New 32 Gallon Biocube measurements. Advice appreciated.

[Kiboshed]

So just fired up my new 32 Gal Biocube yesterday.

My first marine tank.

Used a bunch of wet live rock from my local Petco (only option, live in Casper Wyoming). Much of it was exposed to air on the way to the house.

20lbs of live sand

Nature's Ocean Live Nutri-Seawater

Here are my parameters after 24 hours:

Salinity: 1.025

PH: 7.6-7.8

Alkalinity: 8.5-9

Ammonia: 0.2

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: <2

Temp is hanging around 78-81F

So my water seems soft. How do I bump up my PH to that 8+ level?

I also don't like that ammonia number, but I guess it's expected with all of the die off from organisms on the live coral.

Have a bottle of Tims on the way. Running filter floss/Chemipure blue/ biocubes in the basket. Going to get replaced with the Intank basket when it arrives. Took the sponge out.

So where do I go from here?

What numbers do I want to see consistently before I add fish?

This good? Bad?

There are a lot of critters alive in there. Bristle Worms, Pods, tiny fan worm.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So just fired up my new 32 Gal Biocube yesterday.

My first marine tank.

Used a bunch of wet live rock from my local Petco (only option, live in Casper Wyoming). Much of it was exposed to air on the way to the house.

20lbs of live sand

Nature's Ocean Live Nutri-Seawater

Here are my parameters after 24 hours:

Salinity: 1.025

PH: 7.6-7.8

Alkalinity: 8.5-9

Ammonia: 0.2

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: <2

Temp is hanging around 78-81F

So my water seems soft. How do I bump up my PH to that 8+ level?

I also don't like that ammonia number, but I guess it's expected with all of the die off from organisms on the live coral.

Have a bottle of Tims on the way. Running filter floss/Chemipure blue/ biocubes in the basket. Going to get replaced with the Intank basket when it arrives. Took the sponge out.

So where do I go from here?

What numbers do I want to see consistently before I add fish?

This good? Bad?

There are a lot of critters alive in there. Bristle Worms, Pods, tiny fan worm.

Your cycle will be at least2 weeks. Ammonia and nitrate will and should increase and will slowly drop and then remain stable
Use reliable kut(s) to monitor with.
Api and badge are known for false readings and can mislead you with readings
Dr Tim’s is good and denitrifying bacteria is key to getting started with cycle, a step you don’t want to rush