New Reefer!

AzReefn · Sep 15, 2017

Hey everyone I am new to the hobby and have a couple questions. I put in reef saver rock, live sand and rodi. I then put in 2 bottles of bio spira but ended up having a leak at the bulkheads which took me 4 days to get fixed (should have leak tested it first). First question: After a week is the bacteria from the bio spira still alive without adding fish or ammonia or will I need to add more?
Second question: Can i add my Tonga shelf (from brs) to my tank now or should I cure it in water/bleach for a week or two and then add it?
Third question: I want to start my tank with easy corals like star polyps, mushrooms, and frog spawn then add fish later. Do I need to dose for the corals and/or do I need to add a deli shrimp to help cycle even though I'm using bio spira?
Sorry my first post is lengthy, but I want to start this off right to try to reduce any problems. [emoji5]
I have a 90g dt with a 30g sump. 40lbs of reef saver and 25lbs Tonga shelf and plate and 40lbs live sand.

sbash · Sep 15, 2017

Welcome!

1. Hard to say, what do the directions tell you to do? Either way, adding an ammonia source and testing for a few days (or until 0) is the responsible way to go before adding livestock...

2. Bleaching rocks is probably not a good idea, I feel like you will never get all the bleach out, and it will kill the tank... Curing rock (around here) means to cycle it outside of the main tank. Put it in a tub with a heater and power head, feed it and wait a few months... I do this will all my rock going into my tanks...

3. For the second part of this question, refer to my answer #1... For dosing, it is hard to say, this depends on the salt you use, the size of the corals, the frequency of your water changes, etc... After you have added LPS or SPS, you will need to regularly test for alkalinity, calcium and magnesium (amongst others) to see if you need dosing. With your water volume, you might be able to get away with just using limewater in your ATO... Test regularly and time will tell

Palyzoa · Sep 15, 2017

I always use the raw shrimp method to cycle my tanks, it's a good constant source of ammonia for the bacteria. During the cycle process test regularly to watch the ammonia rise then fall followed by nitrite rise and fall until you have some detectible nitrates; then you're cycled! If you are going to put corals in the tank with no fish, you will need an ammonia source to keep the cycle going; feeding the corals every now and then should work. I would suggest a clean up crew to keep up on maintenance.

Palyzoa · Sep 15, 2017

And Welcome to R2R!!!!

beaslbob · Sep 15, 2017

Welcome to r2r.

For your consideration, add macro algae is some kind of refugium. that refugium can just be a simple tank partition with some added side lighting.

Macro algae (or even turf or corraline) will consume ammonia first then nitrates when ammonia is no longer available. Which makes the system error forgiving.

But that's just me and my .02

Salty1962 · Sep 15, 2017

Welcome to R2R!

AzReefn · Sep 15, 2017

Thanks for the info! Ok so I'll cycle using the shrimp but I don't get my test kit til Monday. Would it be ok to put the shrimp in now and start testing Monday or should I wait til my test kit arrives?
Also can you guys tell what's on my Tonga shelf (see pic)...is it coralline algea? I got it from brs. Would it die off when I cure it?

Crabs McJones · Sep 15, 2017

Welcome to R2R!

AzReefn · Sep 15, 2017

beaslbob said:
Welcome to r2r.

For your consideration, add macro algae is some kind of refugium. that refugium can just be a simple tank partition with some added side lighting.

Macro algae (or even turf or corraline) will consume ammonia first then nitrates when ammonia is no longer available. Which makes the system error forgiving.

But that's just me and my .02

I do plan on having a refugium. My sump is 3 compartments. Skimmer/fuge/return pump. I need to find algae for fuge and get a light for sump.