New saltwater tank setup

[tabby25]

Hello, I have currently build a shallow reef tank, size 18'' length, 16'' width, 8'' height. Its been two days since it has been set up and I am planning to add macro algae and soft corals in few days. Before this, this tank was used as a freshwater tank, and I also have a cannister filter that was running for three months and all the live beneficial bacteria has been developed in the filter media so I wanted to ask if I can use the same cannister with same filter media in my saltwater tank. Would this give me any problem with good bacteria inside will help me?

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef and to saltwater tanks!

You can use your canister filter, but the bacteria inside are not the same bacteria that you need for a saltwater tank, so you will have to re-cycle this tank like it's new.

Good luck!

 

[not_eman209]

Welcome! You’d have to swap everything in the canister filter and basically start over, but it’ll work

 

[tabby25]

So I ll hve to throw my active carbon or filter floss and other medias from my canister?

 

[Fish Fan]

So I ll hve to throw my active carbon or filter floss and other medias from my canister?

I would replace the carbon, and any bio media can be rinsed and reused.

You may want to consider running only bio media (like rock rubble) and chemical medias like carbon in your canister filter. In saltwater tanks, usually any filter floss would need to be changed out so frequently it becomes a chore.

 

[tabby25]

So it has been seven days since I setup this tank with Aquaforest probiotic reef salt and AF Bio Sand, and since then I haven't turned my lights or cannister filter or wavemaker. Today I have turned out the lights and saw these yellowish tint on surface of sand, I am little worried. Could you please take a look and help me out what is it and how to remove them?

 

[tabby25]

Here are the photos

 

[Subsea]

Looks like normal film algae, perhaps diatoms. Why do you think it needs removing? Looks like normal cycle of a new tank.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Turn on the wavemakers, they shouldn't be off. Flow is very important in a salt tank, much more so than in freshwater.

 

[Subsea]

“and since then I haven't turned my lights or cannister filter or wavemaker. Today I have turned out the lights“

Also turn on your canister filter.

 

[tabby25]

Okay, thanks for the suggestions. I have turned on my cannister filter and wavemaker.

 

[tabby25]

It's been 1.5 months of this tank. I used AF Bio S to cycle this tank by dropping 1ml for two weeks. I am using AfF carbon and life bio fill for the filtration, I also bought one sailfin molly, one percula clownfish and one bi color angelfish. And currently noticing these dark greenish at the rocks and in the glass. What are these? And which CUC will help it to clean, or should I be worried?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IMO its just normal micro algae's growing, the sand and rocks won't stay white. You'll see different algae's in the first 6-12 months, increase the snails as you see algae increasing.

The tank is too small for an angel fish IMO.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

It's been 1.5 months of this tank. I used AF Bio S to cycle this tank by dropping 1ml for two weeks. I am using AfF carbon and life bio fill for the filtration, I also bought one sailfin molly, one percula clownfish and one bi color angelfish. And currently noticing these dark greenish at the rocks and in the glass. What are these? And which CUC will help it to clean, or should I be worried?

Diatoms, part of the tank maturing process. This is something I wouldn't worry about. Do you have any cuc in your tank to begin with? Also I will add too the angelfish is too big for that tank, I would return it if you can.

 

[tabby25]

Diatoms, part of the tank maturing process. This is something I wouldn't worry about. Do you have any cuc in your tank to begin with? Also I will add too the angelfish is too big for that tank, I would return it if you can.

If you can see up, in April I have added some photos, in which there's a yellowish tint on the sandbed, I thought that was diatoms because it disappeared in few days. So is this diatoms again?

And no I don't have any cuc member yet, I am thinking to but Trochus and nassarius snail.