New to reefs

[dennism]

I had an aquarium in the 90s 100gal salt water no corals just live rock and fish. I just started a 55 gal tank and want to reef it out. After getting dry rock and the water filled.
A few questions

Should I seed a piece of live rock in the tank to get it started or will the coraline algae grow naturally?

When should the live rock be introduced to the tank? After its cycled?

I used live sand in the tank will this reduce the cycle time?

Buying a couple of cheap damsels to cycle the tank. Hopefully that's the right plan of attack.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R

 

[Retro Reefer]

Welcome to R2R :D

 

[dantimdad]

Welcome aboard!

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the Reef.

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and back to the madness.

 

[HotRocks]

Welcome to R2R!!!

:)

Great place, great people, and TONS of great info.

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!! Check out this thread about cycling your tank which should answer most of your questions. Good luck!

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[SPR1968]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Jeight]

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Matt Carden]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Welcome to R2R, Dennis!

 

[Leadfooted]

Welcome to R2R you're in the right place! If your LFS (local fish store) has some snails or hermits, look closely and see if any have the coraline algae in their shells. Buy a few for your clean up crew and feel free to gently scrape their shells where the algae is, this will help spread some spores I've been told. After your systems parameters are in check and fish are doing well, you can add "Purple Up", it's what I used and had good success with it in they initial stages of my system and I believe boosted my coraline algae. Note, encrusting corals have to work hard at growing over/killing Coraline algae so though it's color it appealing, it's not always desired by experts.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

 

[Coralreefer1]

Hello and welcome to R2R! You will be glad you found us...
As for your questions...
Yes, you need to seed your tank for coralline algae to grow, even a small amount.
Is the live rock cured or uncured?
Live sand and rock will aid in the cycling and time your tank takes to completely cycle.
DAMSELS....NO! Though many aquarists add them to aid in the cycling of a tank, once the tank is cycled, you will have a heck of a time getting them out of your tank. Most are territorial, aggressive, boisterous, get big and drab as they get bigger and changes your whole approach on what fish to add after adding those monsters. Better off using uncured live rock or drop a couple pieces of frozen shrimp in the tank and let nature take its course by establishing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and allowing the myriad of beneficial microorganisms, polychaete worms, filter feeders and other benthic creatures to populate your tank.
Good luck...

 

[Antics]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Captain Quint]

I had an aquarium in the 90s 100gal salt water no corals just live rock and fish. I just started a 55 gal tank and want to reef it out. After getting dry rock and the water filled.
A few questions

Should I seed a piece of live rock in the tank to get it started or will the coraline algae grow naturally?

When should the live rock be introduced to the tank? After its cycled?

I used live sand in the tank will this reduce the cycle time?

Buying a couple of cheap damsels to cycle the tank. Hopefully that's the right plan of attack.

Welcome to R2R and things have certainly changed since your '90s 100g FOWLR for sure. Glad you joined and you can see some true experts at work on the best forum on the planet.

The response at 12:04 PM by @Peace River with the thread presented initially by @Brew12 is a helpful motivating thread which is lengthy in response but chock full of great advice such as the fishless cycle and more we tend to practice after years of progress.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast in many areas and spot on with our passion in our hobby.

 

[dennism]

Welcome to R2R and things have certainly changed since your '90s 100g FOWLR for sure. Glad you joined and you can see some true experts at work on the best forum on the planet.

The response at 12:04 PM by @Peace River with the thread presented initially by @Brew12 is a helpful motivating thread which is lengthy in response but chock full of great advice such as the fishless cycle and more we tend to practice after years of progress.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast in many areas and spot on with our passion in our hobby.

I read the article and plan to read it more thoroughly this evening after work. Thank you all for the input

 

[dennism]

Hello and welcome to R2R! You will be glad you found us...
As for your questions...
Yes, you need to seed your tank for coralline algae to grow, even a small amount.
Is the live rock cured or uncured?
Live sand and rock will aid in the cycling and time your tank takes to completely cycle.
DAMSELS....NO! Though many aquarists add them to aid in the cycling of a tank, once the tank is cycled, you will have a heck of a time getting them out of your tank. Most are territorial, aggressive, boisterous, get big and drab as they get bigger and changes your whole approach on what fish to add after adding those monsters. Better off using uncured live rock or drop a couple pieces of frozen shrimp in the tank and let nature take its course by establishing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and allowing the myriad of beneficial microorganisms, polychaete worms, filter feeders and other benthic creatures to populate your tank.
Good luck...

Its cured live rock. I am going to attempt the fishless cycle I believe