55 gallon reef - First Saltwater Build Ever!

[matthewh133]

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[matthewh133]

Ok so I just tested my water straight from the drum I got from the LFS. It read 1.026. This is the right salinity for the tank correct?

One thing I just thought of which I think I've stuffed up, is I've been topping up evaporation with the same salt water from the LFS I filled the tank with.

Should I just be using normal RO water to top up, and NSW for water changes? If so what can I do to get the salinity back to normal now? I'm about a week and a half into cycling, and my ammonia is down to .50.

 

[matthewh133]

Anyone? Just need to know because it's morning here and I have time to head down to the LFS and get RO water quickly.

 

[redsea]

Yep, only top off with fresh water, not salt.

 

[matthewh133]

Right, thought so. Evaporation would only take the water, not the salt. Silly of me. I'll head down to grab some RO water and do a small water change. Cheers mate.

 

[redsea]

Right, thought so. Evaporation would only take the water, not the salt. Silly of me. I'll head down to grab some RO water and do a small water change. Cheers mate.

Don't worry, I though the same thing at first.

 

[matthewh133]

Just another quickie. I'll be ordering an RO/DI unit soon.

Until then, the water at the LFS is only RO I think, not RO/DI. At least it only says "RO Water" on the sign. Will this be sufficient or does it have to be RO/DI? It will only be for use for the next couple of weeks until my RO/DI unit arrives.

 

[matthewh133]

Hey everyone, just checking up. I tested my water today.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite looks like zero, may be between 0 and 0.25, but pretty sure 0
Nitrate somewhere between 10 and 20

I had to do a 15% water change yesterday to lower my salinity, which is now down to 1.024.

I first added 13 pound of live rock 2.5 weeks ago (which was partly cured, had been at LFS 2 weeks), then added 30 more pound of fresh live rock 1.5 weeks ago, but removed 20 pound of it as I found a couple of aiptasia. I also added around 15-20 pound of base rock a week ago.

Does it look like my cycle is nearly complete? Either way I'm going to leave it another 1 or 1.5 weeks to be safe, but is this too early for my levels to be so low?

 

[matthewh133]

Talking to myself again by the looks of it

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate Dark yellow, maybe between 10-20?
pH 8.2
Salinity 1.025

How much % water change should I do to try and get the nitrate down?

So, as soon as I get this nitrate down the cycle will be complete.. yay!! Is there any advantage to waiting further time periods after the cycle completes before adding fish, or am I good to add a couple of clowns in exactly one week (my birthday!)?

 

[carey]

Not talking to yourself.

I owuld do a 15-20% pwc and then see where youre at.

 

[matthewh133]

Not talking to yourself.

I owuld do a 15-20% pwc and then see where youre at.

Thanks Carey, yeah I'll do it in the next couple of hours and see how I go.

Redid the aquascape a few days ago, took me HOURS! I did come up with something very nice though and there's plenty of caves and holes for the fish to swim though. I'll get an updated picture up soon.

I am a little worried I may have a mantis shrimp though. Every now and then at night (after around 11pm), I clicky sounds from around the tank. It's usually 3 consecutive clicks but not always. I've moved around my rock a lot in the past 3 weeks and never seen any life besides one medium sized snail. I'm just worried because I'll be adding my first fish in a week and really don't want them to become shrimp food!

 

[matthewh133]

Hmm.. so I did probably a 15% water change, and my nitrate is still pretty much the same. I think it's about 5 or 10 on the API test kits thing, but I'm not 100% sure. It's definitely not light enough to be zero. Any idea how to get them down further? Just more water changes?

 

[Freshnoob1]

I want that tank...what are the dimensions?..how much has everything costed so far?

 

[matthewh133]

It's a 36 X 18 X 18. All up everything has probably cost $1400 or so.

 

[matthewh133]

New aquascape, ready for stocking. It took me hours, but I'm very happy with the results. The aim was to create a nice, low structure that had plenty of holes for the fish to swim through and hide under. I also aimed to have plenty of places to put corals. I think I've achieved both of these goals





Just need to get this nitrate down. First fish should be swimming about in one week.

 

[Ausfish]

Beautiful setup, I love it!

 

[matthewh133]

Thanks mate! Will look better with some pretty fishies and coral in there.. next week!

 

[Ausfish]

Thanks mate! Will look better with some pretty fishies and coral in there.. next week!

Hehe I know, waiting is the hard part isn't it? Just remember to take it slow with your sticking plans, saltwater tanks are a painful experience for impatient people(like me)

 

[carey]

Looks good! And yep, take it slow stocking wise. make sure you post a picture of your first creatures.

 

[matthewh133]

Yeah I'll be taking it slow I'll be adding 5-6 turbos on Sunday, then 2 clowns and one small coral on Friday. This isn't too much to start with is it? I then planned on adding a new fish once every 2-3 weeks after that.