanks!!!

[Tuscaquatics]

Welcome to the hobby and good luck.

You're definitely going to want to get a sump going with macroalgae of some sort. Also, what do you have planned in the way of a protein skimmer?

5-6 inches of sand in that small tank might cause some problems as well.

Just some thoughts before you get truly started.

[julie180]

I'm a little confused. You set it up today and its cycled???

I would suggest more live rock and a lot less sand.

[Zack_Man777]

I bought it off a guy who had it already cycled and just sitting there for near a year and i just took out the salt water put it in jugs, then put it back in around 2 hours after it was out.

[Palting]

Originally Posted by Zack_Man777

I bought it off a guy who had it already cycled and just sitting there for near a year and i just took out the salt water put it in jugs, then put it back in around 2 hours after it was out.

May be a good thing, or a bad thing. How was the tank maintained while it was just sitting there for a year?

[Bigez]

Originally Posted by Zack_Man777

I bought it off a guy who had it already cycled and just sitting there for near a year and i just took out the salt water put it in jugs, then put it back in around 2 hours after it was out.

You more than likely have not cycled the tank yet. When you get your live rock the stuff on it that is dying will cause a cycle. I recommend reading the sticky at the top of this forum about understanding the nytrogen cycle before jumping into adding fish and corals.

Edit: missed the last part. I agree with palting, if the tank was just sitting there for a year without flow or anything chances are anything that was living in that tank isn't anymore.

[Zack_Man777]

Ok that would make sense, it really did seem to good to be true, but i guess ill let it sit there and cycle for a few weeks once i get more live rock.

[reefaroni]

And remember to add livestock slowly, you'll need to let it adjust as you add bioload... I know how tempting it is to fill it up quickly once it's done cycling!

[Zack_Man777]

As far as i can tell parience is the key to this hobby, so im going to have to.

[TikiDan]

Got the tank from me. I had it running for a year always expecting to add fish in a week. That week never came.

Would love to see some pics after it's going.

Thanks for taking it off my hands

[Zack_Man777]

Nope problem dan thanks for giving me such a good deal!!

[Blakeup295]

and no thanks for all the stairs haha

[Zack_Man777]

Originally Posted by Blakeup295

and no thanks for all the stairs haha

Haha seriously, that was terrible.

[Zack_Man777]

Here she is all cleared up

[Blakeup295]

looks way better now that its clear haha once the cycle is done ill buy your first fish maybe the same one i started with that little blue damzel in my tank ive had him for over 2 years and if he lives for like a week your first coral will be some GSP from my tank (green star polyp) they will be a good test coral becouse if they die they grow really fast so i can just give u another and there very hardy.

[Zack_Man777]

Originally Posted by Blakeup295

looks way better now that its clear haha once the cycle is done ill buy your first fish maybe the same one i started with that little blue damzel in my tank ive had him for over 2 years and if he lives for like a week your first coral will be some GSP from my tank (green star polyp) they will be a good test coral becouse if they die they grow really fast so i can just give u another and there very hardy.

Sounds good homie thanks alot!

[TikiDan]

Tank looks good. I apologize for all the stairs but your hard work paid off in the wallet

Keep up with the photos, can't wait to see how it looks in a couple of months.

[Zack_Man777]

Yeah thanks again for such a good deal, i got a blue damsel already and he is doing fine, so maybe corals here in a couple weeks!

[kingfisher62]

I think I see bristle worms in the sand , that is a good sign!
If you are going to get more Liverock stay away from the tonga branch. I see you have a lot already. It looks sweet but it is very dense and not as beneficial as a more porouse rock such as Fiji.
Good luck with the new setup!

[crvz]

Looks like a good start thus far. What are you stocking plans over the next couple months?

[Zack_Man777]

Yeah ive been thinking about getting rid of the tonga branch or covering it up with other live rock i just dont like the look of it, but what im planning on doing with the tank is going for a mixed reef with mainly SPS and zoanthids, not sure and exactly which ones yet as im still not too familiar with the names, but i do want monti caps, the antler looking sps, and definetly some old school dragon eyes

[Zack_Man777]

Originally Posted by kingfisher62

I think I see bristle worms in the sand , that is a good sign!

And there are definetly bristle worms in the sand, ive been watching them the last few days i think there cool looking.

[cjs3055]

i would give it some time before adding fish

[Zack_Man777]

He's very active and seems to be doing fine so far.

[kingfisher62]

Originally Posted by Zack_Man777

Yeah ive been thinking about getting rid of the tonga branch

Well, I wouldn't get rid of it. It will come in handy for aquascaping .