Starting my first Reef Tank

Good luck. I'm hoping to start on my setup this weekend when I finish my DIY sump experiment.

 

I'd say you took the step every one of us had the hardest time taking, throwing salt into the tank in the first place, congratulations......

 

So it has been about three weeks almost four now that I began my tank. So far so good. I havent really posted much about the tank recently because well, not much has went on. It mostly reminded me of a desert scene. Anyways since the tank has cycled or at least I think it has.. I have added about 15lbs of rock, some sand, 3 black damsel fish, two peppermint shrimp, a pink tip anemone, a hermit crab and i also found a baby starfish already in my tank..pretty cool when u find things in the tank that u didnt put in. This post will be day two of all the inhabitants. I have to say I really enjoy building a tank. Thanks for all the info. Posting some new pics now..

 

Im new but Welcom anyway

Sounds like your really get stuck in! At this stage getting stuck in is the best thing to do. Although you will need to slow down very soon and thats when patients is key. I have made that mistake and Im now slowing right down! ha ha ha ha......

Although I have only recently registared with 3reef I have used the forums sooooo much during my build and hydrogen cycle.

So, good luck and welcome!

 

Posted some new pics of my tank.. been about a month since i started it up. Any ideas on how i should run my lights..

 

Well its been about just a lil over a month now since I've started my reef tank. I have to say I love the hobby first of all. Second contrary to all the people that had absolutely no faith that i could get a saltwater tank up and running (haha) I did it. Lol na im only joking, but i did have a few no believers that said i had no chance of getting a tank up and running. So anyways, I now have three black domino damsels, one maroon clown, a pink tip anemone some snails and a hermit crab, oh yeah I found a small baby starfish on some of the live rock i bought. I pretty happy with what i have created so far. I do have a few questions that could help me out. #1. What is the best way to get rid of grren algae? #2. Im seeing some things that look like red hairs growing on my live rock any idea what that is? #3. and last could someone please explain to me some kind of light schedule that i should run, people keep telling me different things. thanks alot.

 

#1) Test for nitrates in your water. Beneficial bacteria will cycle ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. Frequent water changes can help lower the nitrate that algae feed off of. If you are using tap water test for nitrate in your tap water. This could be contributing to the problem. A good Ro/di unit would be helpful. Also you can add a refugium with macro algae which will pull nitrate from the water.

2) The hairs sound like Cyanobacteria. This is related to nitrates and phosphates (phosphates most likely coming in from water used for changes and top offs). You can try a filter media to absorb the phosphates, but a good ro/di unit will help solve this as well.

3) I use a 12 hour light cycle with 14,000k metal halide, blue actinic fluorescents, and led moonlights. Just be sure you are providing adequate light for your anemone.

I hope some of this was helpful.

 

It's been little over 30 days, since the day you put the water in, but you have 4 fish, and an anemone? Im not here to burst the bubble, but you gotta slow down. Ive waited almost a year to add an anemone.
Keep a really close eye on the parameters. What kind of test kit you got?

 

I have a master test kit that I got from the guy I purchased the tank from. I guess it went bad. Anyways since i last posted I have changed my light schedule and my tank seems to be getting clearer. You are definately right about slowing down. It sure is hard looking at all those pretty fish and corals at the store and not taking anything home. But yes i havent added anything else to my tank. Diatoms are on the move tho wow. And ues my anemone seems to be doing fine it is actually thriving it looks like. Does anyone know why it deflates at night and re-inflates during the day. Thanks for the input this site has helped out tons thanks to everyone. Sorry for the pics my Tang is a camera hog.

 

not trying to be discouraging but from my knowledge of what i have read 65 watts isnt really enough light for a 55 gallon reef tank, general rule of thumb is 3-6 watts per gallon and the lighting if no corals are present most people due between 8-12 hours and with corals 10-12 hours. could just be the picture but the anemone does look a little pale which usually means more light necessary, could be from lighting in the tankor could be just from the camera used but it does look a little pale...good luck on your tank, you seem to be getting well on your way