120 gallon slow build
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Lonny
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It's hard to watch the tank cycle isn't it. It took what seemed like an eternity for my nitrites to hit zero! I didn't use any live rock so hopefully that'll speed yours up. Looking forward to seeing what you stock it with
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Brandon42
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yeah my nitrites are higher than i can test for lol. a very painful process. if there not down by Friday i may add a bottle of bacteria to help it along stocking still seems so far way haha. ill do the cleaning crew first. not super sure what corals i want to go with yet. but i will definitely over time be getting 2 cardinals, 2 clown fish, hippo tang, yellow tang, a clam and some small schooling fish.
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Brandon42
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yeah my nitrites are higher than i can test for lol. a very painful process. if there not down by Friday i may add a bottle of bacteria to help it along stocking still seems so far way haha. ill do the cleaning crew first. not super sure what corals i want to go with yet. but i will definitely over time be getting 2 cardinals, 2 clown fish, hippo tang, yellow tang, a clam and some small schooling fish.
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Brandon42
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Great news, my tank has zero ammonia now for 2 days. I added some extra rubble I had left over, uncured to the sump. Ammonia went up a bit then right back down. Nitrites are still pretty high and nitrates getting there. Will be doing a small water change tomorrow and have started dosing bacteria to help with the nitrites even though some say not to worry about them any more. But being my ammonia is in the clear I got myself a crab! Just one little guy to make sure everything is in order and help me out with the algae. Little guy started eating immediately and hasn't stopped yet lol.
Lonny
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Nice. Life in the tank! If you're running your lights I would advise not to. There is a ton of nutrients in there right now so starving the algae of light is really your only defense. I know people say no fish but now that you ammonia is zero you could put a couple of fish in there too. I pit a pair of clowns and a damsel in mine after my ammonia went to zero. Just my opinion and you and I are only a couple weeks apart in our vast experience lol. So you know as much as I do if not more. So cool you got a resident in your tank man!
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Brandon42
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Well the algae could be worse now, I have considered running my lights less
Until there really needed anyway. And yes only a couple weeks apart lol we even had similar plumbing issues. I will most likely add a fish or two at the end of the week. If I can convince the wife anyway. But I want to do a decent water change first and still need to get a garbage can or something to make the saltwater. But the emerald crab is doing great so far so all is looking good.
Lonny
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I can't remember where I read it, probably on here but it recommended not doing water changes until the cycle is done. The theory being the algae and the bacteria are competing for the same nutrients. Exporting nutrients at this stage via water change cuts the food supply down for the bacteria as well as the algae. Kind of a catch 22. Anyway that's what I did and I was cycled in four weeks and 2 or 3 days. Ammonia went down fast, nitrite took what seemed like forever!
Anyway food for thought. Regardless it will cycle either way. What ever you do keep me posted! I'm being given a monti cap frag tomorrow and can't wait! I'll shoot you a pic. Couple more weeks and you'll be posting a pic of your coral!!!
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Brandon42
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Couldn't resist did my tests this morning and everything looked good and the new crab is doing great. So I went and got a few damsels. They seem to be doing great eating already starting to check the tank out. Has to be nice going from a tiny breeder box filled with fish to 3 fish in 125 gallons of water lol
^^ seems to be the meet and great corner lol
Lonny
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Haha I knew it wouldn't be long! Awesome man! Check out the monti cap I got from Impur. Big thanks to him for the help. It has a little brittle star with it to. He's under the coral. Big smiles!
Andreww65
Beer is proof that God loves us.
Nice stand build. Im gonna try that on my next tat. Custom 180 in the next year or so.
Lonny
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Thanks Andrew! It was pretty easy too. Amazing how strong wood actually is. That should be a killer build you'll have to start a build thread so we can follow
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Brandon42
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Haha I knew it wouldn't be long! Awesome man! Check out the monti cap I got from Impur. Big thanks to him for the help. It has a little brittle star with it to. He's under the coral. Big smiles!
That's awesome! Yeah I can't wait to start buying corals. Do you get a lot of dust storms in your tank with that fine sand or do the pictures just make it look fine?
Lonny
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No,I washed it really good with a 5gl bucket. There was so much white paste that came out. Couldn't believe it. Can't remember the the name of the company, crystal sand or something. It was live sand and I bought it off ebay. It's about the texture of sugar with some bigger grains mixed in.
one of those will for sure be coming to my tank soon!
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Brandon42
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I heard when starting a new tank you shouldn't wash that out. It's filled with bacteria and stuff to help your tank cycle quicker. Got that from the BRS 52 weeks of Reefing videos.
I really like the one I got. Caribsea special reef grade. It's a little bigger grained but has a good mix of fine stuff as well. But even that gives me sand storms every time I move something. Fish are still doing good and yes the emerald crab is awesome. I got him for $10 bucks, will definitely be getting 1 or 2 more when my wife allows me to spend more money on the tank lol the bill for these things racks up quick!
Lonny
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Ya that's what I thought but the instructions said it wouldn't affect the bacteria. Amazing how much stuff you can pack into a sump, yours is looking sweet! And we're just getting started! Ten bucks! That sounds cheap it's a bummer how much everything costs. luckily it's a slow hobby right.
it's a bummer how much everything costs. luckily it's a slow hobby right.
