Finally got my first sw tank cycling. Thanks to those who gave me advice.

[W Ellis]

Well waiting like a kid at chrstmas time is finally over. I finally gotten my live sand and my first 90 pounds of live rock. I also wanted to thank everyone who gave me some advice on my new to the hobby thread and thank you so much for telling me about FAOIS. They were very informative and helpful. I went friday and got my sand and let it filter and settle over night. I then went saturday and got 33 lbs of Tonga that they had just gotten in that morning. They had a nice 47 lbs piece that i kicked my self for not getting. So i ended up back there this morning and got it along with 3 smaller pieces. I cant wait for it to cycle now so i can start adding live stock and more rock. Here are a few pics of what i got to start with.

 

[DaddyJax]

Nice! Looks like you will need some more rock!!

 

[mrferrit]

looks like a good start you have there is that toe 200 gal reef in the making? nice looking rock there. if ya ever need a friend or spomeone to chat with im in s pete also good luck with it and keep us posted on the progress o yea and also

to RC and TBRC
Dennis

 

[guntercb]

Great start, looking good. That live rock looks awesome. I am about in the stages to add live rock to my tank also.



Cheers,
Chris

 

[W Ellis]

Thank you all. This tank is definitely going to be a bank breaker. Its amazing how spars the tank looks after spending $400+ on rock. I figure after the tank cycles (which ammonia cycle is in full swing) i will just keep adding. That will give me some time to save some $ again. Yes this is my 200 gallon reef project. I am praying all goes well as this is my first encounter with a sw tank. So far all has gone smoothly and i guess ill see what the future brings. Hopefully the rock will cure fairly quickly it smells like red tide took over my house...lol

 

[Acolin]

nice rock
how long have you had cichlids?

 

[W Ellis]

I have had the ciclids about 7 months now. That tank has been super easy to maintain. hopefully i will hve as much luck with the reef tank as i have had with them.

 

[BankerJohn]

If I read your post correct, you plan to add rock as your budget allows. If this is so, be careful of adding rock after your cycle has completed. A new rock that is not fully cured may cause a secondary cycle. I personally would wait to add life forms (clean up crews, fish, corals, etc.) until after you have your rock scaping completed.

Just my $0.02.

The rocks you have in there now are GREAT shapes and I love the orange corralines on the rock! What are your plans for the tank... Fish, corals, Softies, LPS, SPS ??? Keep us posted with pics.

Banker John

 

[Acolin]

unless you are pushing the tank cycle, I would only add live rock and new pets when all levels are down for several weeks, then wait a few wekks to see if levels come back up before adding anyhting new again, go 10 times slower than with the cichlids...

 

[W Ellis]

Well am finishing 1 of 2 side jobs i have going tomorrow so i will be picking up some more rock this week. I am hoping to have most of the rock i will need in a short period of time and in the future add just smaller pieces here and there. HXN has 45 lbs left and i may pick that up. I would like to try to keep a little mix of corals. I am either going to have T5's or vhos and i know sps's like more light than that and are harder to keep so probably wont test my luck with them. I at least learned my cycling lesson from the ciclids. I rushed putting too many fish in and played hell trying to keep all the levels down. So i am in no rush to add livestock until i know the tank is completely cycled.

 

[Acolin]

you might be able to keep some SPS up by the lights,

is the tank in the dark?

letting the rock sit without lights is part of the curing process for rock (die off), but it is not part of the cycling process for a new tank, prorbably won't matter but I would feel better with the lights on a daylight cycle

oh, and i f I forgot to say it - go slow!

 

[W Ellis]

The tank has lights but they are old floresents. I want to upgrade them before i had livestock. I also have them on a daytime cycle with a coralife timer. I would like to have close to 200 lbs of rock before adding livestock as well. Well its time to go grout some tile so i can get that check to support my new addiction.....And by more rock.

 

[W Ellis]

Well side job #1 is in the books. Hopefully i will be able to meet with HXN and pick up the last 40-45lbs thats left. Then i will be off to FAOIS to get probably another 60-70 lbs. Which will put right around the 200lbs i want to be at. Then the whole thing will be able to cycle at one time. Then when i finish the other job (hopefully this weekend) ill be able to upgrade my lighting. I think im going to start with an icecap 660 and (3) 5 foot vhos and possibly add on in the future depending on if needed or not.
I keep seeing all the frags everyone has on here and cant wait to get in on the action. They have look to be very nice and a lot of them i havent seen in any stores.

 

[W Ellis]

I am officially at my 200lbs mark. I picked up 45 lbs to day that i am pretty much using as base. I rushed home and got that in the tank and then took another trip to FAOIS. John helped me pick out some very nice piece that actually have some corals on them that are still alive. Hopefully some of them will make it thru the cycling. I ended up leaving there with another 66 lbs which put my tank at 201 lbs of rock. Hopefully i will be able to get my 2nd side job in the next week so i can make another trip up there and my my vho setup.
Well here a some up date pics.
Left side

Middle

Right side

A little hitch hiker...found a few of these

 

[BankerJohn]

hmmm, you may want to get a better picture of that star fish and ask about it in a different post. Some 'hitchhikers' are good and others are BAD.

 

[W Ellis]

I decided to turn the light back on to look at my rock again and found this little guy.

I cant wait till the tank is full of life.
I will research the little star fish.

 

[Acolin]

cool, I love the blow by blow of a new tank, everything looks go to launch!

 

[W Ellis]

Just thought id give an update for those who are following. Got a wild hair to check my levels at 1:30 in the morning. Ammonia level is coming down, was like 4.0 and has now come down to about 1.5. Checked my nitrite and nitrate for the first time and they are some pretty colors and way off the chart.
Should be finishing my second side job by monday and then i will be off to get my new lights....I cant wait. Not that it will matter much till the tank is cycled but it gives me something to look forward too since i have no choice but to wait to put anything in the tank.

 

[Acolin]

reef keeping is all about waiting, that's why we go to meetings and talk and eat and wait...

 

[hxn]

Wow billy!!! That little red hermit had been with me ever since i started!!! through many headaches and frustations!!! I hope he lives through the cycle. I will surely miss him. He was a so tiny when i first got him.

Thank you for your business, and good luck. Whenever you're ready with the clown let me know. I have someone coming over this week to possibly take the tank so i will have to temporarily put him in a 20gallon. Thanks again.