Poor mans sps

[codyreed29]

I've been playing with tanks and have finally gotten my soon to be sps reef system I've got everything equipment, live rock and such.

This was all done on a budget.

The tank is custom made by me 48x10x10 and is only 15 gallon. I have 4 t5ho bulbs for lights. This tank is like barebottom with a fake sand bottom. I've got about 30 lbs of liverock and a fuge. I'm running a skimmer when the lights are on and run reverse light schedule. Gfo and carbon along with a ato.

I don't plan on getting any fish for a while mostly sps to begin with then I'll get some small fish that can go in a ten gallon. Cause half the tank has so much flow that It's more like a 6 gallon fish swimming area. The fish will be blasted across the tank. I guess a few lps would be ok on the left side of the tank. Cause 1650gph boils blasts and well keeps the tank ridiculosly clean which is good. Anyways I Like sps alot so I'm gonna start with them. Any suggestions for my first peices?

 

[Epicreefer]

I would wait a few weeks before adding sps, and then it may be a few months before any survive and thrive. You said reverse light cycle, so do you have a refugium with a macro algae? You have a lot of algae right now, it looks like dinoflagelates which are a common new tank algae and usually die down after a month or two. Make sure to use RODI water and a reef salt to maintain low PO4 and good mineral, Ca, alk and MG, levels before you get to the point of dosing suplements. Read the articles in reef chemistry about calcium alkalinity and magnesium and invest in a quality calcium and alkalinity test kit. You would be amazed at the current some fish will put up with too so it's not to much.

Some good corals to start with are the orange and green plating montipora, they are the easiest for many. The green slimer is another common beginner one. I have always had good luck with the Bali tri color too, literally my first coral and went through hell with me, and a bit more interesting. Encrusting montipora like purple haze can do well too. In general try to not spend more than $20-40 a coral to begin with and buy aqua cultured or captive grown. The cheap ones are cheap because they are easiest to grow, the longer the strain has been in captivity the more resilient it is usually too, and inevitably some will not make it while your learning. Good luck!

 

[codyreed29]

I have cycled my tank twice first with 5 lbs of rock and refugium with sand and mud the tank has been setup for nearly two months already. then i added 22 lbs. Yes my fuge Is on at night. I have added cheato. I only use reef crystals to 1.025 which keeps my levels good . I test with api for alk calc don't have a mag noone sells it around. I eventually might have to add but maybe just more frequnt water changes.

I'm not going to add anything till the first week of next month the tank will be about 3.25 months old. I cycled my tank twice because i see not point in adding alot liverock to uncycled water. Oh wo It made my tank really cycle My nitrate went super high like .65 from just rock. I might even add another 3 lbs and wait more. for three cycles.
Thanks for your advice those names aren't to hard to forget just hope my fish store has some.

 

[Allmost]

Cody, I would take a step back, and re think what you are doing.

1.cycling a tank multiple times makes no sense.
2. that's not dino. [your other thread]

3. what kind of water do you use ?

4, why no skimmer at night ?

and questions go on and on you dont want to spend money on corals, and have them die the day after, get discouraged and leave the hobby ... you have waited 3 months, now I suggest more readings and research.

 

[codyreed29]

that last tank got cracked and i now have everything in a 33 gallon aio 55gallon tank. I have been letting things go more and don't plan on buying anymore coral till i can get these algeas and such to go away. and add the new bulbs i bought. purpl blue aqua. It's always something with me but my tank is starting to mature i just gotta get some thing in order. I use ro from a machine 8 stage ro unit dispenser/