New Innovative Marine 25 fusion Lagoon cycle start questions

[Reef N More]

Trying this hobby out again after failing with a 29 biocube 3 years ago. Just started cycling my Innovative marine 25 fusion. Doing everything by the book this go around (Ro water, water chnges every week, good lighting) i am 3 weeks ino the cycle and i am seing diatoms on rock and sand. My question is should i add a CUC or wait untill the 4th week and water parameters are at zero? Currently nitrite is at 1ppm and nitrate is at 40ppm. I have been running lights on for 6 hrs a day dont know if that changes anything. I understand patients is the biggest thing in the hobby im just ready to start adding stuff lol i want to make this into a reef tank.

Light- kessil 150a sky blue ( considering upgrading to AI Prime HD your thoughts please)

Skimmer - fluval ps2

Running RO water only from LFS

Thank you for all your help and insight.

 

[STEELERFAN747]

The shimmer of the kessil is nicer. More natural but I like the look of the prime module better


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[Reef N More]

I like the shimmer of the Kessil as well. I have read on other forums that the kessil will not contribute to coral growth is there any truth to these claims. I want to keep the kessil if its able to grow coral efficiently. If not then AI prime it is.

 

[accel]

I have two Kessil 160s. A lot of people like the shimmer on it. I personally don't find the shimmer extraordinary. I can live without it. I do like the intensity and sturdiness of these lights.

Whatever you read about Kessils not contributing to coral growth is a lie. I have corals growing already with this light. I have seen Youtube videos and read testimonials thst it contributes to coral growth

 

[rjjr1963]

I have the AI Primes and have been pretty happy. They have a nice web based control platform. You can adjust all the colors, intensity and duration easily. Lots of people have corals that don't grow and it's easy to blame a physical object like a light rather than look at what they might be doing wrong. Kessil, Echo-tech, Gieseemann, AI and others are all good lighting manufactures otherwise they wouldn't be in business.

 

[mcgyvr]

Don't add the CUC until ammonia and nitrites are zero..

And yes its BS that a Kessil light can't be used for corals..

 

[Reef N More]

Just added a couple of hermits and snails 1 pep shrimp and 1 crab. ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 40 PPM before water change.

Did a 20% water change last night and going to test today if you would like to watch the progress of the tank.. I made a YouTube channel to video the progress of the tank and also receive some knowledge and guidance throughout the journey. Eventually I would like to be able to keep some LPS.

Youtube channel is called Reef N More

Check it out! I will be posting every week with updates