kevinsaw
New Member
Aloha Reefers,
Four days ago I began setting up my first saltwater tank, a 24 gallon Fluval M60 with a CAD Lighting Nano Protein Skimmer, CAD Lighting Nano BioPellet Reactor (w/ aquamaxx biopellets), a return, and single blower. I had previously owned a 180g freshwater tank full of cichlids and plecos but have since gravitated towards saltwater setups.
Fortunately enough, I live in Hawaii and have access to saltwater from a pump station that pipes water in from "offshore".
On the first day, I filled the tank, set up the equipment, and let it run. The second day I tested the water with the following results.
Day 2: Temp 76F, PH 8.0, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Salinity 1.028
Afterwards, I added some live sand and dropped in a frozen shrimp to begin cycling. (as suggested by the local fish store)
Day 4: Today, I came across what I first thought was a deformed concrete block at my friend's boat dock. I believe it's a dried out piece of coral/concrete mixture that was baking in the sun for the last few years. When I broke it in half, I noticed there were tube casings from worms inside and the rock was very porous. I gathered all the pieces and arranged them inside my tank.
By the end of Day 4, the only parameter that changed was Ammonia +0.25 ppm.
I was planning on purchase a few pounds of LR from the pet store to speed up the cycling process, what do you think? I'd like to add a clown fish, wrasse, banded coral shrimp, and some soft corals in the future.
I'd really appreciate to hear your comments, questions, and concerns.
Mahalos!
Four days ago I began setting up my first saltwater tank, a 24 gallon Fluval M60 with a CAD Lighting Nano Protein Skimmer, CAD Lighting Nano BioPellet Reactor (w/ aquamaxx biopellets), a return, and single blower. I had previously owned a 180g freshwater tank full of cichlids and plecos but have since gravitated towards saltwater setups.
Fortunately enough, I live in Hawaii and have access to saltwater from a pump station that pipes water in from "offshore".
On the first day, I filled the tank, set up the equipment, and let it run. The second day I tested the water with the following results.
Day 2: Temp 76F, PH 8.0, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Salinity 1.028
Afterwards, I added some live sand and dropped in a frozen shrimp to begin cycling. (as suggested by the local fish store)
Day 4: Today, I came across what I first thought was a deformed concrete block at my friend's boat dock. I believe it's a dried out piece of coral/concrete mixture that was baking in the sun for the last few years. When I broke it in half, I noticed there were tube casings from worms inside and the rock was very porous. I gathered all the pieces and arranged them inside my tank.
By the end of Day 4, the only parameter that changed was Ammonia +0.25 ppm.
I was planning on purchase a few pounds of LR from the pet store to speed up the cycling process, what do you think? I'd like to add a clown fish, wrasse, banded coral shrimp, and some soft corals in the future.
I'd really appreciate to hear your comments, questions, and concerns.
Mahalos!
