Problem Help Please

Well We bought the tank from someone else. We used more than 50% of the original water that was in the tank before we moved it. The tank and rock and everything have been setup for about 2 years he said. So we bought everything from him. So in essence it has been cycled i guess. Like i said we used about 50% of the original and changed the other percent with new water from our local fish store. So What do you recommend i do?

 

Pictures

Here are some pic although not very good. Bad camera. Tell me what you think about my algae on the rocks and the Tube coral.

 

Theres the myth that most ppl dont understand. The SW water doesnt cycle. Its the LR and LS that do. Thats the only reason you went through a small cycle. Luna

 

.......and the cycle can last a while. Mine is still cycling after an upgrade six weeks ago.

 

Oh ok so the best thing to do is keep the lights off till its done? Or should i clean the rock and still keep the lights off. Whats the best way about fixing or preventing this problem?

 

Few questions from me.

#1: what are you topping off with? RO/Di or Tap?
#2: Do you have any test kits? If so I'd recommend doing a check for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and Phosphates

 

If it's cycling wont the activated carbon prolong the cycle...???

 

if you turn the lights off the corals in the tank will also die.

PO4?
NO3?
ro/di?

before taking out some sand are there any dark spots in it?

 

1) Yea thats what i thought and i don't want my corals to die. I am currently on campus right now so i dont have the exact test numbers but when i did a red sea complete test kit everything seemed to test correctly. Nothing was where it shouldn't be but i will post the numbers later.

2) Is my sand bed a problem? Should it be shallower and if so why? what will a less deep sand bed do for me? There are some dark spots in it where the light cannot penetrate to but it has to do with my large clown fish re-arranging the sand to his liking lol.

3) I use the water from my LFS i do not use tap water or any water other than what my LFS store provides for me. I keep an extra 10 gallons on hand at all times to top off the water level and for emergencies.

Let me know what you guys think and if you need anymore from me to analyze my situation i will provide for you. If you need the test numbers i can get them for ya'll this evening.

 

the second picture is so interesting and pretty