75 gal with 55 gal sump newly setup (new to hobbie)

[Staisman]

Hi Reef Central, I was reading this forum for the past month. Since 10 years old I kept only cichlids but I was always fascinated by the reef aquariums and its habitats. So I decide to go salt water way. I traded all my cichlids to the LFS and got $100 store credit which I spent on one bucket of RED SEA salt.

Here is my 75 gal cichlids tank:

And this is what I have left, my favorite fish:

I bought two BML light fixtures from fellow in NJ for $300, bought a Eshopps in sump skimmer with 40% discount for $180 and Sicce 4.0 pump for return with 30% discount for $115. Everything cost me $650. Also because the store had midnight sale I took a part in their ruffle. Next day I got a call with good news that I won an eshopps skimmer So I sold it for $120 on ebay and got some money back.

Also I got RO/DI filter from my friend for free.

I also had my 55 gal tank before I upgraded to the 75 gal and I was trying to sell it with no luck so I decide to use it for sump.

Then I made some stand for my sump

I wanted to use my 3D background from my cichlid tank so I started looking into overflow design and found this one on the youtube by Joe K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHn7_ZqZljs
There was lots of doubts about its functionality and reliability but Joe had proved his design. (watch his all 5 videos)
So I decide to go with it and drilled 3 holes in my tank. One for return and two for the drain.
All the piping supplies cost me $250

 

[Staisman]

Since my stand doesn't allow me to put 55 gal sump in it I place it in a boiler room behind the wall from my bedroom where is 75 gal display tank is.

Everything went pretty smooth which is actually surprised me It was everything new to me, the piping, the drilling, the gluing.

Here is the lights hanging over the aquarium.

Finally I got my 90 lbs of the Live rock in. It came in two boxes in the plastic bags with wet papers surrounded it. It costed me $350 with shipping, that's less than $4 per lbs. I got 4 nice big pieces, one big flat piece and two smaller pieces. Overall I am very pleased with rock I got.
So I started aquascaping.

And here what I came up with:

That was some crazy couple weeks, but I enjoyed doing it. Everything except tanks and 3D background costed me $1300 (minus $120 for the skimmer that I sold). Who said this hobby is cheap?

 

[Staisman]

I put sand yesterday, so aquarium very cloudy now. Since I am cycling nothing to see there anyway for another 3-4 weeks.

 

[Staisman]

Can anyone tell me if I should keep or remove that green weed on the rock on the last two pics?

 

[acabgd]

I would remove tye green weed while you can. Not a great picture but looks like Caulerpa to me. As for the 3D background: Why?

 

[Staisman]

OK thanks, I had background already and didn't wanna waste it, also I think it will look good after it got covered by the algae. Also I thought to glue some corals on it later on.
Why not though?

update: This is day 3 since I put my LR and Live sand in it and my ammonia level 6 ppm. I guess it will be quick cycling process.

 

[E46Twist]

Not necessarily, a big spike can actually stall a cycle for a few reasons. Since you had the rock shipped you will see a lot of die off. Just let it do its thing. Looking good though.

 

[Staisman]

Thanks, I am not on rush anyway if I have to wait 4 weeks I will. I wanna do it once and the right way the first time.

 

[Staisman]

OK, DAY 4:

Ammonia is off the chart 8 ppm or higher, can't tell on the API test, NITRITE - 5 ppm, NITRATES: 5 ppm.

Very curious that high ammonia won't kill everything live on the rock????

 

[Staisman]

DAY 5:
Ammonia levels dropped to 0.50ppm, Nitrites -5 ppm, NITRATES - 20 ppm now.

 

[Staisman]

DAY 6:
Ammonia keep dropping, 0.25ppm, Nitrites same 5ppm and Nitrates are increasing 40ppm, and I tested for Alkalinity and it's 161 ppm

 

[acabgd]

Good, you're on the right track. Wait for ammonia and nitrites to go down to zero. Nitrites may hold on the same level for a long time (a few weeks even) and you might think something's wrong, then all of a sudden they will drop within a few hours.

You will then be left with high nitrates. Do a large water change (or few large water changes) to lower the nitrates and then you're ready for your CUC. Don't add fish yet. Your tank is cycled, but not ready. Keep feeding the CUC with a few flakes for 3-4 weeks, then you can add your first fish. Don't add more than two at once and wait a few weeks until you add another one. Good luck!

 

[Dannigirl]

How did you remove the green weed? I have a little of that on my rocks.

 

[Staisman]

I just rip it off, but then I read it's not that easy. I think roots are still in the rock so I will keep eye on it.
My level are still the same as DAY 6 and didn't change much.
Next I am thinking on buying CUC when my lvls stabilize and also I want some Chaeto and Mangrove for my refugium.

 

[Staisman]

When should I turn my Skimmer on ? When add CUC or when I add fish?

 

[Staisman]

DAY 11: Levels remains the same but I also checked for Phosphates 0.25 ppm, Alkalinity 161 ppm, PH 8.2 and Calcium 420 ppm. I am using RED SEA REEF SALT, which gives me those lvls and they are very close to what it says on the bucket.

Anyone can answer on the post above? Also when should I buy micro algae for my sump?

 

[Staisman]

Updated picture with sand bed and second Koralia 1150

 

[murdock84]

Looking good. I like the rock work a lot. I'm new at this so I can not answer your question.

 

[fftfk]

I like the 3d background. What are the purple cups (for lack of a better word) on the bottom?

 

[Staisman]

Thank you guys, I am new to the salt water too and this is my first Salt water tank.
@fftfk This is fake barnacles I had so I decide to use it for now since I dont have corals yet in my tank, and I think it looks good in there.

This is how real once look like