SW noob and need some guidance!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chullings
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

Chullings

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 15, 2026
Messages
1
Reaction score
1
Location
South Carolina
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have recently decided I want to jump into a a SW community tank with fish and coral. Found a good deal on a 90 Corner tank that will fit perfectly in a low light corner of my dining room. I’ve watched a few YT videos and seems like everyone is building the aqua scape and then filling their tank. Am I missing something? Doesn’t the water have to cycle before adding coral or are they just using rock? I’m considering ordering “real reef” from Amazon
 
Just the sand and rock to start.
The bacteria’s populate there.
They are the ones converting ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate (a.k.a. The cycle)

You’ll need more than a cycle for most corals, but once ammonia zeros out and you see nitrates, add 1-2 fish. Then those guys add ammonia an drive higher populations of algae’s and bacteria’s.

Build slowly allowing populations to grow and manage progressively higher waste requirements.
 
I have recently decided I want to jump into a a SW community tank with fish and coral. Found a good deal on a 90 Corner tank that will fit perfectly in a low light corner of my dining room. I’ve watched a few YT videos and seems like everyone is building the aqua scape and then filling their tank. Am I missing something? Doesn’t the water have to cycle before adding coral or are they just using rock? I’m considering ordering “real reef” from Amazon
Rock is the Aquascape Coral come way after cycling
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT KIND OF HAPPY ACCIDENT(S) HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR REEF?

  • Stable parameters over time

    Votes: 27 62.8%
  • Consistent coral growth

    Votes: 14 32.6%
  • Fish and inverts are settled

    Votes: 7 16.3%
  • The tank has moved past its ugly stages

    Votes: 12 27.9%
  • It has survived a major setback

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • At least six months old

    Votes: 2 4.7%
  • At least one year old

    Votes: 7 16.3%
  • Stop worrying about age—it’s about stability

    Votes: 9 20.9%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 2 4.7%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new