New 170 Gal Tank - Help Required

[perikaruppan]

dear Friends,
This is my first marine tank and it is a 5'X2.25'X2' (L X W X H) tank.

Planning to keep mainly SPS in the tank with LR and Sand.

The specs are as follows:
- Tank is 5 X 2.25 X 2' (L X W X H) 170 Gallons
- Sump is 4 X 1.5 X 1.5 (L X W X H) 67 Gallons
- DIY Beckett Skimmer
- Lighting - 3X250 W(14kX2 Ushio,20Kx1 Hamilton) and 4X36W Actinics
- R/O Water from plant. Initially using DM Water, we get that pretty cheap here in India.
- Return pump via 1700gal/hr pump
- Internal circulation - HYDOR #4, 2 nos #3 and 1 no #2 (about 3900 gal/hr) resulting in a total circulation of 33 times.

Will post the pictures of my tank soon.

I have a few questions as i want the tank to be having corals and fishes by November 18th, as its my son's 1st B day - just a wish.

The salt water is in today. and circulation has commenced. No LR / Sand Added.

Here, people say the tank needs to be cycled for at least 45 days to get rid of Algae and then LR and then Corals and fishes, so a total time of 90 days is what they recommend... but i don't have that much time!!!


Have the following Queries:

- Would like to know what can be done to minimize the cycling period so that with 45 days i have my setup operational
- Would also like to know if I add Live-Sand (need to get it from Singapore) will the process be faster?
- Can i add LR in a few days, and later add Live Sand? or should Live Sand be added first and then after circulation LR Be added?

Any suggestions to improve as welcome as i am just the beginner.

thanks.

Pk

 

[kevin2000]

My 02

The most important thing in SW is patience -- slow is good -- fast is bad (and very expensive).

You can't accelerate a tank cycle .. but you can mess around and try to which almost always prolongs a cycle.

When you set up a tank ... put you live rock and sand in the tank on the front end ... let the tank cycle. When I cycle a tank I put a blanket over the tank so I can just forget the darn thing and let mother nature do its thing .

Tank maturity is a big deal ... new tanks are unstable and you need to add fish slowly to let the tank slowly adjust to the bio load. Too much/too quick is a classic saying in SW and often associated with a newbie discussing why there major investment was a disaster.

Corals are actually easier to keep than fish if you have the correct lighting. If your new and want corals and have the proper lighting consider corals first and slowly add fish later when your tank has really matured ... kinda opposite of what most newbies do but works much better and something to consider.

Hope this helps.

 

[perikaruppan]

Thanks kevin.

Does addin live Aragonite sand aids the process of cycling faster?

What is the normal time line kindda from SW to LR to Sand to Corals to Fishes?

I know there are no norms, but normally what time it takes?