55 gallon new setup

I use two types of test kits, and i verify by going to my LFS and have them check it. I added two more bags of the tahitian marine sand last night, so after that gets settled again ill kick on the filters and probably the protein skimmer. When would be a good time to add a few snails and a damsel just to get the tank acclimated and have the fish help the cycling process

 

congrats and welcome to reefing, however make sure you test all params. Also like others recommending the copper. That could turn into a problem.
Anyway, happy for you

 

Thanks, have been watching everything pretty close. No trace of copper yet, I am just letting the tanks cycle the way they need to, the clowns are happy in their 30 gallon right now. Still need to order the live rock before they get their new home so slow and steady wins the race is my philosophy here

 

You're mentioning live rock and live sand.

In both cases I would advise going with dry "base" rock and dry sand. It's a lot cheaper and a whole lot easier to deal with (no die off)

particularly in the scenarios you described.

good luck.

 

Did some readings yesterday on the 55g
ammonia .25
nitrite 0
hardness 300
chlorine 0
alkalinity300
pH 8.8
nitrates read between 0-20

Looks like we are on the way its been going for a few weeks now so sure enough we will be there soon

 

I take it your using tap water for cycling? your alk/dkh and PH are pretty high. but shouldnt matter as you have a few weeks left before adding anything.. when you do your first water change down the road use ro/di saltwater that will help get that alk/dkh down if your using tap now.. my LFS ro/di saltwater is 8 dkh. my tap is 13-15dkh. you want a dkh of 8-12.

 

I live in lehigh, we all have well water there, and mine has an RO/DI system on it for drinking.

I figured the tank is only a few weeks into cycling so itll even out i keep a standby of twenty gallons at any given time for water changes