New Tank Questions

[AZReef13]

I hopefully, figures cross will finally be setting up my new tank soon. Just waiting on stand. My questions are more to do with the steps that will come after setup, and how to react to them. Like the cycle process?, when I can add fish, coral?, and the other problems; all the different algae issues. I've read quite a few different ones on this forum. Also I like some leasons learn, something you might do different.

My New Tank info
IM 40 Nuvo fusion AIO
IM APS stand (Back order)
IM Ghost Skimmer
IM Minimax reactor (GFO)
IM Custom Caddy (Not sure if this will be refug)
2 IMP10's
Live sand
Cured dry Rock
AI Hydra 26
Smart ATO
IM reservoir

Thanks for all the advise, if there are great links that will answer these questions will be helpful as well.

 

[Jayreefer]

Every tank is different and even the water you use will effect start up. Make sure to use RO/DI water to mix or buy premixed salt. Take it slow, and don't add to much livestock for the first 6 months. After a couple days of having tank up and running add a piece of shrimp to the tank and let it rot away so that the bacteria have something to feed off of.

Do 4-6 hour light cycles during start cycle to encourage algae growth. Algae issues don't really become issues unless you let them get out of control and most types can be controlled with CUC. After about a month and you see some good healthy green algae then it is time to add CUC.

In the first few months make sure to get into a habit of testing water parameters and doing regular water changes. Also if not using dosing pumps then look into dosing 2-3 times a week. The more stable you keep ALK/CA/MG the better the reef will do.

If you can QT all coral and fish to prevent against pest. Having a QT setup was one of the best things I have ever done.

 

[Mebeknob]

I hopefully, figures cross will finally be setting up my new tank soon. Just waiting on stand. My questions are more to do with the steps that will come after setup, and how to react to them. Like the cycle process?, when I can add fish, coral?, and the other problems; all the different algae issues. I've read quite a few different ones on this forum. Also I like some leasons learn, something you might do different.



My New Tank info

IM 40 Nuvo fusion AIO

IM APS stand (Back order)

IM Ghost Skimmer

IM Minimax reactor (GFO)

IM Custom Caddy (Not sure if this will be refug)

2 IMP10's

Live sand

Cured dry Rock

AI Hydra 26

Smart ATO

IM reservoir



Thanks for all the advise, if there are great links that will answer these questions will be helpful as well.

Which ghost skimmer did you get?
Let me know how loud it is because I want to use one on my office nano but afraid of noise


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[AZReef13]

Thanks Jayreefer, thats just a raw shrimp from store?

Mebeknob; Its the Midsize, there is an IM 40 Thread, most like it for location but more like Tunze 9004 for better skimming. But will give my opinon was up and running.

 

[Stolireef]

Yep. Just drop in the the tank. An alternative that I prefer is to dose the tank with janitorial grade ammonia up to 2ppm. You can get it at any Ace hardware store. This gives you complete control over the start of the cycle. It also eliminates the worst part of a cycle which is removing the decomposing shrimp carcas several days later (the worst smell you can imagine, I'd rather sniff the ammonia).

Once the tank has cycled the ammonia all the way through to nitrate, you can then redose it one more time up to 2ppm. If ammo goes to 0 in 48 hours, your initial cycle is done.

 

[AZBigJohn]

Yep. Just drop in the the tank. An alternative that I prefer is to dose the tank with janitorial grade ammonia up to 2ppm. You can get it at any Ace hardware store. This gives you complete control over the start of the cycle. It also eliminates the worst part of a cycle which is removing the decomposing shrimp carcas several days later (the worst smell you can imagine, I'd rather sniff the ammonia).

Once the tank has cycled the ammonia all the way through to nitrate, you can then redose it one more time up to 2ppm. If ammo goes to 0 in 48 hours, your initial cycle is done.

This is the best way to do it, I used the shrimp last time, and ended up adding ammonia later to get the ammonia high enough.

Only caveat is get the pure ammonia from Ace Hardware. A lot of the "ammonia" in the grocery stores has surfactants in it.

 

[Jayreefer]

You guys remove the shrimp? I just left it to rot till gone.

Although it has been a long time since I cycles a brand new tank. The last 6-7 years I have only moved from one tank to the other. They seem to keep getting bigger every move.

 

[AZReef13]

Thanks All,

 

[Stolireef]

You guys remove the shrimp? I just left it to rot till gone.

Although it has been a long time since I cycles a brand new tank. The last 6-7 years I have only moved from one tank to the other. They seem to keep getting bigger every move.

You have a bad case of tankus maximitus

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