Newbie

[reefermadness21]

Hello, I am starting a reef tank after a ten year lapse. Everything is so different, I have a 21 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump. I just added my bacteria yesterday, today nitrates are 15 ppm. I have mostly dry rock, but I bought a chunk of live rock from LRS. Even though I have a freshwater tank I am nervous about the cycle with salt water. I have copepods and chaeto coming next week.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello, I am starting a reef tank after a ten year lapse. Everything is so different, I have a 21 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump. I just added my bacteria yesterday, today nitrates are 15 ppm. I have mostly dry rock, but I bought a chunk of live rock from LRS. Even though I have a freshwater tank I am nervous about the cycle with salt water. I have copepods and chaeto coming next week.

Welcome back to hobby!

Don't be nervous about cycle. That hasn't changed while you were away. Its still just bacteria changing ammonia > nitrite > nitrate. See, it improved because you got to add bacteria via a bottle, though your bottle should mention something about adding ammonia to keep 'feeding' cycle until you've got something alive in there being fed and creating waste... you could add a bit of dead shrimp... you could pee in tank a bit... LOL (but seriously)

This is a good reference book type article:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Welcome, seems like your off to a good start!