After 50 years of Reefing, all the stuff required to operate a reef tank has become complex with an emphasis on more difficult to keep inhabitanks. I attributed it to my youth of 72 years old, not being tuned in to how the culture thinks today. My 13 year old granddaughter ignored 25 year mature tank to see emerging ornamental macro lagoon, on first visit since Christmas. I may be on the right track.
I cycled with ammonia and seeded with bacteria in anticipation of 15lbs of live sand and 50lbs of diver collected uncured live rock from the Gulf of Mexico, 20 miles west of Tampa Bay. Because of bad diving weather, my tank cycled but no live rock to cure was available, so I added 10 mollies and utility macro as well as some GSP to consume high nitrates from ammonia cycle. These live rocks from mature display tank has also brought in amphipods & copepods.
It is my intention to cure 50lbs of GOM maricultured rock using utility macro in 1/3 of substrate and two Cascade canister filters with bacteria activated sponge filters.
Also included in biochemical filtration is cryptic refugium with reverse flow undergravel filter. Thank you @Paul B
I cycled with ammonia and seeded with bacteria in anticipation of 15lbs of live sand and 50lbs of diver collected uncured live rock from the Gulf of Mexico, 20 miles west of Tampa Bay. Because of bad diving weather, my tank cycled but no live rock to cure was available, so I added 10 mollies and utility macro as well as some GSP to consume high nitrates from ammonia cycle. These live rocks from mature display tank has also brought in amphipods & copepods.
It is my intention to cure 50lbs of GOM maricultured rock using utility macro in 1/3 of substrate and two Cascade canister filters with bacteria activated sponge filters.
Also included in biochemical filtration is cryptic refugium with reverse flow undergravel filter. Thank you @Paul B