Help with new 125 gallon build

Does it matter which brand flakes and pellets? There seems to be so many to choose from. You do not use any frozen type food? As far as the corals, all is required is the proper alk, Calcium and magnesium?
 
I only use frozen food, mostly mysis shrimp and brine shrimp, only occasionally like once every 2 weeks. Corals will eat whatever nutrient or food residues in the tank. Any reputable brand of flakes and pellets are fine. Fish will eat whatever you put in there.
 
I got home tonight and just took out all the GFO from the reactor and started fresh with about 1 inch or so of new GFO. Started the flow and i am getting good flow but the media still does not tumble, sits as the other did. I decided to leave the carbon as is since it probably would do the same. Is there anyway to preserve the old GFO media that I removed? I just have it in a bucket right now sitting wet.

Simon, how often do you change out your carbon media?
 
The old GFO you took out is still good and can be kept wet indefinitely. I change my carbon also monthly. You really don't need a lot of flow thru the GFO reactor. A steady slow stream is adequate.
 
Coming on 5 days now since i started phantom feeding and i took a test last night. Nitrite is still 0 but ammonia was questionable between 0 - 0.25. Thats what i hate about color charts, never can really be sure of an actual number. If i leave the test vial with the sample for a few hours, it changes to more yellow and that is definitely a 0 reading. Can i consider this tank cycled? I've also been running my lights for 12 hours, i still dont see any cyano and rocks are still as clean as before.
 
You can put a couple hardy fish in there and see how they are doing. I started out with 4 blue chromis because they are inexpensive and are very active fish. Chromis are schooling fish so you can't just get one. Get at least 3-4.
 
SimonSKL said:
You can put a couple hardy fish in there and see how they are doing. I started out with 4 blue chromis because they are inexpensive and are very active fish. Chromis are schooling fish so you can't just get one. Get at least 3-4.
Click to expand...

did you just put them in there or did you use a QT. Speaking of a QT, i have not set mine up yet. Also should i do a water change before adding anything in there?
 
Yes, before you put any fish in, change 50% of the water out. Since you don't have any other fish in the DT, your DT will be your QT for now. There is no need for QT.

Make sure you have adequate freshly mixed saltwater on hand just in case of an ammonia spike so you can do some quick water change to lower the ammonia level.
 
Simon, when you feed your fish, do you shutdown your return pump and skimmer and MP40's for a few minutes?
 
i'll try to get some of those chromis this weekend. What is the best way in your opinion to acclimate them once i bring them home?
 
I really don't acclimate fish that I buy from the fish store. I do a fresh water dip with a couple drops of methylene blue to kill off any parasites on the fish before I introduce them in my tank. It is really very stressful for the fish on the contrary but if the fish survives the fresh water dip, it is a healthy fish.

Here is what I do. I fill a small bucket with about 1/2 to 1 gal of RODI water, put two drops of methylene blue in it. Use a heater to raise the temp to the same temp as the DT. I put the fish in the bucket for 5-8 min and observe the fish closely the whole time. Initially the fish will react funny because of the fresh water but will settle down but breathes heavily. If the fish shows any king of erratic behavior or turns stiff, I pull it out right away. Most fish will be fine for 5-8 min. After the dip, I put the fish in the DT. That's it.
 
SimonSKL said:
I really don't acclimate fish that I buy from the fish store. I do a fresh water dip with a couple drops of methylene blue to kill off any parasites on the fish before I introduce them in my tank. It is really very stressful for the fish on the contrary but if the fish survives the fresh water dip, it is a healthy fish.

Here is what I do. I fill a small bucket with about 1/2 to 1 gal of RODI water, put two drops of methylene blue in it. Use a heater to raise the temp to the same temp as the DT. I put the fish in the bucket for 5-8 min and observe the fish closely the whole time. Initially the fish will react funny because of the fresh water but will settle down but breathes heavily. If the fish shows any king of erratic behavior or turns stiff, I pull it out right away. Most fish will be fine for 5-8 min. After the dip, I put the fish in the DT. That's it.
Click to expand...

What is methylene blue ?
 
Hi Simon,

Got the chaeto today! Looks awesome! Thank again very much for your generosity!

IMG_0134_zps394d73cc.jpg

IMG_0137_zps27263393.jpg


It was great timing again, i decided to take the day off of work today and mail came early today so I was able to save it from being out in the cold for several more hours.
 
Glad you got the chaeto okay. I know it has been cold up north and I wasn't sure if the chaeto would survive and not frozen solid when you get it. I kept the box in my house until the mailman's truck showed up so it wouldn't freeze in my mailbox.

Are you going to get the fish this weekend?
 
SimonSKL said:
Glad you got the chaeto okay. I know it has been cold up north and I wasn't sure if the chaeto would survive and not frozen solid when you get it. I kept the box in my house until the mailman's truck showed up so it wouldn't freeze in my mailbox.

Are you going to get the fish this weekend?
Click to expand...

It was not frozen at all, it did pretty well. yup, my plan is to try and get some this weekend. Hopefully the LFS i plan on going to (Beyond the Reef in Hoffman Estates) has what I want. As far as the water change goes, I'm assuming I need to drain about 65 gallons or so for a 50% change is that correct? My Brute container is only a 32gallon so i'm trying to figure out how I'm going to do this. I've read that I should let the saltwater mix and aerate for 24hrs before using it.
 
The 50% is just an approximate. You can do it in two separate times. Without any live animals in your tank it is not as critical to wait 24 hrs but at least 12 hours and at about the same temp.
 
SimonSKL said:
The 50% is just an approximate. You can do it in two separate times. Without any live animals in your tank it is not as critical to wait 24 hrs but at least 12 hours and at about the same temp.
Click to expand...

So should I mix my 32 gallons and wait 12 hrs...then drain and fill. Then do this again?
 
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