Must... Be... Patient...

TexAgReefer · May 9, 2013

Howdy,

So i'm new to the world of saltwater and could not be more excited. I had a freshwater tank for some time but always wanted to dive into saltwater. Until now I haven't had the money to do so, but that has changed and I'm anxious to have a piece of the ocean!

My tank is up and running. It's been a great experience thus far and while I've been nervous about it, my two new clowns(black ice) are doing great. Now I just have to be patient and take my time before adding the LONG list of livestock I have acquired.

My setup:

- 75 gallon rr tank, stand/canopy
- Trigger System Crystal 36 sump
- Middle chamber will be used for refuge with cheato mostly to host pods I can occasionally shake into my main tank
- Reef Octopus NW110 Skimmer
- Mag 9.5 return pump
- Feeds return to DT with manifold to feed BRS Deluxe Reactor(GFO/Carbon), open port for future addons, and return into sump to control return flow
- 80 lbs dry rock(50 Fiji/30 brs reef saver)
- 60 lbs Tropic Eden Reef Miniflakes
- Tunze Osmolator ATO

that novice guy · May 9, 2013

Looks good so far but did you start with any live rock to seed your dry rock with benifical bacteria

TexAgReefer · May 9, 2013

that novice guy said:
Looks good so far but did you start with any live rock to seed your dry rock with benifical bacteria

I used Dr. Tim's One and Only 8 oz bottle(for 120gal) to cycle the tank.

that novice guy · May 9, 2013

Me personally would never use bacteria in a bottle unless it was for a qt well I think you will be okay. How long has the tank been setup?

TexAgReefer · May 9, 2013

It's been running for 9 days. I mostly followed MrSaltwaterTank's guides and suggestions. Dr. Tim's is the only bacteria in a bottle he recommends. I've been testing daily and my ammonia/nitrites have been 0 nitrates around 20 but going down. Will wait at least 4 weeks before adding more fish.

Next step is getting the QT set up.

AsphaltPays · May 9, 2013

Hello and Welcome to R2R!

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that novice guy · May 9, 2013

TexAgReefer said:
It's been running for 9 days. I mostly followed MrSaltwaterTank's guides and suggestions. Dr. Tim's is the only bacteria in a bottle he recommends. I've been testing daily and my ammonia/nitrites have been 0 nitrates around 20 but going down. Will wait at least 4 weeks before adding more fish.

Next step is getting the QT set up.

Wow man thats a little early, time is your best friend in this hobby and if you abuse it it will bite you right in the buns. But your fine you may have dodged a bullit and your clowns might of suffered but you did start with dry rock and no live, but did add dr tims and your readings look good I think your good but if you setup another tank you may want to start 75% DRY and 25% LIVE uncured to save a little money and make sure you get your live rock from a good source but whats great by also starting with live that is you get coraline alge and everyone wants that plus you get microfuna to multiply in your system wich is also a plus and you get bacteria from the ocean and nothing is as good as natural bacteria

TexAgReefer · May 10, 2013

Going completely dry is the only way to guarantee you don't start with negative hitchhikers. I've heard nothing but great things from people using Dr Tim's with 1-2 fish to cycle the tank. I used their ammonium chloride to cycle and then added my fish, but it's supposed to be harmless to the fish if use it to cycle. I would never cycle a tank with a fish without using Dr Tim's bacteria. The fish have been great, very active and eating like crazy since the day I put them in.