Hello All,
I'm new to this forum and new to reefing in general. I currently am running a Red Sea Max 170E. I have live rock, a crushed Florida coral sand/substrate, heaters at 79, Two powerheads, auto top-off running, etc. (I am not using the skimmer yet). I am at the stage where I am cycling the tank and I have some questions:
1. As I cycle, should I run my lights? If so, what length of day should I run them? I have the Red Sea ReefLED90, I can run it at White and/or Blue for as long as I want at any intensity level. It presets to about 10 hours a day, 1 ramp up, 8 full, one 1 ramp down, but should I be running them while the tank cycles?
2. I've never cycled a salt tank before and I don't know what I'm looking for as it goes. I've had some dead shrimp in the sup for a day now and I'm starting to see an Ammonia spike. Is this normal this early?
3. I also tested phosphates for the first time and they clocked in at around .18. IS that OK while it's cycling?
Thanks for your help. I'm ignorant enough I know there's a lot I don't know and I'm just looking for general cycling guidance.
Note: The purple is not algae, it's the synthetic dry rock.
I'm new to this forum and new to reefing in general. I currently am running a Red Sea Max 170E. I have live rock, a crushed Florida coral sand/substrate, heaters at 79, Two powerheads, auto top-off running, etc. (I am not using the skimmer yet). I am at the stage where I am cycling the tank and I have some questions:
1. As I cycle, should I run my lights? If so, what length of day should I run them? I have the Red Sea ReefLED90, I can run it at White and/or Blue for as long as I want at any intensity level. It presets to about 10 hours a day, 1 ramp up, 8 full, one 1 ramp down, but should I be running them while the tank cycles?
2. I've never cycled a salt tank before and I don't know what I'm looking for as it goes. I've had some dead shrimp in the sup for a day now and I'm starting to see an Ammonia spike. Is this normal this early?
3. I also tested phosphates for the first time and they clocked in at around .18. IS that OK while it's cycling?
Thanks for your help. I'm ignorant enough I know there's a lot I don't know and I'm just looking for general cycling guidance.
Note: The purple is not algae, it's the synthetic dry rock.