Slowly starting a salty tank

[myjohnson]

No worries, its why im posting here. That big void space in the pic is going tobe filled with another 40-50lb of live rock. Whats in there now is just the dry pieces. Im sure there will be more rearranging when i get evrything

dude, I actually like the big void space. I find there is one rule a lot of reefers violate, including myself....

Less is sometimes more so keep the sand bed clean.

My goal with my current reef is to do no frags and to keep all corals off my sand bed.

[Andrew_B]

Yeah Thai, I quoted you as I wanted to know the answer to the same question. When I get my live rock, I'll play around with things a bit and try some layouts. Heck, I've spent so much time on it now, taking time to scape it during the cycle process won't be the end of the world. Now, with the stability part of everything - Acrylic rods seem interesting. Just drill holes in rocks and attach them with the rod then place into tank? Something you can get at home depot? I'll be sure to keep enough room to at least get scrubbers to the glass. Other than that, the light from the fixture is so even throughout the tank, I could probably put coral anywhere and it be fine.

I'll probably end up going skimmerless as well. I'll have maybe 4-6 small fish in the tank. I'll have to research more, but only stuff that helps corals. Kind of like a clowns and anemone. I actually like that corals off sand bed idea, would make it real nice and clean looking.

thanks guys

[myjohnson]

If you keeping softies and LPS, then you can go skimmerless. Just really watch what you feed and the number of fish you keep. A 20-25% water change should keep the water clean.

I'm go skimmerless for now on my set-up too. But I'm only going for two mandarin and some shrimps in my 55g.

[Andrew_B]

Scaping Round 2:
Have all my rock in now, including a solid 20lb of nice live rock.

Playing with that "void" idea more. I may toss that purple piece of live rock in the center down to the refugium. That might open it up nicely. Maybe slide the pile of tonga branch on the right forward more towards the front glass. I like the idea of trying to keep the sand bed clean.

[Darbex]

I would use the tonga branches sticking out of the LR.

[Andrew_B]

Played with Darbex's suggestion - I like how it looks. I still have one nice branchy piece of tonga, but I can't find a place where it doesnt stick out like a sore thumb, so tossed it in my fuge. Keeping the main pile of rock more toward the left of tank as it will be viewed from the front and right pane of glass if I still in the chair on the right.

[Andrew_B]

So my ~20lb of live rock has been in the tank for 5 days or so, when should I start seeing an ammonia reading? The live rock itself should be enough to trigger something right?

[myjohnson]

Yupers, there is a bit of die off from moving the LR.

Do you have a test kit?

You should be seeing ammonia already. If you have established LR then your cycle time should be shorter.

Do you have any type of CUC?

[Andrew_B]

Yeah, I just tested this morning and read nothing. (API SW test kit) The LR came from miggys sumps so I bet they're as established as they can get.

Not really, just like 2-3 small snails that were living in my sand when I got it

[myjohnson]

Hmmmm, put like 2-3 pellets in there but to make sure.

Miggys live rock will have pods in them!

[Andrew_B]

I hope so, I want me a Mandarin!

[myjohnson]

I'm in the process of training a mandarin right now actually.

A mandarin really needs to learn to eat frozen foods if it's going to have a good chance of making it.

I may do a write up on the trainning process.

[Andrew_B]

Yes yes, please do. Then you need to raise/sell "trained" mandarin to us newbies!

[myjohnson]

Lol, it's not hard man.

I should be updating my thread.

I'm try to get some corals tonight too.

[eklikewhoa]

If it's well established rock the spike could have gone unnoticed.

I would either slowly start adding or if you're worried add a piece of raw market shrimp and watch the nitrates rise