New reefer,new set up..questions..

Hi there,
I own a 300lts aquarium which i set it up yesterday for reef. 8)
I used 80% dead aragonite and 20% arag-alive.
Then added 31 kilos of live rock.
The aquarium is lightened from an ATI SUNPOWER 6x39w dimmable t5.
There is no canister filter running or sump.
It is skimmed/filtered from a DELTEC MCE 600 skimmer with a media box which i filled with 250grms carbon and a piece of glass wool.
Also there are 4 circulators of 2800lts/hour each.
There is a TUNZE OSMOLATOR for automatic refill also.
To fill the tank i used a 5 stage RO/DI osmosis prooviding TDS 001-002 ppm of pure water.
I started using the skimmer today,and adding some food to increase ammonia levels to start the cycle.
Lightning will also start today with 1 hour and increasing for 30mins every day till i reach the 10 hours daily.
When should i make the first water change?I am thinking of doing a 20 liters change per week while cycle or after?
I remain for your comments and tips!! ;D

 

Welcome to 3reef.

Very detailed start, thanks.

Typically the first water change is done after the cycle is complete with test results showing no detectable ammonia or nitrites. There will most likely be a nitrate value.

A 20 percent water change sounds appropriate after the cycle is complete as reflected in the test values.

 

+1 on water change after cycle, you can also directly run your lights to the desired time, no need for the slow increase in my opinion.

i would let the tank run/cycle for a good month at least, maybe two. then add a CUC, after a week your first fish (usually people add clowns first...least i did) and then on a weekly basis add the rest of your fish.

what stocking list did you have in mind?

welcome to 3reef

 

I thought these conversions would help people help you.

 

Thank you guys for the quick replies.
Yes i'll let it run for more than a month.
My consern was if should i run the skimmer from the first day (today) or after a week or so.. because here the opinions about this are 50% run it directly and a 50% after 7-10 days.
I decide to run it from today because i dont have any other filtration method and i thought that running the skimmer with a carbon sock and a glass wool in the media box will good for dead spices and dirt on the LR.
Water changes will be done as you mentioned.. after the cycle and a 15-20% weekly.. thats not to much on a 300lit tank...if i think that previusly my tank was discus fish and i was doing a 50-60% change day by day...

 

Oohh yes thank you !!!! It is a little bit tricky for me to understand gallons/litters and i did not want to write something wrong.Thanks again and sorry..

 

i hate wc they are a massive pain in the bum! i do about a 40 liter change biweekly on a 450 but i think im gonna have to step it up a noch. will be testing No3 at the end of the week to see if its in check especially considering i have an acro to take care of now.

 

You will probably get about 25% of people that say it makes no difference in the long run if
you run the skimmer. I have done it both ways and the end result was the same, other than the skimmer was already broken in by the time the initial cycle was complete.

Same with lighting, I have run them on and run them off, the end result when all is said and done is the same. The initial algae out break might be more intense with lights on, but you will still have the Diatoms first, then Green Hair Algae (GHA) and then possibly a tad of Cyanobacteria routine.

 

Listening too much different opinions is very good so that i (and other people) can conclude to the middle option..
I think the tricky part is after the cycle.. to keep things steady enough so that you dont have critical changes to the parameters.
A friend gave me two bottles which say EASY LIFE MAXICORAL A and B .. on the directions of use say 10 ml every 300 liters of water. Does anyone if it is safe to use them having in mind the LR and that i am on the start of the cycle?

 

i personally have never been a big fan of these miracle chemicals and what not! let nature take its time. you are right that the relatively tricky part starts after the cycle but as long as you dont suddenly increase the bio load of the tank and you don't over stock you will be fine! hence the tip to add a fish once a week, it gives the time for the beneficial bacteria to reproduce and keep up with your bio load.