New nano reef tank

[Bonsai reef]

Hello everyone,

I just got my 24g nano reef tank (AIO) and started cycling (week 1 of 6) . Dry rocks + live sands, RO/DI water + salt, power head, a 4-stage mechanical filter (8'' sponge, carbon infused media, nitrate+phosphate removing media and bacteria growing media (what it read) and a nano skimmer.

Current situation - wave maker on, filter on, skimmer off, lights off.
Ghost feeding every day at this moment. Will do water test today (day 6)

Questions:
1) Should I keep the filter running from the start of cycle or just the wave maker?
2) Should I use bottled bacteria and ammonia to kick start or old school ghost feeding and wait is better? If old school, will ghost feeding with pallet food suffice?
3) Should I install UV filter? advantage/disadvantage?

Thanks for creating this nice platform for reefers!

 

[glb]

Sounds like a great setup! To answer your questions, I’d run the filter during the cycle. I’d recommend using bottled bacteria and to jumpstart the cycle since you’re starting with dry rock. IMO pure ammonia is easier than ghost feeding because you can determine exactly how much to add so it doesn’t get too higher. Dr. Tim’s One and Only is a good bacteria and if you use ammonia make sure you get the kind without any additives. If it bubbles when you shake it, there’s surfactants in there which you don’t want. I used pure ammonia from Ace Hardware. I think Dr. Tims also has ammonia you can buy.

As far as the UV filter, I’ve never had one. Maybe someone who does can chime in. Good luck and you’ve come to the right place for help!!

 

[NS Mike D]

welcome. Post the question about the UV in the nano forum, as well as pics of your tank and share your progress.

As for UV, while it does kill parasites and certain nuisance bacteria/algae, it also kills the good microfauna. My general rule of thumb is to keep the equipment as simple as possible and only add equipment to address a problem. While a nano does present some challenges (like being too small to add the algae grazers like tangs), water changes are easier and tend to address many concerns.

 

[Bonsai reef]

Thank you for the quick response!

 

[Bonsai reef]

welcome. Post the question about the UV in the nano forum, as well as pics of your tank and share your progress.

As for UV, while it does kill parasites and certain nuisance bacteria/algae, it also kills the good microfauna. My general rule of thumb is to keep the equipment as simple as possible and only add equipment to address a problem. While a nano does present some challenges (like being too small to add the algae grazers like tangs), water changes are easier and tend to address many concerns.

this is how it looks right now..

 

[flchamp89]

Looks great. It will be awesome filled with coral.

 

[HunterW]

I admire your build; I am tearing down an Aqueon 15 column tank next week and making it a s/w nano vs. the f/w that it was. Are you happy with how yours is coming along?

 

[Bonsai reef]

I admire your build; I am tearing down an Aqueon 15 column tank next week and making it a s/w nano vs. the f/w that it was. Are you happy with how yours is coming along?

Thank you and welcome to the s/w world. I am super excited as my tank cycle is finally established after a long 4+ weeks wait. As everyone says take it slow, you are replicating nature as it happens under the ocean. Give it enough time as it needs, do as much research by this time you cycle the tank/ read blogs and forums/ gather as much knowledge as you can during this waiting phase. Plan what you want to do v/s what you can do/ understand the limitations of a nano tank. This is a great forum with awesome members to help you and that can prevent you from making mistakes as a beginner in s/w. I have had f/w tank but s/w is a different world altogether. Good luck!

 

[virtual reality]

I like your Aquarium. Looks like your off to a good start.

 

[Bonsai reef]

I like your Aquarium. Looks like your off to a good start.

Thank you!

 

[LuizW13]

I have a similar setup as yours and used MicroBacter7 to jump start the cycling process- took about 11 days.

By the way, what lights are using? It took me over a year to realize that I couldn't keep corals for over a month because of the Aquamaxx Prism light i was using. Recently upgraded to an AI Hydra.

Also, I too bought phosphate removing media, and never had to use it. In fact, i actually struggle with the water being too "clean".

Oh, and you should definitely get an ATO instead of the UV filter. Before I had an ATO, I was evaporating about 7 cups of water everyday.

 

[Bonsai reef]

I have a similar setup as yours and used MicroBacter7 to jump start the cycling process- took about 11 days.

By the way, what lights are using? It took me over a year to realize that I couldn't keep corals for over a month because of the Aquamaxx Prism light i was using. Recently upgraded to an AI Hydra.

Also, I too bought phosphate removing media, and never had to use it. In fact, i actually struggle with the water being too "clean".

Oh, and you should definitely get an ATO instead of the UV filter. Before I had an ATO, I was evaporating about 7 cups of water everyday.

That sounds great! What was the struggle with too clean water and what is your level of nitrate and phosphate?
I used Dr. Tims from 2nd week onwards and dosed ammonium chloride. I used dry rock and it took about end of 4th week to get nitrite to zero.
I plan to buy AI prime hd soon. Also, I am doing a DIY ATO.

 

[LuizW13]

What was the struggle with too clean water and what is your level of nitrate and phosphate?
I

From what I understand corals need presence of Nitrates and Phosphates in the water to maintain health and grow.

As of two days ago, my Nitrates are 0-5, Phosphates at .o2, and Alkalinity at dkh at ~9.5

 

[HunterW]

Thank you and welcome to the s/w world. I am super excited as my tank cycle is finally established after a long 4+ weeks wait. As everyone says take it slow, you are replicating nature as it happens under the ocean. Give it enough time as it needs, do as much research by this time you cycle the tank/ read blogs and forums/ gather as much knowledge as you can during this waiting phase. Plan what you want to do v/s what you can do/ understand the limitations of a nano tank. This is a great forum with awesome members to help you and that can prevent you from making mistakes as a beginner in s/w. I have had f/w tank but s/w is a different world altogether. Good luck!

I have been in saltwater tank keeping since 1973, ran 2 fish depts & stores, but "everything old becomes new again" including learning "millenium" reef keeping. Great advice for all to remember...especially any nenewbiesYou don't wanna know how many peeps I dealt with that want to quick cycle and NOT listen and kill off everything with a quickness. $$!!
Biggest thing for any newbie is Patience with that capital "P". Thx

 

[Bonsai reef]

I have been in saltwater tank keeping since 1973, ran 2 fish depts & stores, but "everything old becomes new again" including learning "millenium" reef keeping. Great advice for all to remember...especially any nenewbiesYou don't wanna know how many peeps I dealt with that want to quick cycle and NOT listen and kill off everything with a quickness. $$!!
Biggest thing for any newbie is Patience with that capital "P". Thx

That’s awesome![emoji2]

 

[Bonsai reef]

From what I understand corals need presence of Nitrates and Phosphates in the water to maintain health and grow.

As of two days ago, my Nitrates are 0-5, Phosphates at .o2, and Alkalinity at dkh at ~9.5

What do you do for nutrient export other than wc?

 

[HunterW]

Vanity, all is vanity...had to add, I had my very first f/water tank at 11....LOL.

 

[LuizW13]

What do you do for nutrient export other than wc?

I use filter pads that i buy from amazon and cut to fit in the outer chambers of the tank. For the longest time, that was it. Recently, i added an IceCap K1 nano skimmer.

 

[HunterW]

I use filter pads that i buy from amazon and cut to fit in the outer chambers of the tank. For the longest time, that was it. Recently, i added an IceCap K1 nano skimmer.

I just looked it up for myself for my 15 nano

 

[LuizW13]

I just looked it up for myself for my 15 nano

This is my first experience with a skimmer, so, i can't compare it with others- but it seems to work just fine.