New Tank Setup this weekend checklist questions

[Frogbone]

I am preparing for my new tank that will arrive on Friday and I was hoping you guys could chime in on my checklist and questions I have to make this a smooth weekend.

I want to get my tank in place, add sand and rock and water. After that I won't be doing anything until end of January as I have a couple trips coming up. Once I return I want to start adding livestock.

180 Gallon 48x36x24 display tank
40 gallon breeder modified to have 3 compartments , drain from DT, Skimmer chamber, overflow drain to smaller sump below.
Sump will have also 3 compartments. drain from breeder, refugium with macro algae, chamber with return pump and UV to DT.
DT is in Livingroom, all other equipment is below in our heated underground garage.

I will mix 120 lbs of live sand with 100 lbs of rinsed aragonite special grade.

I have lots of live rock that I have been cooking for about 2 months. I had added some bacteria here and there during the cooking.
I have checked the water that the rock is in and I have 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrites and negligent Nitrate.

- Is my rock ready ? Do I need to check anything else ?

- I have a couple smaller pieces of dry rock that didn't fit into the bin. Can I add those directly to the tank given it will be sitting for about 6 weeks ?
- I will be able to fill the tank with about 140 gallon of saltwater, then I have to make more.
Can I just have a couple wavemakers in the tank to move the water around for a day or two until my next batch of saltwater is ready?
- Not having any livestock, does all water have to be 78 degrees or can I mix the heated water I will have with some cooler water ( about 65 degrees) and when the tank is full I would start my return pump to circle the water through my equipment that has the heaters ?

- Having 120 lbs of live sand, do I need to add anything for the tank to cycle? e.g. Fritz etc ?

- Lights, do I keep my lights off until I am ready for livestock ?

- Before I add livestock, should I do a water change ? If so , at what point and how much ?

- Will I go through the ugly phase in the first 6 weeks ?


I would appreciate any comments or suggestions :)

 

[fishywishy]

- Is my rock ready ?

Yes.

- I have a couple smaller pieces of dry rock that didn't fit into the bin. Can I add those directly to the tank given it will be sitting for about 6 weeks ?

Yes.

Can I just have a couple wavemakers in the tank to move the water around for a day or two until my next batch of saltwater is ready?

Yes

- Not having any livestock, does all water have to be 78 degrees or can I mix the heated water I will have with some cooler water ( about 65 degrees) and when the tank is full I would start my return pump to circle the water through my equipment that has the heaters ?

no, you can mix it with the colder water.

- Having 120 lbs of live sand, do I need to add anything for the tank to cycle? e.g. Fritz etc ?

it sand from the ocean? If so, no.

- Lights, do I keep my lights off until I am ready for livestock ?

On or off it doesn’t matter. Although the ugly stage will go a little faster if you have them on.

- Before I add livestock, should I do a water change ? If so , at what point and how much ?

Not needed.

- Will I go through the ugly phase in the first 6 weeks ?

Probably.

 

[Frogbone]

it sand from the ocean? If so, no.

It is 55 % Caribsea Arag-Alive and 45% Caribsea Aragonite

 

[fishywishy]

It is 55 % Caribsea Arag-Alive and 45% Caribsea Aragonite

Oh, that’s not real live sand, so it’s not really going to have much impact. Although, you still probably won’t need to cycle the tank since your rock is already cycled. Just be sure to add any new fish very slowly.