Hello and some Advice would be great!

[jdecter]

Hello everyone I new here and just loved all the helpful posts I've been reading around here.
Here is my new hobby:
80 Gallon Glass tank, with two 50 Gallon Aquaclear filters, one 100 gallon venturi protien filter, a 80 gallon rio powerhead.
I also added 60 pounds of live sand, 35 pounds of crushed coral, and about 80 pounds of limestone rocks with plently of holes and spaces to hide throughout.
I also added two 24 inch air stone sticks that I've hidden below an inch of the crushed coral on the back side of the tank, for effect and to increase the oxygenation.
I set this up about 3 weeks ago and added 9 damsels about 2 weeks ago.
Now that I've introduced my project heres where I add the questions to you, the professionals.
1. Heres my current test results as of yesterday:
7.8 PH
0 ppm Ammonia
5.0 ppm Nitrite
160 ppm Nitrate
1.021 SG
77 Degrees F
Taken around 1pm PST
Using the Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, inc.
Now the question is a few parts:
- How can I increase my PH to 8.2? I've read doing it chemically is a chain reaction to destroying my water buffer.
- Why is my Nitrite staying at 5.0 ppm while my Ammonia quickly worked its way to 0ppm as the biofilter kicked in?
- With my Nitrate so high now (160) and growing, should I do at least a partial water change before the nitrite finishes hitting 0ppm naturally or will that prolong the cycle process?
Question 2:
I have a laundry list of fish I plan to buy and would like to know thoughts on them, will the be compatible, is there something I'm missing and do you think I have enough room, or even extra room to add more fish in this 80 gallon setup?
Heres the list of fish:
- Calliostoma Annatum/Jeweled Top Snail
- Amphprion Percula/Clown Fish (with some extra black on it)
- Centrophyge Bispinosus/Coral Angle
- Neocirrhites Armatus/Scarlet Hawkfish
- Paracanthuus Hepatus/Regal Tang
- Pterois Volitans/Lionfish
- Pagurus Sp./Hermit Crab
I also have a few others that I saw at my local aquarium shop that I'd be interested in adding depending on room available:
- Clown Tang
- Copper Band Butterfly
- Redpearl Scale Butterfly
- Milkyway Cardinal
- Pink Tip Anenome/Haitian Anemone
- Six Line Wrasse
Any feedback on all this would be much appreciated and I look foward to getting to know the community here.

 

[theweirdo]

Heres the list of fish:
- Calliostoma Annatum/Jeweled Top Snail
- Amphprion Percula/Clown Fish (with some extra black on it)
- Centrophyge Bispinosus/Coral Angle
- Neocirrhites Armatus/Scarlet Hawkfish
- Paracanthuus Hepatus/Regal Tang
- Pterois Volitans/Lionfish
- Pagurus Sp./Hermit Crab
I also have a few others that I saw at my local aquarium shop that I'd be interested in adding depending on room available:
- Clown Tang
- Copper Band Butterfly
- Redpearl Scale Butterfly
- Milkyway Cardinal
- Pink Tip Anenome/Haitian Anemone
- Six Line Wrasse
You can't put a Regal Tang or Clown Tang in that tank, for those types of Tang, you'd need a tank of at least 125 gallons. As for the two butterflyfish, you could keep them in there, but they are very hard to keep alive, especially the CopperBand Butterflyfish. Other than that, I don't see any problems.

 

[oreo12]

sounds like you have some problems others will be here shortly to tell you about those. I would in no way get a lion fish if you do kiss the damsals good buy they will be food. The best advise I can give you is slow way down take a deep breath. Do tons of research on here there is much you need to learn. But welcome to the site.

 

[jdecter]

I guess I should of added I already plan to take the damsels back once the tank is fully cycled.
I had never heard of cycling without damsels until after I started.
Keep the advice coming as I do want to know everything I can before buying anything else.
I also should state I plan to start with no more than 3 fish every few weeks to make sure they don't get to stressed out.
Maybe a recommendations of which fish to buy first and second and so on, probably the less territorial ones first so the future additions wouldn't be unwelcomed.

 

[oreo12]

I never add more than 1 fish at a time

 

[jdecter]

Ok so if I add one fish at a time, how soon before I should add another and which ones should I add in what order to prevent as much territorial disputing as possible?
Also I did add more salt and turned down my heat a tad and turned up my air in my protien skimmer, which is now bubbling brown bubbles quit well.
So at lunch time today I'll give everyone here a new read out of my system and see how its progressing with all the suggestions I picked up here.
I still wanted to hear about peoples opinion on fixing the PH, changing water mid cycle, and anemone's without MH as I mentioned in my original post above.

 

[pfitz44]

Welcome to the boards!!!
Adding more than 1 fish at a time is not a good idea. To prevent territory disputes, add the most aggressive fish last. That way the other fish will have marked territory, and there will be no problem.
With the pH, at the end of your cycle, it should end up being fine. However, your calcium and alkilinity readings are key as well. Do you have those?? They act as buffers for the pH, causing it to stay at 8.2-8.3
Water changes mid cycle are not a good thing IMO. Just wait, and ride it out. It looks like you are winding down as it is anyways.
Anenomies are highly photosyntetic creatures. They need high powered lighting. One of my friends kept his under N.O lighting, but he has about 8 bulbs (4 10K and 4 03 Actinic sp). So is it possible?? Yes... BUT MH are the best lights, and you will not have to worry about enough lighting getting to the anenomie