Progress of my new tank!!

Ok here is an updated pic of the tank with my LED lights!! Looks awesome!

Any comments of the aquascape? I bought 90 lbs of LR from MR, 45lbs of premium fiji and 45lbs of lTonga lalo LR. My tank is 100 gallons. If you notice, the background of the tank is covered with porous foam that the LFS applied for me. They said that it would also serve as a surface for micro algie and bacteria to grow on so i don't have to buy too much LR. Is this true?

Should i buy some more LR? What types of supplements or additives should i add to the tank while it is cycling? It's been only 5 days.






Thanks,
Bao

 

Wow! That looks awsome! Great job!

STAY AWAY from supplements and additives until you absolutly know there is something you need. (I know it is hard to do - but really you do not need any of it despite what all the wonderful ads say)

Your investment in LR is the best you could possibly do!

Looks like you have plenty to me.

 

Omard, thanks for the compliments! Really appreciate it.. Im enjoying watching the tank as it is, with no fish or corals. I cant wait till the cycle is up then i can start adding some things in their.

I totaly agree that the best investment is in LR if you are going with a reef system, or berlin system that is. The more porous the rock, the better it is for the breakdown waste in the tank. Im probably going to buy 25lbs more of the fiji lalo LR from marine depot. Its pretty pricey, but might as well go the whole nine yards.

At first if any of you have noticed in my introduction. i was on a tight budget for this tank. However, that quickly changed once i fully understood how important each equipment or component of the tank was. thats why i went the whole 9 yards with the skimmer, lights, and LR.

Im WAY OVER budget, about 2k, but what the heck. Itll save me from headaches down the road.

Thanks Guys!! Ill keep you guys updated as i progress.

bao

 

WOW Looks Awesome. I'm anxious to see how you like the LED lights. I think only Tangster has tested them form what I remember.

Rock work looks good. how;s the skimmer behaving.

J

 

Looks Good!!!!;D

 

It's been 2 weeks since i've started cycling and curing the rocks in my tank. Just did some tests and here are my results:

Ph 8.0
ammonia 0.0
nitrite 2.0
nitrate 5.25

What should i do now? I've read where people have said to put a uncooked shrimp, or household ammonia and even urine to speed up the cycle process.

Is this correct? I'm starting to see some coralline algae grow on the rocks. THere are also some brown algae which i take it as diatoms.

Should i start getting some cleaning crews?

Thanks,
bao

 

I got 2 yellow tailed damsels and a full clean-up crew at that phase. When my tank got done cycling 2 weeks later, I traded in my damsels. I don't know if thats the best way to go about it but it worked well for me!

By the by, damsels are HARD TO CATCH if you dont wish to keep them and shrimp are sensitive to PH change & temp. - my 2cents

 

Your tank is still cycling...you will know you are good to go when those nitrates drop to 0....you are getting close now...just be patient a little longer. There should be some life on the LR to watch now...