My New 40G Saltwater Tank

[IUSTINIAN75]

So I just started a new salt water tank that is going to be a fish/reef tank.

It’s a 40 gallon breeder
Top fin heater 150w
Only used RODI water
Forgot salt kind ( they had large amounts in purple bucket) I just got a bag cuz I didn’t need the bucked.
50g aqua clear filter
2x 15g powerheads Fluval
And the Fluval marine 3.0
2 live rocks from local fish store( both picked up out of water and driven home and into my tank in less than 15 minutes.) both total weight 17 lbs
Some dry rock about 20lbs
2x caribsea live sand 20g
Fritz turbo start forgot size ( was told it was just shy of what my 40 gallon requires)

And yes I did get a starter fish
ten days in it’s a domino damsel now on day 16 he is doing just fine ( it seems).

One mistake I think I did make was vacuuming out his poops yesterday loosing about 10% water and topping off with new RODI mixed with salt.
Salt is between1.023-24 will be adding pictures of the tank with light on just for picture and also picture of water test as of yesterday (day 15).

Does anyone know why my nitrites went down after the vacuuming and 10% top off? I will also post a pic of test from day 7 ( the single test photos are day7)(the phot of all three test is from day 15).

any other suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks everyone for your time!

 

[SPR1968]

Very nice start, and keep the pictures coming!

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Looks good. Nitrites went down because the tank is cycled. Well the Nitrification cycle is complete at least.

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Looks good. Nitrites went down because the tank is cycled. Well the Nitrification cycle is complete at least.

So I did another test this morning nitrites still 0 nitrates around 10-15 but ammonia is still .10-.20 I got one of these ammonia remover insert for my aqua clear 50 just wanted to ask if this is a good idea to add or am I messing up the end of my cycle..? My ammonia did spike about two weeks ago before the nitrates went up and then it didn’t go down and nitrates went down as well and then I performed a slight vacuum and 10% top off And since then nitrites have been 0 but ammonia still showing .1-.2

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

I may have misinterpreted there so after the ammonia and nitirite spikes they did both go down but after I performed the 10% vacuum only nitrates are now showing zero, ammonia is still reading low parameters

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Here is an update picture of the tank this morning. Gary the damsel has been donated back to the aqua store he was intimidating these little guys into the corner all night. I will always appreciate his help on starting my new reef tank and will never forget him…! But moving on after I took him out, they became much more relieved! He’s now safe and sound back where he belongs. Plans for upcoming week is to get the ammonia down to 0 for some reason after both ammonia and nitrite spiked only nitrite is now showing zero but ammonia is still visible on the test and in my interpretation showing a .1 –.2. I bought a ammonia remover insert for my aqua clear 50 looking for some input on if this is a good idea..? Is my cycle done or not? It’s been 20 days tomorrow.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

So I did another test this morning nitrites still 0 nitrates around 10-15 but ammonia is still .10-.20 I got one of these ammonia remover insert for my aqua clear 50 just wanted to ask if this is a good idea to add or am I messing up the end of my cycle..? My ammonia did spike about two weeks ago before the nitrates went up and then it didn’t go down and nitrates went down as well and then I performed a slight vacuum and 10% top off And since then nitrites have been 0 but ammonia still showing .1-.2

Your good. Don't need to worry about the extra filter media. It won't hurt anything either way. Just start stocking slowly. As you stock changes will happen. Have fun and congrats.

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Your good. Don't need to worry about the extra filter media. It won't hurt anything either way. Just start stocking slowly. As you stock changes will happen. Have fun and congrats.

awesome thanks!!

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Here are some updates on the tank after just nearing two months old. Added a few things! I also decided to go with a led / t5 for added light I got a powerchrome aquable coral t5 and put my electrical skills to work! Got this bad boy going in less than an hour now things really look happy!

1.aquaclear50 upgraded to tidal 110
2. Octopus reef 1000 protein skimmer
now working on saving up for a bundle Hanna checkers I figure might get them all instead of one piece at a time. Everything is doing fine, tho ammonia has forever shown .10 (after cycle it did spike way higher during cycle) or lower on my api tester I could be Color blind but I swear I still see slight green in it after 5 min waiting. No unhappy fish or corals … so far.
added a tomino surgeon, blasto, and chyphastria to two separate rocks to see how they do all three nems are doing fine except for the one smothering the free zoas it came with lol

 

[IUSTINIAN75]

Things are doing great getting thru the ugly stage lost a blasto I’m still not sure to what, but everything else is thriving