Red sea max 20 gallon

[Thunderfunk]

I was able to get my hands on a unopened RSM 20 gallon at a really good price in Jan. Ordered the stand thru red sea...and pretty much sat around...until six weeks or so ago.
Disclaimer: complete nub in reefing. First tank.

Used dr tims one and only & ammonia to start cycle... was planning on finishing cycle before adding livestock. However....

Coworker: I got a 200 gallon tank...you can put zoas in to cycle. Ill bring some for you.
Me: Really? Interesting. I been reading that its just better to wait.
Coworker: Don't worry. It will speed everything up. I'll bring it tomorrow.
Me: Thanks!

Never brings me the zoas nor a piece of his live rock. Getting different excuses daily. My excitement turns to disappointment which ultimately causes me to go to my lfs before curfews start in LA. I ended up purchasing two .5 inch clownfish. Excitement level restored.
Did 5 percent wc every other day as i had my water tested at lfs and showed minor levels of ammonia...like .25 or so.

Fast forward...I run into a guy who gives me a deal on a torch frag. Ended up getting a shroom, torch and 2 acans from him. I have four frags...why not go to unique and get some more couldnt resist and end up buying a chalice, some zoas and a branching cyphastrea.

Ok..now I've been reading trying to learn for quite some time but way too many things I just didn't really learn and read. More importantly read and decided not to follow.
Torch and shroom died. Shroom just melted. Torch slowly jellied out.

Zoas started doing well..acans doing well..ended up stocking more corals and got an indo frogspawn. I really like euphyllias. That first torch coral purchase just created the madness


Diatoms started 5 days ago. Got some cerith snails and one nassarius but tanks in i guess what you call the ugly stage.


Jebao 10 pump (have an extra not turned on)
Stock skimmer
AI HD prime (have 2 kessil a80 friend gave me thats not used)
Cobalt 100w heater (turned off)
Stock filter sock
Seachem de nitrate (media bag)
Caribsea fiji pink
Caribsea life rock
Tunze nano ato (just arrived)
BRS 4 stage plus (just arrived)
Using LFS salt water and RO until today.

Any recommendations on salt mix?
Alk is 8
Salinity 1.025/026
Temp 77-79
Awaiting new test kit for nitrates and ammonia.

 

[SPR1968]

You need to really make sure the tank has fully cycled, it probably should have but you shouldn’t have any ammonia in there really.

As far as salt is concerned is personal preference, I’ve always used Red Sea

I really like the rock work design and cave, very nice!

 

[Thunderfunk]

thanks for the suggestion... im leaning towards blue bucket or tm.

 

[Phil D.]

If you are going to keep LPS and SPS then I highly recommend the Red Sea Coral Pro salt as it will replenish your levels with your weekly water change, (20g highly recommended to change weekly).

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome. Sorry for your corals and disappointing coworker . Euphyllias are awesome!

Lots of great salt, I use tropic marine pro, only because I store it long periods. Others have better alk levels.

 

[Olefreebe]

Nice setup. Good looking scape!

 

[saltysailor]

Did you figure out why the corals died?

 

[Thunderfunk]

no i havent figured it out, but there are so many variables i wasnt controlling... starting with the fact that i rushed stocking the tank, to adding livestock, to not properly light acclimating, to flow adjustment...etc.

but ill take the win that other than two that died, the rest are well... love the acans.

ive been going back and forth in my head about either using rscp, rsbb, or tm. ill just try rscp as i dont wanna dose yet and wanna see if i can get by with weekly water changes.

my alk is at 8.1...im reading rscp mixes around 11. will that swing up in alk be ok for the tank?

 

[Thunderfunk]

Got some sps ~

 

[Thunderfunk]

And some more

 

[Thunderfunk]

Yes