New SW Reef Tank setup help....

[gfiddy]

Hey guys,

I recently setup a 60gal SW reef tank. Tank currently consists of around 40lb of live rock, live sank, 2 power heads, canister filter, LED light and heater. Ive filled tank with RODI water and added salt to within the hydrometer measurements and have been adding PurpleUp coralline algae accelerator each day to help with the cycling process. So far Ive been doing this for about a week now, I have not turned the light or heater on at all as there are no inhabitants as of yet but have had my power heads/canister filter running 24/7. I just have a few questions if anyone is able to guide me it would be greatly appreciated....
1. is it ok not have light/heater on while cycling?
2. do i need to add some fish food to help with the cycle to create ammonia/nitrite/nitrate etc....??
3. what should be my next step?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Graham.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!!

The lights are not necessary at this point, I would kick the heater on. Put some fish food in to give the bacteria something to eat. Test regularly to see when your cycles completed.

 

[cmcoker]

I would go ahead and turn on the heater, you will probably habe to play with it to get the temp were you want it. Better to do now than right before you add livestock.

Test first, add fish food food if no ammonia, and then test daily until you see some. depending on how live your rock is you may not see an ammonia spike, that's ok too. But you want to test, feed, see no ammonia spike a couple times before you add livestock. Then go slowly on additions.

 

[djwasimani]

You need to turn on the heater

 

[gfiddy]

Thank you for the responses. So I have the heater on and set to around 76f, still adding corraline algae accelerator everyday, what else can i add to tank to help with cycling process at the moment?? as i said Im in the 2nd week now of cycling the water/rock. Also is there a water test kit you guys would recommend??? seems as though theres a million and one out there. Thanks in advance.

 

[XNavyDiver]

Hey guys,

I recently setup a 60gal SW reef tank. Tank currently consists of around 40lb of live rock, live sank, 2 power heads, canister filter, LED light and heater. Ive filled tank with RODI water and added salt to within the hydrometer measurements and have been adding PurpleUp coralline algae accelerator each day to help with the cycling process. So far Ive been doing this for about a week now, I have not turned the light or heater on at all as there are no inhabitants as of yet but have had my power heads/canister filter running 24/7. I just have a few questions if anyone is able to guide me it would be greatly appreciated....
1. is it ok not have light/heater on while cycling?
2. do i need to add some fish food to help with the cycle to create ammonia/nitrite/nitrate etc....??
3. what should be my next step?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Graham.

1. yes.
2. I would add a pure source of ammonia.
3. Test. Monitor.

Save your $ and forget the purple up stuff. Your CUC will spread it around naturally if they have a bit on their shells. So, if you have the ability to pick out snails and crabs at your lfs, pick ones with coralline on their shells.