My 15H reef tank is started..

groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
15h tank--20lbs sand--18lbs LR--CPR Bakpak skimmer--Penguin Bio wheel 150--2 Micro Jet 117gph powerheads
Right now I have a 96 watt Coralife PC, but I'm replacing that with a Sunpod 70W HQI with moonlights.
I am curious about cycling the tank. I don't want to put a fish in that I have to try to get back out later. Will the rock cycle the tank for me?
When the tank is cycled, should I add the clean up crew then or wait till after I add corals and fish?
 
rabbit_72

rabbit_72

Member
yep, the live rock will cycle the tank. Also a piece of shrimp works well, I hear. And add the clean up crew after it is done cycling.
 
bgrae001

bgrae001

Member
Running the skimmer will help speed things up too. IMO I would put a background on the back of the tank so you can't see the filters through the display. Also you can help seed the tank by putting a cup of sand from someones established tank.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Heck, I didn't think of that. I've got a 90 gal FOWLR that's been setup for 2 years. That should be good sand, right?
 
bgrae001

bgrae001

Member
Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
Heck, I didn't think of that. I've got a 90 gal FOWLR that's been setup for 2 years. That should be good sand, right?
that will be an excellent source.
 
bhfccsr198

bhfccsr198

Member
i have a question for ya what the over all length of that light you have on it now and are you willing to seel it or something i need a light for my ten gallon reek im running a 40 watt powwer compact now so that would be better 96 watts
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Originally Posted by bhfccsr198
i have a question for ya what the over all length of that light you have on it now and are you willing to seel it or something i need a light for my ten gallon reek im running a 40 watt powwer compact now so that would be better 96 watts
I'll let you know as soon as I get my new one. It's a nice light, just not want I want for the reef.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
I added another 12.5 lbs of LR. Now totals 30.5lbs.
I am keeping the light off during the cycle period to eliminate algae growth. Should I be adding anything to the water such as calcium or anything?
So if I understand right. After cycling, get clean up crew, then corals?
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
No need to add anything. I would not run the skimmer myself. Let the tank cycle. Keep th elight off. After you see the spike in ammonia and nitrites then you see them go down to zero (both of them) you will see the nitrates go up. At this point you can do a water change to bring the trates down and start to add you clean up crew.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
What I'm looking at are the reef packages they sell on this site. I'm not sure if the 20-55 gal pack is too much or the nano pack is too small. Seems like for $20 more you get alot but I don't want to overdo it.
 
bgrae001

bgrae001

Member
Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
What I'm looking at are the reef packages they sell on this site. I'm not sure if the 20-55 gal pack is too much or the nano pack is too small. Seems like for $20 more you get alot but I don't want to overdo it.
to be honest with you... I have a 55 gal and all I have for a cleanup crew are 5 hermit crabs and a hand full of snails. I don't over feed and I use only ro/di water. I don't have any algae problems. The only thing I want to add is a emerald crab, but I cant get those in Germany. I was thinking about buying one next time I flew home to the states and bring it back with me.
 
fishkiller

fishkiller

Active Member
Originally Posted by bgrae001
to be honest with you... I have a 55 gal and all I have for a cleanup crew are 5 hermit crabs and a hand full of snails. I don't over feed and I use only ro/di water. I don't have any algae problems. The only thing I want to add is a emerald crab, but I cant get those in Germany. I was thinking about buying one next time I flew home to the states and bring it back with me.
What kind of lighting do you run and for how long?
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
Don't run your skimmer until tank is cycled. Skimmers clean your water, and you want bacteria etc to cycle your tank.
 
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