uscakeeper
New Member
I'm upgrading to a 125 with trigger system 32 sump/refugium. Was experimenting with how quickly I could cycle so tried the following:
- 120 pounds of live sand (crushed coral ~3in)
- 135lbs of live rock from a 15 year old system. tons of stuff i've observed on these rocks including some ugly polyps, brittle bush like coral/sponge, and lots of white sponge growth among other things.
- Approximately 130g of water of which 40g came out of a 600 gallon reef system the other 90 was newly created RODI saltwater. The 600 gallon system I got the 40g from was run without water changes for the past 5 years and is managed through ICP testing/supplementation.
- Added pure clay cat litter to refugium chamber with 2 small bundles of caulerpa. Running refugium lights 24/7
- Immediately added 2 Banngai Cardinalfish
7 days later I've tested the water. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 13 Nitrate, 2.5 phosphate. I know phosphate is high lol not sure where that came from other than maybe the rock leaching to equalize with the water. However those numbers are within the Redfield Ratio and assuming the caulerpa will begin to bring down Phos over time.
Normally I'd measure a tank cycled after I can measure increasing nitrates and 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. Curious on folks thoughts about:
This approach?
What would you have done different?
When you would consider it cycled and ready for fish? for coral?
Add more fish?
Try to bring Phos down now or let caulerpa do it's job?
- 120 pounds of live sand (crushed coral ~3in)
- 135lbs of live rock from a 15 year old system. tons of stuff i've observed on these rocks including some ugly polyps, brittle bush like coral/sponge, and lots of white sponge growth among other things.
- Approximately 130g of water of which 40g came out of a 600 gallon reef system the other 90 was newly created RODI saltwater. The 600 gallon system I got the 40g from was run without water changes for the past 5 years and is managed through ICP testing/supplementation.
- Added pure clay cat litter to refugium chamber with 2 small bundles of caulerpa. Running refugium lights 24/7
- Immediately added 2 Banngai Cardinalfish
7 days later I've tested the water. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 13 Nitrate, 2.5 phosphate. I know phosphate is high lol not sure where that came from other than maybe the rock leaching to equalize with the water. However those numbers are within the Redfield Ratio and assuming the caulerpa will begin to bring down Phos over time.
Normally I'd measure a tank cycled after I can measure increasing nitrates and 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. Curious on folks thoughts about:
This approach?
What would you have done different?
When you would consider it cycled and ready for fish? for coral?
Add more fish?
Try to bring Phos down now or let caulerpa do it's job?
