cycling brackish/lagoon setup?

[Agne]

hello! so im really wanting to do a brackish setup and this is my experience so far

im at the cycling stage and im really not sure if things are going the right way. looks to me like theyre not! please see photos. currently its week 3 and the macrolgae looks like its wilting/rotting away. is it too late to help them? should i be putting live rock? will that affect brackish conditions? theres also growth of brown algae and ive read that the tank should stay put without light for a few days, but will that not affect the macroalgae?

here are water test results after 2 weeks:

high ph: 8.2
ammonia: 1.0ppm
nitrite: 0.25ppm
nitrate: 40ppm
salinity: 1.007

and after 3 weeks:

high ph: 8.2
ammonia: 0.50ppm
nitrite: 0.50ppm
nitrate: 40ppm
salinity: 1.007

the setup is:

80L aqua oak cube
eheim ecoo pro 2234
aqua 100W heater
basic light with no brand? i bought the tank secondhand and the light came with it but see photos if anyone can identify it
river sand (bottom brown layer)
red sea live reef base aragonite (top white layer)
aquarium systems reef crystals for salinity
macroalgaes (Caulerpa Taxifolia, Caulerpa Prolifera)

i have ordered a Fluval SEA CP2 Circulation Pump 1600LPH, TNC Iron and TNC Complete which i understand are like supplements for the macroalgae?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GZUHQ6E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009S4IGOG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

my experience only lies in the freshwaters so anything with salt is super new to me. thats also why the water test results are from a freshwater master test kit. not sure if marine test kit should be used for a brackish setup..

i want to get it right which is why im asking for help! im thinking of getting a couple of figure 8 puffers but im wondering if the setup isnt the best for the puffers then i might go for mollies as ive heard they're pretty flexible in terms of salinity?

Thank you in advance!!

 

[sfin52]

figure 8s should be ok. Why dont you look at some freshwater gobies. They are all really brackish water. Mono Sebae would also be good.

 

[Agne]

figure 8s should be ok. Why dont you look at some freshwater gobies. They are all really brackish water. Mono Sebae would also be good.

i love gobies ! keeping in mind that i havent got any fish for this tank yet so im still flexible with the stocking. but regarding the macroalgae, i think if nothing works out with them just replacing with vallisneria to replicate seagrass. i cant figure what fish thrive in seagrass-like conditions.. would gobies like that?

 

[sfin52]

i love gobies ! keeping in mind that i havent got any fish for this tank yet so im still flexible with the stocking. but regarding the macroalgae, i think if nothing works out with them just replacing with vallisneria to replicate seagrass. i cant figure what fish thrive in seagrass-like conditions.. would gobies like that?

Mangroves may work as well

 

[SmedenS]

If your tank is 3 weeks old, then maybe a tad to early for fish?


- Is the macro algae able to thrive in 1.007 salinity?
- How deep is your sand?
- How many Watt is your led light?
- Did you add bacteria for your tank on start up?
- What are we cycling other than the sand?

I would recommend more circulation and a CUC of good snails, which will ensure that your sand doesn't die out and become your worst enemy.

Brackish and Magrove lagoones are typically with low water flow/current. So I would also suggest you to reduce your sand depth to a minimum.

 

[sfin52]

You could do a reverse flow under gravel filter. @Paul B runs them.

 

[lapin]

If you like to read and dont mind another forum check this out for advice. Im sure Michael would be able to help.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2678002

 

[Agne]

If your tank is 3 weeks old, then maybe a tad to early for fish?


- Is the macro algae able to thrive in 1.007 salinity?
- How deep is your sand?
- How many Watt is your led light?
- Did you add bacteria for your tank on start up?
- What are we cycling other than the sand?

I would recommend more circulation and a CUC of good snails, which will ensure that your sand doesn't die out and become your worst enemy.

Brackish and Magrove lagoones are typically with low water flow/current. So I would also suggest you to reduce your sand depth to a minimum.

i am not putting any fish in there yet no worries about that xD just keeping in mind what will be living there so i make it a good setup for them.

i gave up on the macroalgae so theyve all gone to bin. they all melted i figured there was no way to save them anymore

may i ask why the depth of sand needs to be shallow?

i didnt add any bacteria for my tank but after taking out the macroalgae i did a 50% water change and put in a piece of prawn. did i do the right thing? :S

i suppose now, we're cycling just the sand xD i have ordered vallisneria and im hoping to get some rock.. i remember seeing some white rock at my LFS im trying to remember if it was ocean rock... is that appropriate for the setup?

im sending this from work so i cant check the watt on the led light but im planning on going to the LFS and hopefully get myself a light unit specifically for plant growth? i heard somewhere that vallisneria doesnt do well under LED