Got it running! Now what?

lm

lm

Member
I have a 75 gallon AGA, Twin flow overflow kit,Mag Drive 5,Sea Clone protein skimmer(100 gallon),Wet Dry sump with bio-balls and a refuguim.250 watt heater,76# of cured live rock,3" Southdown sand base,2 Maxi jet (1200) powerheads and 440 watts vho lighting.
I also have a chocolate chip, a handful of snails and a brittle star (from my curing tank for the live rock). I got this running today and am planning on running the lights 4 hoursa day.
The sand is pure white and the rock has green and purple coraline algea growing. Whats next? When do I light the refuguim and get something to put in it (already has live rock and a dsb), When do I get a clean up crew because I know a diatom bloom will come. And how much and when should I increase my lighting? This will be a reef tank eventually. What about the first fish also? TIA :confused: :)
 
E

elan

Guest
wow... nice setup..
i would slow down a bit though...
are you still cycling? or are you finished?
and you have a curing tank? or is this your curing tank? that one confused me...
 
cboyfan2020

cboyfan2020

Active Member
I agree. If you are still cycling the 2 stars may perish. I wouldnt add anything until cycle is complete. Dead shrimp for store or the LR will start the cycle. As far as the fuge, they need to cycle just like the tank so again wait till the tank is done cycling before adding anyhting.
Fish: no angels until it is established(5-6months). I would add maybe a yellow tang or some blennys or gobies. Fish will depend on whether or not you want a reef which it sounds like you do from your setup. I suggest looking at a lot of different fish and then read up and ask questions. This will save you money and heartache. Good luck.
 
lm

lm

Member
Yes, I have a curing tank and have been curing for a month now. Just moved all the rock and critters in the main tank because everything is reading zero. Now what should I do? Will this create a cycle in the main tank now and what about the time the lights should be on?
 
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elan

Guest
you should sit tight for the next week or two weeks. Let your rock settle in one more time...'(I know you cured it, but it has to get used to your main tank now)
As far as lighting, the less you use it, the less of an algae bloom you will have, but, reguarding your diatom issue and other algae blooms:
You may want to get a more experienced opinion, but IMO:
I would run the lights as if you had corals in the tank. Let the algae bloom to its hearts content. eventually, it will subside, and at that point, you can start adding more of your cleanup crew...
I would not add too much cleaning crew to control your algae bloom. Alot of the bloom will die off itself, and it will then leave a large cleaning crew to starve themselves.
Once your bloom subsides, (probably another few weeks but nobody knows for sure) you will then have a newly established tank which will be ready for additions, but again, very slowly. I added one inch of fish per 30 gallons of water every week for about a month. I ended up with about one inch of fish per 5-7 gallons and i think i am about maxed out, if not over maxed. (base your inches on full grown fish rather than the babies you get at the store)
as far as the CC star, i have heard they may destroy some of the reef if you are planning on doing a reef tank. best to find him now.
 
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