just beginning

[chrisberg]

I have a freind that has had a slatwater tank for years. I pretty much learned off him.
I just bought a 72 gallon bow-front, a 150 gallon pump and sump filtration with a skimmer.
My ?'s for you guys is what is an RO unit and what type of additives should I use to cycle a fowlr (fish only w/ liverock) tank I plan on cycleing for two weeks then adding 90lbs of live rock and continue to cycle for three weeks with two water changes do I have the right idea......any advice would help

 

[jakebtc]

if there is no life in the tank I'd cycle it with the rock

 

[chrisberg]

does cured rock need starter fish or an established tank

 

[jakebtc]

nope it will help cycle your tank quicker and make it ready for life

 

[chrisberg]

so the lfs was feeding me a bunch of lies

 

[jakebtc]

now if it has corals and things on it thats a different story

 

[jdecter]

I started with damsels and my ammonia started fine but my nitrite wouldn't budge, so I was recommended by a friend to use a product called Cycle. It fast fowards production on nitrite bacteria and it did the trick my nitrate went from 160 to 20 in 3 days and my nitrate (which was stuck at 5.0 for 3 weeks) went back down to .25
If your ph is low check your salt levels they should be near 1.025 and the salt product also includes minerals salt levels and ph.
Time is also what i found you can't adjust, don't believe the "quick cycle gimmicks" they dont work, and they may mimic a cycled tank but once they start to adjust they can destroy your water buffer, and nothing but time grows a healthy biofilter.

 

[reefrobert]

I started my 20 gal cycle with live rock. Got 20 lbs from saltwaterfish.com, then waited one week and got 12 more lbs. in my third week of cycling and I am happy with everything

It took two days to get it, this caused die off and started the cycle.

 

[rusting]

RO/DI is a filter system. You want to use RO water for your tank, If you don't you will have troble down the road with hair algae.

 

[chrisberg]

Do I need to replace my exsisting filtration system

 

[phixer]

Hi Chris
For a beginner a live rock/ protein skimmer filtration system is recommended. Skim and heat the water from the sump, I prefer a sump pump others prefer an outside magnetic drive pump, really up to you. Trickle filters(wet dry) tend to raise nitrate levels, I dont care for them. Go slowly and dont forget to stock with a few good tank cleaners ie arrow crab, cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs. Purchase a few good books also. Lots mentioned on this forum.