Got any tips for me?

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Hey, all! This is my first post here at R2R. Last week I set up an Innovative Marine 15G AIO cube, and it is currently in the cycling process. I am very much a beginner, I have done tons of research, so I know the basics, but I know there are tons of people out there with beautiful reef tanks, that have kept them for years and many more to come. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some good tips and tricks that they have found to help them in their success. Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey, all! This is my first post here at R2R. Last week I set up an Innovative Marine 15G AIO cube, and it is currently in the cycling process. I am very much a beginner, I have done tons of research, so I know the basics, but I know there are tons of people out there with beautiful reef tanks, that have kept them for years and many more to come. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some good tips and tricks that they have found to help them in their success. Thanks!

What is your tank plan- Fish only, fish with live rock, fish with coral or ???

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

What is your tank plan- Fish only, fish with live rock, fish with coral or ???

Fish with coral, and live rock.

 

[thereef]

Welcome! My advice with a tank that size, do a water change weekly, and an auto top off will help with stability big time and you should find success.

 

[OctaviusBrine]

Welcome to the reef! My advice is take it slow and invest in good quality test kits.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Welcome! My advice with a tank that size, do a water change weekly, and an auto top off will help with stability big time and you should find success.

Thanks for the help! 10% weekly was what I was planning to do. Does that sound good?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Welcome to the reef! My advice is take it slow and invest in good quality test kits.

My LFS told me to get a teat kit, they recommended me one where you test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and high range PH. Is that all I need or will I need to test for trace elements, alkalinity and stuff like that? I also have a refractometer BTW.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fish with coral, and live rock.

Asure tank is cycled,,,,, allow tank to run a few weeks before adding coral. Assure you have adequate lighting and flow and use quality test kits
Some good starter coral will be :
zoa
candy cane
GSP
Duncan
trumpet
mushroom
Finger leather

 

[vetteguy53081]

My LFS told me to get a teat kit, they recommended me one where you test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and high range PH. Is that all I need or will I need to test for trace elements, alkalinity and stuff like that? I also have a refractometer BTW.

No need to test for nitrite which pertains to freshwater and I recommend Salifert and hanna brand. Start with ammonia and nitrate kits and add according to your needs

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Asure tank is cycled,,,,, allow tank to run a few weeks before adding coral. Assure you have adequate lighting and flow and use quality test kits
Some good starter coral will be :
zoa
candy cane
GSP
Duncan
trumpet
mushroom
Finger leather

Thanks so much. Right now I have a bottle of I think Dr. Tims ammonia coming, and I also have a bottle of beneficial bacteria coming to help kick start the cycling process.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

No need to test for nitrite which pertains to freshwater and I recommend Salifert and hanna brand. Start with ammonia and nitrate kits and add according to your needs

Ok, thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks so much. Right now I have a bottle of I think Dr. Tims ammonia coming, and I also have a bottle of beneficial bacteria coming to help kick start the cycling process.

With the ammonia, add appropriate amount and when ammonia rises then falls and achieves a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and when nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

With the ammonia, add appropriate amount and when ammonia rises then falls and achieves a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and when nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled.

Ok, thanks. I didn't think about the nitrates, only the ammonia. Thanks for your help!

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board! hello from PA!

 

[Leadfooted]

Welcome!

#1 Keep your ALK stable

 

[thereef]

Salifert are great to start with. Personally I use NYOS for Nitrate and Hanna for ALK. I would start with Salinity, Nitrate, Alk, and Cal, and phosphate. I like to keep it easy so I typically just dose all for reef to keep my alk at 9 and everything else seems to be where it should always be. 10% sounds good, maybe 20 to start with until you start learning what you're testing for, correcting for, ext.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Salifert are great to start with. Personally I use NYOS for Nitrate and Hanna for ALK. I would start with Salinity, Nitrate, Alk, and Cal, and phosphate. I like to keep it easy so I typically just dose all for Reef to keep my alk at 9 and everything else seems to be where it should always be. 10% sounds good, maybe 20 to start with until you start learning what you're testing for, correcting for, ext.

Alright, 20 sounds fine with me. I have an RO filter coming, so making water won't be a problem for me. I will have to do more research on dosing and stuff like that because I am not sure what to do but thanks for your help!

 

[Ocean_Queenie]

Hello & Welcome

 

[DDenny]

Welcome to reef2reef. There a ton of people on here with great advice ask before jumping.