Pulled trigger on tank. Now what?

[toy4x4]

Hey all,

Pulled the trigger on a Red Sea Max-S 550. Excited to get a shipping date..

Now I’m trying to plan out what I need to do next. I plan to order live rock from TBS (or other if I find somewhere else I like) and do a mix of about 60% live rock and 40% dry rock.

I also plan to use live sand but have not decided on what kind/color…

Based on reading, the process seems much like my old days with get the sand and rock in the tank with the RO salt water and let it cycle.

Biased on this, I plane to introduce inverts and corals and then fish later on. I am in no hurry and want to do this right. I have enough new stuff I didn’t have in the previous aquarium to learn also. Filter rollers, dosing, ATO, etc. looking forward to this!

 

[ErikVR]

If you're not in a hurry, why use live rock and introduce all sorts of organisms into the new tank? Are there other benifits besides speeding up the cycle? Just curious.

 

[toy4x4]

Just what I have done before and after reading a lot of threads. Yes, the dry rock with some food to cycle.

Would you suggest live sand? Or the method of put just dry rock in only and let it cycle by itself?

 

[aquaman67]

I love setting up new tanks. I’m jealous.

Show us progress pics, ok?

 

[aquaman67]

I love setting up new tanks. I’m jealous.

Show us progress pics, ok

 

[7of9]

I don't think you'll regret springing for the live rock. I did the TBS package once years ago and it was so worth it for all the life I was able to have in my tank. Bad hitchikers were very few and pretty easy to manage. You just can't get that kind of biodiversity from dry rock.

 

[exnisstech]

I think using real live rock is a very good decision but I'm not scared of hitch hikers

 

[exnisstech]

If you're not in a hurry, why use live rock and introduce all sorts of organisms into the new tank? Are there other benifits besides speeding up the cycle? Just curious.

Biodiversity is the biggest plus I believe. My first tank I set up I used all real live rock and pretty much had no ugly stage like I did using dry rock.