Cloudy Water

One question I have is what kind of sand did you use?

 

Phosphates already? Where did the water come from?

 

Red Sea Coral Pro Salt
CORALine Marine aquarium Gravel.

 

Just added about 15lbs more of Live rock. So going to see how my levels are in a few days and see if the water clears up.

 

Id wait until the water clears up before worrying about the levels too much. When you check it now, all the debris in the water column is going to affect the test

 

Thanks PackLeader.. Love the process so far. The rock I bought was not fully cured so going to let it cure and hopefully in 3 weeks or so I can add some fish.
I do have one question.. During this process should I be doing the water changes once a week?

 

No water changes. Your just getting rid of the amonia / Nitrite that is causing the bacteria growth.

 

Ok great. Thanks!!!!

 

I don't mean to sound like a downer, but I would highly suggest in changing your substrate to an aragonite substance. It has buffering capacy for marine systems and will not be as likely to trap uneaten food and waste like crushed coral type substrate. This will lead to very elevated NO3 down the road.
That aside, don't worry about the water looking cloudy, it's normal. As your tank cycles through the nitrifying process, it will look clouding during the ammonia phase as well. Just let it run as is, don't do any water changes and don't clean the tank. It should take about 4-6 weeks for the initial cycle to settle down, then you can do a small water change, ~25% or so. Then add one small fish, like a damsel or chromis. Let them live in that alone for a month, it will let the system adjust to the added bioload of the tank. Then you can add one more fish. I would definitely change the substrate though.

 

I have been reading about dif substrate. I guess I bought with my eyes. I just liked the looks of the coraline. Is it going to cause me a real headache? The other stuff I was looking at was as large was florida live rock. Guy that was helping me was a freshwater guy the salt water guy was to busy. He asked him and said any of them were fine. There was alot to choose from. What am I in for if I decide to keep it?