New Reefer from NC

[bdouglas119]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working in starting up my first reef tank for the last couple months and everything is finally up and running.

I built a custom stand/canopy/bookcase for the 75g display tank.

The equipment is as follows:

• 75 gallon Marine Land reef ready tank
• Trigger systems sapphire 34 sump
• Red Sea RSK-300 skimmer
• Finnex heater controlled by an Ink Bird temperature controller
• EcoTech Vectra S2 return pump
• 2 skimmz SS9.0 power heads
• 2 AI Hydra 26 HD’s
• A AI Prime Fuge light for the fuge
• I added a brightwell bio brick to the fuge as well
• Carib Sea life rock
• Carib Sea Special Grade live sand

I’ve got the full collection of Red Sea supplements and Red Sea Coral pro salt.

So far everything is going really well, parameters are nice and stable . The tank has had live stock for about a week. 2 clowns and a small clean up crew consisting of 2 shrimp, 3 emerald crabs and 5 trochus snails. Prior to that I completed the cycle using the Red Sea reef mature program. It took longer then instructed but I did it with the lights off to prevent unwanted algae.

The only issue I’ve had is getting the nitrate level down. It’s constantly about 20ppm. I’ve done 2 20% water changes and it hasn’t moved. Currently my fuge lighting is opposite of the display. I have not had any algae growth but I’d like to bring it down to 1-2ppm to be safe. Any tips for a first timer?

 

[Silver14SS]

I really like the stand with the shelves and canopy. Where in NC do you live? There’s a few of us in the Charlotte area.

 

[Auquanut]

Wow! Just Woww!! That is a beautiful tank, and I really like your aquascape. Do you intend to add macro algae to your fuge? 20 ppm nitrate isn't bad, but if you want to bring it down, I suggest utilizing the fuge. What is your PO4 running? Oh, and welcome to R2R! Glad to have you with us.

 

[bdouglas119]

I really like the stand with the shelves and canopy. Where in NC do you live? There’s a few of us in the Charlotte area.

Thank you, I’m just outside Raleigh

 

[bdouglas119]

Wow! Just Woww!! That is a beautiful tank, and I really like your aquascape. Do you intend to add macro algae to your fuge? 20 ppm nitrate isn't bad, but if you want to bring it down, I suggest utilizing the fuge. What is your PO4 running? Oh, and welcome to R2R! Glad to have you with us.

Yea there is some cheato in there now.

So far 0 PO4. I’ve read about some people dosing PO4 to get nitrate down

 

[PRock]

Welcome to R2R! Nice looking setup too! As for your NO3 levels, what's your PO4 at? I see NOPOX in your stand, I assume you're dosing that? If your PO4 levels are too low or nonexistent things won't be able to use the NO3, but honestly I wouldn't stress too much, you have a very new tank (like me!) and 20ppm isn't horrible.

 

[bdouglas119]

Welcome to R2R! Nice looking setup too! As for your NO3 levels, what's your PO4 at? I see NOPOX in your stand, I assume you're dosing that? If your PO4 levels are too low or nonexistent things won't be able to use the NO3, but honestly I wouldn't stress too much, you have a very new tank (like me!) and 20ppm isn't horrible.

PO4 is at 0. I dosed NOPOX during the cycle as instructed by the Red Sea program. I haven’t started dosing it again.

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!! You have a gorgeous tank – we’re glad you’re here!

 

[Auquanut]

So far 0 PO4. I’ve read about some people dosing PO4 to get nitrate down

I personally would let it go. Keep up with your water changes and see how well your chaeto grows. It's going to take a while for your tank to stabilize.

 

[JustinSmi86]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working in starting up my first reef tank for the last couple months and everything is finally up and running.

I built a custom stand/canopy/bookcase for the 75g display tank.

The equipment is as follows:

• 75 gallon Marine Land reef ready tank
• Trigger systems sapphire 34 sump
• Red Sea RSK-300 skimmer
• Finnex heater controlled by an Ink Bird temperature controller
• EcoTech Vectra S2 return pump
• 2 skimmz SS9.0 power heads
• 2 AI Hydra 26 HD’s
• A AI Prime Fuge light for the fuge
• I added a brightwell bio brick to the fuge as well
• Carib Sea life rock
• Carib Sea Special Grade live sand

I’ve got the full collection of Red Sea supplements and Red Sea Coral pro salt.

So far everything is going really well, parameters are nice and stable . The tank has had live stock for about a week. 2 clowns and a small clean up crew consisting of 2 shrimp, 3 emerald crabs and 5 trochus snails. Prior to that I completed the cycle using the Red Sea reef mature program. It took longer then instructed but I did it with the lights off to prevent unwanted algae.

The only issue I’ve had is getting the nitrate level down. It’s constantly about 20ppm. I’ve done 2 20% water changes and it hasn’t moved. Currently my fuge lighting is opposite of the display. I have not had any algae growth but I’d like to bring it down to 1-2ppm to be safe. Any tips for a first timer?

Welcome! From NC as well. Love that stand.

 

[Emarley]

Welcome to R2R!!! Love your tank

 

[bdouglas119]

Added my first Coral today. 4 heads of green tip hammer Coral . It’s only been in the tank for a couple hours and it’s already starting to open up.