New aquarium setup

[Tony888]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the hobby and need some recommendations. I bought a 34 gal Red Sea reefer tank with the following accessories:

• ESHOPPS S-200 skimmer
• DCT 4000 return pump
• Vortech MP 40 wave maker
• Red Sea Hydra 26" HD LED
• Aqueon 250 heater
• Live rock
• Live sank

How long should I cycle the tank for?

 

[GoVols]

Hello, Tony

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef and hope you feel at home!!

Do you understand how to cycle an tank with an ammonia source, and test kits?
Is the live rock already cured?

Freddie

 

[Tony888]

Hi Freddy,

The live rocks are already cured but I still need to add the micro-lift solution that will nitrofy bacteria. My next steps are to get a test kit to measure the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate.

 

[GoVols]

Hi Freddy,

The live rocks are already cured but I still need to add the micro-lift solution that will nitrofy bacteria. My next steps are to get a test kit to measure the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate.

That's a good plan and you might get an quick ammonium spike (die off) from transporting the cured live rock.

Take it slow, but if you want a pair of small clowns, they could take an spike and they would keep cycle going for you.

I would not worry about phosphates at this time, but I like the Salifert kit for testing nitrates.

 

[Tony888]

Thanks for your recommendation. I'll post pictures after I complete my setup.

 

[GoVols]

Thanks for your recommendation. I'll post pictures after I complete my setup.

Your Welcome!!

You could start an build thread on here too

 

[PatW]

A tank will cycle if it has rock and added ammonia either from a product made for aquarium cycling or just some added food. The right bacteria will get in some how. You can add bacteria in packaged solutions for cycling. Some work pretty well and some not so much.

If you really have live rock, ammonia should go from ammonia should convert to nitrites and then to nitrates pretty fast. And there a times when the live rock is not so much.

Cycling can be just a few days with lots of cultured bacteria and or live rock to longer than a month.

As for tests: API is sort of approximate. For many people the ammonia test never reads zero. It reads a little ammonia even when it is zero. Many people prefer the Salifert and Red Sea tests.

 

[GoVols]

API is sort of approximate. For many people the ammonia test never reads zero. It reads a little ammonia even when it is zero. Many people prefer the Salifert and Red Sea tests.

Agreed!!

I've seen a lot of reefer's use the API and the ammonia keeps reading at 2o and it's really zero.

Thanks for bringing that up

 

[Tony888]

I turned on my skimmer on Day 1 and it's forming too much foam. Is this normal? It could be that the sand and rock have a lot of debris right?

 

[Duffer]

Skimmer will take anywhere from one week to three weeks to break in, so that is normal. Just make sure your water level is right.

 

[Tony888]

Hi Duffer,

Should I just let the skimmer form foam and overflow into the sump until the skimmer breaks in?

 

[Duffer]

I did, with no problem. there is lots of info out there to help you. Make sure you don’t let water in the skimmer, meaning make sure the outlet valve is not letting too much water out. that’s how I found out...once it breaks in you can let more water in the skimmer.


It also help by me raising the skimmer to about 7” ...

 

[Tony888]

Thanks again for the tips.