Newb in the House!

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slays

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Hi Guys
I'm another newb to join this forum & community & to be fair Reef keeping.... I'm just installed a second-hand Aqua One Aquareef 195 & have filled it with 20lb of grade A Indonesian live rock & a mix of Caribsea Arag-alive live sand! I'm currently now at the point of considering introducing some critters - I would be very grateful if anyone had any advise at this point, no matter how basic it seems to you guys it might save me making some huge mistakes, Any feedback my appreciated
 
AS
Welcome to R2R! Keep it slow cause we all know beauty takes patience
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
The one greatest piece of advice I wish I would of received when beginning the hobby. Do your research on the types of fish you want in the system and make sure you introduce them in the right order. Some fish are aggressive, say example my sixline wrasse, I put him in the tank early and now for the love of me I can not put any more wrasses in the tank because he just chases them untill the hide and die. So make a list and compatability list and introduce them accordingly before you make a mistake you regret and can't get them out.
 
Hello!

I know your excited as I was first starting :) I would also add some sort of bacteria although you already have the live sand. It definitely helps to speed up the cycle process. Brightwell makes one called microbacter7. Dr. Tim's has one and seachem as well. Most will say use a small piece of seafood like a piece of shrimp or squid so as not to put fish through the stress of cycling. I actually used to use my percula clown that has helped me cycle my past 5 tanks over the past 7 years!

So in combination with the live sand and bacterial supplement, just add a piece of seafood and keep testing the water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrates until undectable and then your ready for the live stock. Or you can use a damsel fish to help with your cycling (now the less preferred method).

Just remember to keep it slow and let the tank cycle and enjoy the hobby!!!

Happy reefing!
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
ronhaskovec said:
The one greatest piece of advice I wish I would of received when beginning the hobby. Do your research on the types of fish you want in the system and make sure you introduce them in the right order. Some fish are aggressive, say example my sixline wrasse, I put him in the tank early and now for the love of me I can not put any more wrasses in the tank because he just chases them untill the hide and die. So make a list and compatability list and introduce them accordingly before you make a mistake you regret and can't get them out.
Click to expand...

ronhaskovec said:
Oh and welcome to R2R!
Click to expand...

Cheers
I'm not even thinking fish yet I'm really at the point of making the system stable checking levels & maybe add some small clean-up crews...
Any advise there?
 
Davesgt said:
Welcome to R2R! Keep it slow cause we all know beauty takes patience
Click to expand...

Thanks
And go slowly is clearly the best advise I will get :)

However more detail: I have an Aqua One 220 skimmer, 195 litres tank with sump, x2 200 watts heaters Bio balls (Although I'm researching the option of doing away with these & adding a second skimmer combined with poly filters) I've have a 26 degree stable temp & water is correct salinity when introduced as purchased not mixed... The sand base is approx. 30-40mm 1- 1.1/2(40lbs in total, 18kilo's) I have ordered 10lb more sand because the mix in my opinion is slightly too large so I will add the finer sand to take total to 50lbs just under two inches deep. I do want to go slow & do not intend to try & add fish for several weeks but would like to get some critters in there, maybe a mix of hermits & snails?

thanks
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Thanks for welcome....

I will look into microbacter7

my system seems to have an algae plume already, its been two weeks since I started to circulate with live rock & almost everything has been covered with a golden light brown coloured film, rock glass power heads etc. etc. this is normal right?
 
It sounds like its moving along nicely! It normally happens towards the end of the cycle. Using live sand, live rock, and bacterial supplement, it takes me about 3 weeks to cycle. I would wait another week and then test again. If everything is normal, you can try a couple hermits and snails. I love red and blue leg hermits, ceriths snails, and astrea snails as my base clean up crew. I start with at least 5-10 hermits per 10 gallons depending on size and 5 snails per 10 gallons then I add more as needed. They will get that tank cleaned up nicely :)

I use Microbacter7 and Seachem stability. You should turn off the skimmer when you dose these.

Happy reefing!
slays said:
Thanks for welcome....

I will look into microbacter7

my system seems to have an algae plume already, its been two weeks since I started to circulate with live rock & almost everything has been covered with a golden light brown coloured film, rock glass power heads etc. etc. this is normal right?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Welcome to R2R!! We need pics!! :)
 
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uploadfromtaptalk1396107196356.jpg
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Dinkin's Aquatic Gardens

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