FINALLY starting my tank up today!

[antsbumblebee]

Today is the day! Just wanted to run my over all plan by those of you kind enough to comment, please if something is amiss let me know!
55g tank
hob aqueon power filter 75
submersible heater (probably should go digital, look into it at LFS)
double full hood with hallogen (upgrade to LED later)
Going to buy some feet protection and a waterproof rug or something because we rent lol
Starting with dry rock...not sure how much we're going for but between 55-85
Don't really want to start with bottle bacteria, thinking I just might ghost feed using the freshwater flakes my tank kit came with (because when the heck else will I use it!)
Going to start off with ro/di from LFS, use conditioned tap for WC until I run out of conditioner
Buying two powerheads today, running those while tank starts cycling as well as hallogen lights (surely promoting algae growth is good for cycle?)
Going to run tank a few days then start testing (just the basics), keeping track of parameters + WC on spreadsheet, do this until I run out of test strips (50 in kit I think?)
Upgrade to LED, consider buying protein skimmer, upgrade to reefing test kit (calcium, phosphates, etc)
Add one fish and start adding coral (plan on focusing on corals, then adding fish when I'm happy with coral!)

Ok that's the plan! Hopefully I'm on the right path! Thanks all!

 

[reepher]

Sounds about right. Id suggest getting rid of the filter and swap for a skimmer and a sump while waiting for ur tank to cycle. Also get some little live rock/sand to seed the dry rock. Helps to speed up the cycle aswell.

 

[booth2010]

You also don't need to run lights till the end if the cycle you can if you want but not necessary

 

[antsbumblebee]

Beans forgot to mention sand! 40lb dry 20lb live. I don't really have space in my apartment for a sump, but I will go for a protein skimmer. Can you use a hob filter with a protein skimmer? Yes, right?

 

[antsbumblebee]

I've read that using the light will just create an algae bloom but surely that can be a beneficial thing?

 

[booth2010]

Well yea it's fine it'll need to happen eventually but diatoms and other some other algae might not grow until near end of cycle I think, but I could be wrong

 

[antsbumblebee]

Oki dokes, I think the "algae bloom" I've read about might be like green algae vs the coralline algae. Just an unexperienced guess.

 

[booth2010]

it definitely is green algae, new tanks will also have diatoms and i believe most people have cyano at first as well

 

[antsbumblebee]

Hmm good to know...maybe I really am better off going lightless. Thanks!

Alsooooo...live sand, I can just add it right in with dry correct? I mean if I use it pre-cycle it won't kill off any of the good bacteria will it?

 

[booth2010]

It should help the cycle go a little faster

 

[preston469]

I would def add a few pieces of live rock, and suggest getting rid of the HOB filter as well for a skimmer, I use the Aquamax HOB-1 Skimmer and it works great for my 45G!