New Set Up

Hi Group

This is my set up:

100 gal
30 gal sump w/refuge
60lbs live rock
50lbs live sand
40lbs bas rock
AquaEuro 135 Skimmer
T5 HO 150 w/actinics
24 watt on refuge
3 chromis
3 yellow tail
10 hermits

Have had 3 chromis die in the last two days, left in tank thinking would kick in cycle. Not seeing any type of cycle start yet, no ammonia, no nitrates, no nitrites, ph little below 8, hardness 15 so high.

Came home today and found a lot of brown powder on sand and rocks, possibley brown algae?

What shoudl I be seeing at this point, am I to impatien.

set up is brand new only 4 days since set it up

Thanks,
razorack

 

Welcome to the boards!

The brown powder on your sand and rocks should be diatoms. How recent was your testing to the death of the chromis'? Was your live rock fully cured? If that doesnt start the cycle you can add a piece raw peeled shrimp into the tank or just put in a little fish food.

Good luck! and remember the key to success is patience.

 

My yellow skunk clowns survived the cycle, then killed the ocellaris that also survived it. To me, the fact that they waited until the cycle was done to kill them is proof enough that fish are super stressed during the cycle and IMO people should cycle with shrimp or other means of fish free cycling.

 

6 fish and 10 inverts in a 4 day old tank. I think you need to look at Webster for the meaning of patience. You don't slow down you'll have the whole tank up for sale in less then a year from all the problems your going to cause yourself.

Research!

 

Thank You !

Thanks for all the replies so far. I will turn off the lights and keep on only the actinics. I will leave the fish in tanka dn also the dead three chromis.

Dont take this the worng way as I do appreciate all the comments, but I was kinda look for some answers as to what I should be seeing and what I will se, to know what to watch for over the next month or so.

Yes my live rock is cured, but also have some lace rock and base rock in there as well that was not cured.

Also should i be doing water changes yet or anything else to help this along or just leave it alone.

So what should my water be testing at so soon and what should I start to see and when.

Thanks,
razorack--

 

What test kits are you using? You are showing parameters of an established tank.

 

Established Tank

I am pretty sure my tank is established, I used 60 lbs Live rock and 60lbs live sand. Probably not going to see Ammonia spike according to several people who I have spoke with that have started their tanks with Live Rock and Live Sand almost never go through a cycle, or it only last a day or two at most.

razorack..

 

3 dead fish in 4 days!! I think that something isn't going right.

 

My friend I would listen to this advice.:-/