New 40 breeder salt water tank

[IUSTINIAN75]

So I just started a new salt water tank that is going to be a fish/reef tank.

It’s a 40 gallon breeder
Top fin heater 150w
Only used RODI water
Forgot salt kind ( they had large amounts in purple bucket) I just got a bag cuz I didn’t need the bucked.
50g aquaclear filter
2x 15g powerheads Fluval
And the Fluval marine 3.0
2 live rocks from local fish store( both picked up out of water and driven home and into my tank in less than 15 minutes.) both total weight 17 lbs
Some dry rock about 20lbs
2x caribsea live sand 20g
Fritz turbo start forgot size ( was told it was just shy of what my 40 gallon requires)

And yes I did get a starter fish
ten days in it’s a domino damsel now on day 16 he is doing just fine ( it seems).

One mistake I think I did make was vacuuming out his poops yesterday loosing about 10% water and topping off with new rodi mixed with salt.
Salt is between1.023-24 will be adding pictures of the tank with light on just for picture and also picture of water test as of yesterday (day 15).

Does anyone know why my nitrites went down after the vs using and 10% top off? I will also post a pic of test from day 7 ( the single test photos are day7)

any other suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks everyone for your time!

 

[PeterC99]

Looks like your cycling is going well!

Good Sign if your nitrites are dropping!

 

[dedragon]

Was this tank started with live rock (or wet dry rock) or bottled bacteria? Looks like your cycle is probably over though so the first water change you did of 10% was probably for the best

 

[dedragon]

Definitely buy a cheap temp controller for that heater especially if you are only using one. My favorite is just the inkbird temp controller for $30, cheap and will let you know if (really when) your heater dies.
Maybe a light upgrade and a powerhead upgrade in the future may be needed depending on your coral preferences, but everything else looks like a good choice. You can also make an easy modification on the aquaclear with eggcrate to use polyfil instead of other media, super cheap and easy to change out multiple times a week to help cut down on water changes needed.

 

[dedragon]

and also a refractometer with calibration solution. Way more trustworthy and easy to use/read results with than a swing arm hydrometer IME. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/refractometer-for-reading-salinity-with-calibration-fluid-bundle.html

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

I’ve got the temp pat down now it was a hassle indeed as the thermometer seems to be set higher than the actual temp in the tank to keep up. I will however be switching to a sigital thermometer and yes getting a controller. I have a glass thermometer on the right side of my tank as the heater is on the left and so far I’ve been hovering at 25 Celsius I have plans on expanding into a sump on the bottom currently in the middle on building it myself as I enjoy hands on. I built the entire table and shell myself ( the one the tank is on and shelf obove).

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

and also a refractometer with calibration solution. Way more trustworthy and easy to use/read results with than a swing arm hydrometer IME. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/refractometer-for-reading-salinity-with-calibration-fluid-bundle.html

I have this in the tank model I’ve been using it Seems good but will be investing in better equipment with time for sure

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Definitely buy a cheap temp controller for that heater especially if you are only using one. My favorite is just the inkbird temp controller for $30, cheap and will let you know if (really when) your heater dies.
Maybe a light upgrade and a powerhead upgrade in the future may be needed depending on your coral preferences, but everything else looks like a good choice. You can also make an easy modification on the aquaclear with eggcrate to use polyfil instead of other media, super cheap and easy to change out multiple times a week to help cut down on water changes needed.

Could u maybe please link me this filter mod so I can visualize it I’m more of a visual learner but I understand what u mean. Does the egg crate snap onto the plastic tray that slides in an out or do I have to attach it on there myself

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

I’ve got the temp pat down now it was a hassle indeed as the thermometer seems to be set higher than the actual temp in the tank to keep up. I will however be switching to a sigital thermometer and yes getting a controller. I have a glass thermometer on the right side of my tank as the heater is on the left and so far I’ve been hovering at 25 Celsius I have plans on expanding into a sump on the bottom currently in the middle on building it myself as I enjoy hands on. I built the entire table and shell myself ( the one the tank is on and shelf obove).

As far as the powerheads go what do you suggest the next size up were 30 gallon powerheads I thought those may be too strong for the tank so I opted to get two of the 15 gallon ones but I still have the receipt and I am still within return time so do you suggest I go and upgrade both of them to a 30 gallon powerhead

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Was this tank started with live rock (or wet dry rock) or bottled bacteria? Looks like your cycle is probably over though so the first water change you did of 10% was probably for the best

I got actual live rock from my local aqua store the large o e on the left and the smal dark one on the right were both live rocks take. straight out of tanks at the store before my eyes witch i immediately drove home 5 min away and added to tank the rest were dry rock they had on the shelf

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

I got actual live rock from my local aqua store the large o e on the left and the smal dark one on the right were both live rocks take. straight out of tanks at the store before my eyes witch i immediately drove home 5 min away and added to tank the rest were dry rock they had on the shelf

I also added one oz bottle of Frits turbo 900

 

[dedragon]

your tank is most likely cycled then. Another 6+ months til stability takes place (biological maturation) and harder to keep corals/anemones can then be brought in. Start with easy to keep right now as you said

 

[dedragon]

I have this in the tank model I’ve been using it Seems good but will be investing in better equipment with time for sure

Used this before would only use it as a vague gauge, once i got a refractometer to compar i found that my swing arm was pretty far off from what it said

 

[dedragon]

Could u maybe please link me this filter mod so I can visualize it I’m more of a visual learner but I understand what u mean. Does the egg crate snap onto the plastic tray that slides in an out or do I have to attach it on there myself

Dont have it for your specific filter but this should help clarify some

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Dont have it for your specific filter but this should help clarify some

So I would still use the sponge and carbon bags but instead of putting the bio rock into a plastic string bag I can now just dump it ontop cuz that baffle with the holes will hold it back