Finally!!! 55 Gallon built

[YeagerMiester]

I still have a lot of kinks to work out but its finally coming together. This is attempt 2 at a saltwater tank. I started with a 45 gallon bow front, no skimmer, no sump, no refugium... Needless to say I learned my lesson the hard way(and expensive). I did have 4 survivors though. A blue damsel, domino damsel, harlequin shrimp, and snail.

Now I have the 55 gallon show tank with a 40 gallon breeder for a sump. 1200 gph overflow and a 600 gph pump(needs to be replaced), a second hand reef octopus skimmer(will be replaced).

I still have micro bubbles being returned to the tank. I'm pretty sure there is a leak in one of the PVC joints. The skimmer is only running at about 1/2 what it should be. I was able to reuse about 35 gallons of already cycled water that was sustaining my survivors. So I'm hoping if the tank does cycle it wont be to hard on my fish. Going to do a water test tomorrow to see whats going on in there.

Any advice is always welcome, I still feel pretty new to this, especially since this is the first time I'm doing it the right way.

[oscarinw]

I doubt a PVC leak will create bubbles. It would certainly create a wet spot on your floor though. If you reused water and rock you might in fact not have a cycle. What is the story with the sand?
The tank is looking good, although I must say i don't like damsels for their tendency to present a challenge when introducing new fish later.
Good luck with things

[fishgate]

Water doesn't cycle, the tank does as a whole. Most of the cycle is building up bacteria colonies located on most surfaces in the tank. Using the old water will not do much, if anything towards shortening a cycle. Keep a close eye on your parameters especially ammonia and be prepared for moving the fish and/or doing large water changes to save them.

[Rumjahn]

I thought the bacteria was mainly in the rock? If he transfers over the cycled rock, wouldn't that avoid a cycle?

[fishgate]

Originally Posted by Rumjahn

I thought the bacteria was mainly in the rock? If he transfers over the cycled rock, wouldn't that avoid a cycle?

He definitely could with the rock. Most of the bacteria is in the rock and substrate. The water, however, doesn't do much.

[YeagerMiester]

Once I know its cycled those damsels are GONE. They are jerks to everything and each other. I should clarify. I transferred about 35 gallons of water and 25 lbs of live rock. There is a 2" layer of new coral sand in the show tank. I just added 52 lbs of of live rock and 35 gallons of new salt water. The refugium is a shallow coral sand bed with 1 mangrove and a handful of cheato (no live rock).

I checked the pipe and found no obvious leaks. I figured there would be drops somewhere after a week if there was a leak. Thanks for the clarification on the cycling of the tank. It makes sense that its less the water and more the surfaces for the bacteria to grow on. Unfortunately during the disaster of my first tank(45 gallon bow front) I moved the rock and marine life to a 40 gallon breeder to get me by until the tank you see was finished. But... I didn't move the cycled sand with it. :-(

[robotman]

Originally Posted by YeagerMiester

Once I know its cycled those damsels are GONE. They are jerks to everything and each other. I should clarify. I transferred about 35 gallons of water and 25 lbs of live rock. There is a 2" layer of new coral sand in the show tank. I just added 52 lbs of of live rock and 35 gallons of new salt water. The refugium is a shallow coral sand bed with 1 mangrove and a handful of cheato (no live rock).

I checked the pipe and found no obvious leaks. I figured there would be drops somewhere after a week if there was a leak. Thanks for the clarification on the cycling of the tank. It makes sense that its less the water and more the surfaces for the bacteria to grow on. Unfortunately during the disaster of my first tank(45 gallon bow front) I moved the rock and marine life to a 40 gallon breeder to get me by until the tank you see was finished. But... I didn't move the cycled sand with it. :-(

what are you feeding your harlequin shrimp O_o?

[YeagerMiester]

The souls of Chocolate Chip Starfish.

Edit: For the picture.

The vicious, shield wielding shrimp who's hunger can only be satisfied by the dismembered limbs of his enemies... His colors are white, purple, and pink? He shall be named Fruitcake.