Salty, any Suggestions?

[thewizzrd]

What I am thinking about doing is buying about 40-80lbs of base rock and then seeding it with an additional 30-40lbs of live rock. This would eb a brand new tank so this would all be starting from scratch. I also bought 150lbs of sand that I intend on seeding with about 25 lbs of ls. My intentions are to just add all of this to the tank after I get the correct specific gravity. Then let the tank run/cycle for a month or so, how does that process sound or should I just opt to double my expenditures and purchase a full 80 or so lbs of lr. Its going to be a 135 FOWLR.

 

[bigeyedfish]

Sounds pretty good. I actually have noticed some coralline growth on my base rock. There are a bunch of green, pink and purple patches. My tank has been up a little over two months.

 

[thewizzrd]

DO you think that the 30 or so lbs of LR and LS will be sufficient to seed the rest of the rock and sand?

 

[thewizzrd]

anyone aonyone?
Bueller, Bueller?

 

[mr . salty]

That plan sounds good to me just as you said...But the more live rock and live sand you start with,,,The shorter and less toxic your cycle will be...What are you gonna use as a filter???

 

[thewizzrd]

I am using a 55g sump. Pretty much I'll have some more lr & ls in that with a HOB filter or a canister to help out with the nitrates. I'm debating on Bio balls, not real sure about that.

 

[thewizzrd]

Oh yea, and eventually I'll have a skimmer. maybe a UV sterilizer.

 

[mr . salty]

With all that rock and sand,you should skip the bio balls...I am currently removing mine.They are nice,but reall kinda "old school" now...The rock/sand will be enough bio media for your tank....

 

[thewizzrd]

An lfs I went to had bio-balls in his sump, he said he used them to "break up the air bubbles." I'm not real sure about that or the need for it. Any ideas? He also had a huge amount of bio balls in his whole store filtration system.