New tank - cycle nearly finished, lots of ???

drino · Oct 12, 2018

Hi folks,

I’m a newbie to saltwater. We’ve been cycling 3 weeks now and are so close to finished. You guys are amazing and I know you can save me from a mistake here.

Tank info: 75G DT, 20G sump/refugium, 70lb BRS reefsaver dry rock plus rubble and marine pure 8x8 in sump, 60lb aragonite dry sand, RO/DI water, Instant Ocean sea salt, pH about 8.2-8.39, temp 79 avg, and salinity 1.024- 1.026, fishless cycle with Dr Tim’s ammonia, added bio-spira at beginning of cycle, bubble margus curve 5 skimmer, lights off during cycle, sump and wave pumps running the whole time, skimmer most of the time and pulling some wet brown skimmate now. Neptune Apex EL and ATK. Loop LED lights and wave pumps. Ammonia and nitrites now 0 after dosing to 2ppm the day before. Stalled in the cycle for about a week with no drop in nitrites. Ammonia and nitrites read 0 this am (API test) after dosing to 2ppm yesterday. Dosed ammonia to 2ppm this am, will see what levels are tomorrow and if 0, dose again (Sat am) then Sunday do a massive water change and wait another week or two before adding 2 small ocellaris clowns. At least, that’s the plan.

My questions:

1. My nitrates have been HIGH. Like over 80 ppm at week 1. Do they have to be <5 ppm to consider the tank ‘cycled’? Or, if after massive WC they’re around this amount we’re ok? Will they ever hit 0 on their own? I haven’t tested them for a week or so. It scared me. I’d think high nitrates are expected after a cycle, just do a massive WC and add Macroalgae to sump? How do I get nitrates down? Will chaeto starve if we add it now before fish? Why is the sky blue?

2. The tank looks pristine! No algae, nothing! Just sparkling water and white substrate! It looks like a hospital ward! If water parameters are good (and stable) after a cycle it’ll sustain fish, right? I can’t see a CUC surviving in here! There’s next to nothing to eat! With lights off, skimmer on, and RO/DI water, not having an algae outbreak is ok? Or do I turn lights on now and wait to see what happens? Makes sense I’d do this before introducing fish (on for 4 hours yesterday, 6 today). Should I ramp lights up now that the cycle seems close to finishing? Rather experience algae now than when we have lil lives in the tank. What do I do?

3. We’re thinking 2 clowns to begin, after water levels are stable at least 2 weeks. Then in a month maybe one small frag of mushroom or leather coral. Is this a safe plan? Dosing for coral so soon isn’t something I want to do. No calcium reactor, Kalk water or dosing pumps yet. Thinking beginner coral that is forgiving and just needs regular WC to resupply nutrients is my go-to until I get some experience here. Thinking I need to change salt to IO reef crystals? When? Now? Just before we do corals? Ugh.

Good plans or bad? What’s your advice? I’m full of self doubt and second-guessing everything! Pic of pristine tank that appears unable to support life. It’s like the wet surface of the moon! Yikes. What’s your advice?

Thanks!

hdsoftail1065 · Oct 12, 2018

Scape looks magnificent! I'll let the other folks chime in on your other questions. I let mine cycle for 2 months with shrimp and dr. Tims. Had my lights off for 2 weeks and skimmer off. The algea bloom hit when it was time for light on. I'm still not running my skimmer....yet. Just introduced 2 clowns yesterday. Again, your tank is beautiful!

drino · Oct 12, 2018

hdsoftail1065 said:
Scape looks magnificent! I'll let the other folks chime in on your other questions. I let mine cycle for 2 months with shrimp and dr. Tims. Had my lights off for 2 weeks and skimmer off. The algea bloom hit when it was time for light on. I'm still not running my skimmer....yet. Just introduced 2 clowns yesterday. Again, your tank is beautiful!

Thanks! My hubby did the plumbing and scape. He’s a keeper! LOL I love that it’s so clean, but I worry it can’t support life for a while! So maybe with lights ramped up I should expect algae now. Rather have the uglies now than later I guess! Thanks for responding!

hdsoftail1065 · Oct 12, 2018

drino said:
Thanks! My hubby did the plumbing and scape. He’s a keeper! LOL I love that it’s so clean, but I worry it can’t support life for a while!

You should see your diatoms when you kick those lights on.

JumboShrimp · Oct 12, 2018

Bring on the new-tank-uglies... it's merely a bump on the road to success...

drino · Oct 12, 2018

Makes sense, thank you! So we should put the lights on a regular cycle now and wait some more?

Firemanreefkeeper · Oct 12, 2018

You won't need a calcium reactor now. You probably don't need to worry about alkalinity for a while either. Ive had SPS in my tank for 9 months and I just started a 2ml per hour alk drip to keep it steady. I currently add about 10ml calcium per day by hand for the moment. If your going with soft or leather, you can do water changes and should be fine

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 12, 2018

The nitrates are from the ammoina your using.
A big water change (and maybe another a week later ) after tha ammoia hits zero is pretty standard practice.

Don’t sweat the nitrates though. Most of the coral you want are the hardy type. So they love no3.

Io is just fine. And cheap. Lol.

Some chato could help you though the ugly phase yes.

falconut · Oct 12, 2018

Tank is looking great.

If I'm reading you correctly, you're adding ammonia daily & both your ammonia & nitrite is 0, while your nitrates are climbing. Sounds like your cycle is working & probably ready for a couple fish after a few water changes to lower the nitrates.

As far as high nitrates, they are the end result of the cycle. Without macro algae or another form of export, you'll need to do water changes to lower your nitrates. Hope this helps.

drino · Oct 12, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
The nitrates are from the ammoina your using.
A big water change (and maybe another a week later ) after tha ammoia hits zero is pretty standard practice.

Don’t sweat the nitrates though. Most of the coral you want are the hardy type. So they love no3.

Io is just fine. And cheap. Lol.

Some chato could help you though the ugly phase yes.

Awesome, thank you! Sounds like we’re on the right path. Appreciate the advice. Will get the lights cycled up and source some chaeto. Love the easy no3 loving coral.

After 3 weeks of growing rocks in the dark I almost want to see some life in there, even if it’s ugly. At least I can see something other than cool ripples on the substrate.

drino · Oct 12, 2018

falconut said:
Tank is looking great.

If I'm reading you correctly, you're adding ammonia daily & both your ammonia & nitrite is 0, while your nitrates are climbing. Sounds like your cycle is working & probably ready for a couple fish after a few water changes to lower the nitrates.

As far as high nitrates, they are the end result of the cycle. Without macro algae or another form of export, you'll need to do water changes to lower your nitrates. Hope this helps.

Thank you for the advice! Sounds like we’re on the right track. Big ole WC this weekend, and source some chaeto. It’ll be nice to have something in the refugium other than marine pure blocks and rock rubble. I have a light ready to go!

hdsoftail1065 · Oct 12, 2018

drino said:
Thank you for the advice! Sounds like we’re on the right track. Big ole WC this weekend, and source some chaeto. It’ll be nice to have something in the refugium other than marine pure blocks and rock rubble. I have a light ready to go!

So...are the lights on yet? I'm ready to see that puppy up and going!

JumboShrimp · Oct 12, 2018

You mentioned a leather coral. See whether your LSF can get you a nice red cabbage leather (and add that splash of red to your tank). Should be a hardy beginner item.

jabberwock · Oct 12, 2018

Looks like you are doing great. I am no expert, but I would reccomend NOT adding clowns first. They can be pretty aggressive. By adding less aggressive fish first, you give them a leg (or fin) up in establishing a territory and hiding places before more aggressive fish claim the whole tank. Look at your entire stocking plan, and add least aggressive fish first (in stages of course).

drino · Oct 13, 2018

JumboShrimp said:
You mentioned a leather coral. See whether your LSF can get you a nice red cabbage leather (and add that splash of red to your tank). Should be a hardy beginner item.

Oh red is my fav color, great suggestion! We’re going to visit a LFS today to start building our wish list. I’ll ask about it.

drino · Oct 13, 2018

jabberwock said:
Looks like you are doing great. I am no expert, but I would reccomend NOT adding clowns first. They can be pretty aggressive. By adding less aggressive fish first, you give them a leg (or fin) up in establishing a territory and hiding places before more aggressive fish claim the whole tank. Look at your entire stocking plan, and add least aggressive fish first (in stages of course).

Great suggestion. I’ll post our stocking list to the forum this week and get feedback on the types and order to stock. I’d heard they can be a bit bitey when cleaning the tank. Definitely want pretty peaceful fish.

jabberwock · Oct 13, 2018

drino said:
Great suggestion. I’ll post our stocking list to the forum this week and get feedback on the types and order to stock. I’d heard they can be a bit bitey when cleaning the tank. Definitely want pretty peaceful fish.

Have you seen the live aquaria site? They have a great filter function of their offerings. Input your tank size and desired care and aggression levels, and it filters down to what they suggest. Their suggestions seem very spot on compared to what other members on here have advised. It is a great way to create and tweak your stocking plan. Fish are individuals however, and your mileage may vary. For example, my Royal Gramma is, well, a jerk. You have a nice big tank. Elbow room is a big factor in managing aggression. I would also be wary of what the LFS tells you. Sometimes the sale is more important to them than your success. I like to go to the LFS without my wallet and talk to them a lot, then come home and do research without making a purchase on that particular day. One more thought, a stocking plan is a great idea, but don't be afraid to alter it as you progress. Mine changed several times.

My 32 gallon biocube is 140 days old, and it has been tons of fun (with some heart ache and algae and ich and cyano mixed in...)!

Bayareareefer18 · Oct 13, 2018

Looks great. Good luck.

We are running a similar setup. Finished up my 75G build in March. Running the ic pro lights and eflux wave pumps as well.

Tank is all LPS and the lights are working out well. I did add an Orphek UV bar for some more pop though.

I started with two very tiny clowns, a gold nugget and a lightning. They don't bother me or any of her fish even being maroons. The gold nugget definitely hates my flipper though.