So far so good I think, my tanks been running since Feb 15th. It took me some time to setup all the piping and electronics, the filling process and leveling the water level. All that was fun and a great learning experience.
I setup the
RS DC Skimmer & pump
RS wave maker 25
RS Ato+
RS Doser 2
Reef 90s
Programed with the app
Fun to do and also another learning experience.
Feb 15 I was confident enough to add water and crank everything on. I added straight tap water and conditioned the water
I let that run for about a week with added bacteria. Dr Tims
The next week I started adding salt directly to the water until I dialed in my salinity.
I let that run for about 5 days.
I then added two damsels and let them run around for about another week. At this time I’m dialing in the skimmer and learning the ways.
A week later I got my water tested at the store and they said my tank hasn't even started to cycle yet, try to up your bio load… so I got two clowns to aid in the cycling and I also added some turbo start. Meanwhile I have added tons of bio balls & bricks and rock to my sump in hopes of having optimal surface area.
A week later after that I decided to introduce a piece of gsp glued on a rock from my established nano reef to see how it would respond to the water. Mind you I have not done any water changes since day one but I have topped off using RO over 15 gallons since. GSP opened up quickly and was just so vibrant and happy so I knew I was on the rite track and the fish were fine as well eating.
Currently I have a small hammer in there , a pulsing x , and the gsp. 2 damsels 2 clowns 3 Bengali cardinals. All doing great.
I haven’t tested my water since the last time they told me my tank hasn’t even cycled yet.
It just started the browning algae phase and it covered all my white rock brown along with the wave maker and everything in the tank . I killed the white light and lowered the blue down to like 10% till it clears up. The tank gets light anyway from the lights through the windows or the lights in the house so that kinda throws me off but it is what it is.
I’m about to take a sample to get my water tested to see what’s happening.
Did I get lucky with the cycling process? Is my tank just starting cycle? When should I do a water change? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself.
I’m literally doing the same thing to my RS DESKTOP 25 gallon.
Here are some pic of the setup.
