Hanks first reef - Fluval Flex 32.5 Gallon

tanksreef · 2026-09-28T09:32:14-0400

I am starting this thread about 3 months in to my learning experience. It might take me a few days, but I plan on posting the few pictures I have. Not the best pics because that's another learning experience in itself with these tanks I've found. So here is the first Pic I took after setting up this bare-bottom reef learning experience.

Gumbies R Us · 2026-09-28T10:28:38-0400

Following along!

fishface NJ · 2026-09-28T10:53:05-0400

Welcome to R2R! Have fun with your new tank

Fish Fan · 2026-09-28T11:47:25-0400

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

Let usknow if you have questions and good luck with your build!

tbrown · 2026-09-28T12:04:27-0400

Welcome!

tanksreef · 2026-09-28T21:34:31-0400

After that first Pic it took about four and a half weeks for the tank to cycle. Within a couple days I had nitrite at about 2 ppm and nitrates at 20 ppm climbing to 50 ppm, and thats where it stalled. It was a very frustrating time for me. I came in with as much patience as I could, but I made a few mistakes that I believe drew out the process unnecessarily.

Biggest mistake: from what I have gathered and what I had to do to break the stall. I used fish flakes as a source of ammonia. These just broke down so slowly that the nite-out bacteria that I was dosing was just breaking down the ammonia as soon as it was released so I never saw any spike ever on my monitor. It also created a layer of partially broken down flakes that formed a layer across the top of the water which stopped the gas transfer. If I was to start another tank like this, without any live rock or sand, I would definitely get some liquid ammonia so that I can control at least that part of my nitrogen cycle.