First saltwater build, still learning

[vetteguy53081]

Always great to see a tank in progress. Please tell me that is Not aquarium gravel in the tank?
Also what lighting are you using?

 

[somethinq else]

Looks like a mix of aquarium rock (bad call) and some fine sand. I agree with what everyone is saying. You completely rushed your build. Most people that are in the hobby to stay long term either buy a drilled tank or drill the bottom out them shelves. Cool you went old gen with the back drop but cycling a tank takes months. The reason why is because that live rock has to be seeded in you, have to have you have to have certain enzymes build up in the tank. Along with dozens of other things. I have three stable functioning tanks. A 300 gal with a ruby red trigger and nyos sump a 75 gal with reef octopus sump and a custom sump tank and then a bio cube. I hadnt been in the hobby in years but i did have prior knowledge. A foundation. When I first got my 300 it looked so sad sitting there with 300 lbs of live rock and no fish no coral. I wanted to jump the gun so many times but i bided my time and let it cycle for 6 months before i did anything. Luckily one of my dearest friends owns a lfs and has guided me because every day is a learning experience. Ive made many mistakes and have suffered with the cost of being hit in my wallet simply because i have expensive taste. And yes this is a forum and you are looking for constructive critisism...a means for correction. But if you read between the lines, others are scared to give you more information other than slow down...thinking you will take it as a green light or a short cut and continue on a path of mistakes. Every coral is a living animal. Would you starve you dog or cat? By not giving your corals proper lighting and other parameters you are essentially starving them. And a kessil 160 is good for a show light but not good for growth. You need to invest in a good set of t5s and start there. Get your set up right before you add anything else, pull good water changes and add more live rock because your rock is going to act like a filter itself. No offense but ive got more live rock than that in my 32 gal biocube. Get you a carbon canister going and give your tank a chance to do what its going to do that way you can start figuring out dosing. These people do not take this hobby lightly. You have people on here that have this down to a science. They know their tank they know their corals..they dose with everything under the sun including vodka. If you dont have a little more patience youre going to burn yourself out from disapointment. And dont worry...there is plenty of help and advice when you get far enough for it. Best of luck and dont hesitate to ask questions.

 

[mipstien]

Picked up the larger tank to move everything to.

 

[mipstien]

Cleaned up

 

[mipstien]

Plumbing done and filling with water.

 

[mipstien]

New ocean revive t247 lights

 

[Chrisfish]

Congratulations on the new tank, I hope the transfer of you reef creatures is successful and continue to thrive. As several members on here have told you patience is a great vertue in this hobby. And your tank looks awesome.

 

[mipstien]

Congratulations on the new tank, I hope the transfer of you reef creatures is successful and continue to thrive. As several members on here have told you patience is a great vertue in this hobby. And your tank looks awesome.

I have had t5 bulbs above it until last night. Everything has been going great and growing. I have not had anything get out of range or any problems with the corals. The nem looks happy and over the weekend moved from the back side of the tank to nearly the front just behind a rock attached to another.