[blitztex]

Hello everyone, new to the hobbie. Just started my new reef tank at work. I'm a loan broker for homes and refi's in los angeles area. Started on 8/19/05 letting it cycle through. I want to make it a coral tank, with 5 fish or so. Any suggestions in improving my tank or equipment. I know I need better lighting in near future. Please feel free to reply. I used regular tap water, I've been reading on R.O.D.I. How do I properly cylcle my tank in order to put corals and fish?

Hex: stand & canopy
lenth 18
width 21 1/2
height 24 1/2
30 pounds figi rock, 6 tonga cured.
35 pounds of live sand.
Equipment:
Aqua C remora hang on skimmer maxi 1200 www.proteinskimmer.com
2 rio powerheads
thermometer
temp gauge digital
Regular lighting

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by blitztex

How do I properly cylcle my tank in order to put corals and fish?

Hi blitz
Welcome to Reefland!

Sounds like you got a nice start, Since you dont have no livestock to speak of other than your LR (liverock) then you are probably ok with the tapwater addition but I would definately get some RO water even if you have to buy it from the store and do 2-3 water changes changing out atleast 1/2 of your water to get better water in there. If your tap water has high TDS readings which it very well may then it will take longer for you to cycle your tank. Are you getting any algae blooms? Do a check on your Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels and let us know where those are at. My guess is you have either an ammonia spike or nitrite spike right now and are currently going through your cycle. You absolutely should not add any animals to your tank (corals or fish) until you have a ZERO reading of nitrites and ammonia, your nitrates need to be low too under 20 ppm. You can help speed up your cycle by doing scheduled water changes, and cleaning your skimmer daily as well as keeping it tuned.

[blitztex]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Hi blitz
Welcome to Reefland!

Sounds like you got a nice start, Since you dont have no livestock to speak of other than your LR (liverock) then you are probably ok with the tapwater addition but I would definately get some RO water even if you have to buy it from the store and do 2-3 water changes changing out atleast 1/2 of your water to get better water in there. If your tap water has high TDS readings which it very well may then it will take longer for you to cycle your tank. Are you getting any algae blooms? Do a check on your Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels and let us know where those are at. My guess is you have either an ammonia spike or nitrite spike right now and are currently going through your cycle. You absolutely should not add any animals to your tank (corals or fish) until you have a ZERO reading of nitrites and ammonia, your nitrates need to be low too under 20 ppm. You can help speed up your cycle by doing scheduled water changes, and cleaning your skimmer daily as well as keeping it tuned.

Thanks scubadude anyways here are some pics. I tookI some tests. The owner of the fish store told me not to do water changes, let the entire water cycle by itself. Oh yeah bought 3 snails too. The test strips are called Quick Dip by Jungle Laps. Will keep you posted on progress.

• nitritre 0 ppm
• nitrate 30 ppm
• ph 8.1
• specific gravity 1.023
• alkilinity 300 ppm
• salinity 32
• temp 78.9

[blitztex]

Here is an update on new pics I took recently. Hope you guys like them

[Reefland]

Horrible, just horrible!

Looking good blitztex, can we get an updated fulltank shot?

[blitztex]

Hey got one more coral, I like it alot

[Reefland]

Is it pumping for you?

[blitztex]

What do you mean by pumping for me?

[Reefland]

Isn't that a stalk of Xenia sp.? I was just wondering if it might have been a pumping species.