MICU murse
Community Member
Hey r2r,
This is the first post of many to come detailing the startup and maintenance of my first saltwater tank. I'm mostly ignorant to the process other than what I have read online and I'm always receptive to tips and tricks. My setup was bought second hand includes this far:
-55 gallon tank
-2 led lights ( I will have to look up serial numbers and I will repost with exact lights)
-filstar xp3 filter
-2 power heads
-1 heater (not sure how many watts but has done the job for the last few days)
I have had my tank running with nothing in it for a few days to ensure all my equipment was operational and with no notable failure (other than failed gaskets in my filter) I began seeding my tank today. I heavily rinsed my broken up coral substrate and live dry rock. I soaked the rock for 2 days changing the water out a few times to ensure lower phosphate levels. I added about 10 lbs of coral bits, 10 lbs live sand (unrinsed), 25 lbs dry rock, 3 lbs live rock from my local pet store, and I also added per manufacturer instruction Bacter gen m (a bacterial solution). Just for the sake of doing it I measured all the parameters I had tester kits for which include:
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
pH 8
Kh 196 (11)
Phosphate 0
Calcium 480
Spec grav 1.024
Temp 78
After testing I added about 1 large pinch of fish food to boost my ammonia. I am also keeping a record book with all of these values, when I tested it; and any interventions or changes I made that day. I won't test all my parameters every day but I just got a little over zealous since I'm excited I'm finally getting the cycling process underway. As I said before I'm a total novice and would love to have advice. I've already learned a lot but I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface. Feel free to send questions, advice, or requests for more info about the tank and I will do my best to answer and keep the thread up to date. Thanks r2r and I look forward to hearing everyone's input.
This is the first post of many to come detailing the startup and maintenance of my first saltwater tank. I'm mostly ignorant to the process other than what I have read online and I'm always receptive to tips and tricks. My setup was bought second hand includes this far:
-55 gallon tank
-2 led lights ( I will have to look up serial numbers and I will repost with exact lights)
-filstar xp3 filter
-2 power heads
-1 heater (not sure how many watts but has done the job for the last few days)
I have had my tank running with nothing in it for a few days to ensure all my equipment was operational and with no notable failure (other than failed gaskets in my filter) I began seeding my tank today. I heavily rinsed my broken up coral substrate and live dry rock. I soaked the rock for 2 days changing the water out a few times to ensure lower phosphate levels. I added about 10 lbs of coral bits, 10 lbs live sand (unrinsed), 25 lbs dry rock, 3 lbs live rock from my local pet store, and I also added per manufacturer instruction Bacter gen m (a bacterial solution). Just for the sake of doing it I measured all the parameters I had tester kits for which include:
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
pH 8
Kh 196 (11)
Phosphate 0
Calcium 480
Spec grav 1.024
Temp 78
After testing I added about 1 large pinch of fish food to boost my ammonia. I am also keeping a record book with all of these values, when I tested it; and any interventions or changes I made that day. I won't test all my parameters every day but I just got a little over zealous since I'm excited I'm finally getting the cycling process underway. As I said before I'm a total novice and would love to have advice. I've already learned a lot but I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface. Feel free to send questions, advice, or requests for more info about the tank and I will do my best to answer and keep the thread up to date. Thanks r2r and I look forward to hearing everyone's input.
