220 slow start

[teguc1]

so here is the scoop. I currently have a 220 central american cichlid tank that I am going to convert to a soft coral fish mixed tank. I am going to take it REALLY slow as this is my second time at Salt. I had a 58show and my wife absolutely loves salt. Dimensions of my tank are 6' x 29 high x 24 wide.

questions:

1) Is it a good idea to milk the cycling process. meaning taking it out the full 6-8 weeks?

2)I have had lava rock in my fresh tank for 4 or 5 years. Could I just buy like 2 pieces of live rock and let it start seeding the other stuff. I have read many of the threads about doing using lava rock. My parameters never changed in my cichlid tanks and don't see it as a problem. Isn't that what happens in Hawaii and other islands? Isn't the lava rock a "base Rock" of sorts?

3) when do I need to put the skimmer on? I am going to put on a overflow into a rubbermaid sump.

4) What type of lights do I need for a soft coral tank? I like fish, she only likes softies,like the waving and movement.

I am going to take it really slow and I am ideally looking at adding like one or two fish to start, maybe a pulsing zenia and some star polyps.

Any advice is appreiciated.

 

[am3gross]

taking it slow i think is the key to this hobby. patience will et you farther then any piece of equipment. good luck and keep us posted on how things go

 

[frozenapple22]

the longer your tank cycles there is a lesser chance of problems to occur i think using the old rock from your fresh would be ok as long as you rinse it in some salwater and i would suggest putting the skimmer on a few days before you put the rock in

 

[teguc1]

thanks for the response. I have read conflicting info about the lava rock.

My major concern was the lighting for a softie tank. But noone seems to want to dispense advice

 

[nano_angel]

i would still go with 250w mh for softies. i have a 75g softie with 2 - 250w 14k hamiltons and 2 110w super acintic vhos on it and my softies are huge and luvin it. also, ur rock would be ok for base rock as long as it never had any copper meds added to it while it was in ur freshwater tank.

 

[am3gross]

i agree with nano angel.... the 250 watt halides are a good choice especially if there is any doubt that you may want something other then softies later on. if you only want softies you may look into a good t5 setup also. they are less heat and use less energy.