Bui's Reef Tank

[tbui127]

Hi guys, finally got my tank in the cycling process! I'm still new to the reef tank business but have been doing my research. We used to have a 125 gallon reef tank about five years ago, my dad bought the tank without thinking and then it was up to me to take care of it. I didn't know much about keeping a tank that big so when I left for the Army the tank died slowly. Now I'm back and starting small and doing my research. Here's what I have so far

24ish Gal Bow front.
20lbs of Fiji Totoka Live rock
3-4 inch DSB with plenum filter
10 Gal Sump/Refugium. (took out the bio balls filter all thanks to Twisted!)
Mini protein skimmer (thinking about getting a bigger one)
SCWD and a power head
Overflow box
Coralife 24in PC fluorescent lighting. (one 65watt 10,000k daylight and one 65 watt true atcinic)
also DIY moonlights

Now I am waiting for the tank to cycle. Still need to do a lot of research. Any recommendation and opinions will be appreciated!

link with pictures underneath! enjoy!

http://img31.imageshack.us/g/sany1425o.jpg/

411:
Alvin Bui
23 yrs old
Army National Guard and current college student

[twisted]

tank looks good! just make sure you let it cycle and take your time with it. nice deep sand bed too! are the little army dudes yours? cute kids i have one on the way and im really excited about it.
once you're ready, we'll meet up and get you started with some corals,pods and whatever else you need.

[Flyboy450r]

Hey looks great Im in about the same stage in cycling you are. We just have to take are time the longer we wait to add live stock the better off we will be. But welcome home did you just get back from basic?

[tbui127]

the kids are my cousins. i'm 23 so no kids for me yet. I went from basic to ait and came back nov 09. took about 11 months. so now i'm back drilling until we get deployed.

right now i'm just going to let the tank cycle until the smell is gone and the water is tested of course!

sure thing twisted! i'll let you know when the tank settle down.. am i allow to add the cheato while the tank is cycling or wait after?

[twisted]

i would think it might aid in the cycle...i didnt add a fuge until my tank was about 3 months old. not sure how the ammonia will affect it though. it would love the nitrate levels though....

[Flyboy450r]

Yeah im still trying to figure that one out. I think Im going to break down and fire it up. That way my live rock rubble can cycle with the rest of the tank. And I think the cheato algae will help with the cycling process?

[tbui127]

Yeah im still trying to figure that one out. I think Im going to break down and fire it up. That way my live rock rubble can cycle with the rest of the tank. And I think the cheato algae will help with the cycling process?

i just got some cheato from a guy that is nearby my home, he said it should help with the cycling process as it will consume the nitrates

[tbui127]

I have been testing my water and the ammonia level was in the 2-3 and now its .25. color was greenish and now its yellowish. the tank has been set u roughly a week and a half. does this mean bacteria is formed and now there will be a nitrite spike?

[Parrothead]

yep, you will now start to see your nitrites start to climb, just be patient and don't get in a hurry, just because you see the tank go through the basic nitrogen cycle doesn't mean you can start adding a bunch of stuff, now is the time to be planning and researching what you want to keep, starting with your clean up crew

[tbui127]

awesome! so a 2.0 spike is okay? i thought it was suppose to spike up to 8 but what do i know . I dont have a nitrite kit, figure id save some money so i guess ill have to wait til nitrite breaks down to nitrate so i can test for it.

I'm definitely looking into

lawnmower benny
snails/crabs
and a fire shrimp

also i think i got some brown algae on my rocks, and i cant do a water change or anything yet till my tank is cycled. whats the best way to get rid of them later? water change and lawnmower benny?

[Parrothead]

awesome! so a 2.0 spike is okay? i thought it was suppose to spike up to 8 but what do i know . I dont have a nitrite kit, figure id save some money so i guess ill have to wait til nitrite breaks down to nitrate so i can test for it.

I'm definitely looking into

lawnmower benny
snails/crabs
and a fire shrimp

also i think i got some brown algae on my rocks, and i cant do a water change or anything yet till my tank is cycled. whats the best way to get rid of them later? water change and lawnmower benny?

the brown algea is more than likely a diatom bloom, comes with the program and will fade away over the next month or so, nothing to worry about

[metalhead]

+1, diatoms are a good sign that your tank is cycling properly. The blenny won't eat it but most snails will like mex. turbos or astreas for example.

[tbui127]

awesome! patience's meter is running low but gotta hang on

[twisted]

hang in there dude, its worth the wait. i have a couple nice leathers and zoas set aside for you when the time comes.

[tbui127]

thanks twisted. looking forward to meeting you!

also guys, I am looking to upgrade to either from my power compact fluorescent to either t5 or leds..

i have been doing my research but from your experience wts the big difference between t5 vs pcl

also i'm thinking about leds

120W Aquarium Coral Reef Tank LED Grow Light 120 Watt - eBay (item 140420620572 end time Jul-24-10 11:08:46 PDT)

wt do you guys thin

[Parrothead]

Go with the T-5's, the led are still fairly new in the hobby, and I'm not aware on anyone who has shown any major benefit to justify the cost.

[tbui127]

whats a good brand t5s? i'm currently using coralife pc

[Parrothead]

I currently have a 36" pc fixture, same brand as you have, it's gonna be history by 7/16, I'm ordering a nova extreme pro 6 bulb for my 55 on the 13th.

What are the dimensions of your tank, left to right?

[tbui127]

roughly 24 in length and 12 in width..inches

i did about 12 plus hours of reading at reefcentral on DIY led

DIY LEDs - The write-up - Reef Central Online Community

i think i am going to try this out!

[twisted]

im just using the regular nova fixtures with better bulbs and am happy with them. i agree with parrot, led is bells and whistles for th emost part, unless you use the right watt bulbs and keep them high over your tank so the light spreads out instead of shining like beams in the tank