redsea's 125g Reef Build

[Ibrahim]

I don't think it'd be an instant cycle but a very short one. What lighting do you currently have?

[redsea]

Originally Posted by Ibrahim

I don't think it'd be an instant cycle but a very short one. What lighting do you currently have?

Great, thanks!


Here is my light.

AquaticLife 72" T5 HO 8 Lamp Fixture with Lunar Lights

[TLTGF]

No problem on a clam.

[redsea]

Originally Posted by TLTGF

No problem on a clam.

Fantastic, thanks!

Will one take all of the filter feeders out of the tank (meaning there wouldn't be enough food for other clams)? Sorry if that sounds confusing.

[TLTGF]

I wouldn't think so. They aren't that efficient

[redsea]

Originally Posted by TLTGF

I wouldn't think so. They aren't that efficient

That is good. There are so many tyes that I like, lol. I really like the "Super Blues" a lot.

[TLTGF]

I have a derasa mainly because it's the lowest light needing of the bunch but I'd love a maxima, to me it looks amazing.

I have mine 24" under (on sandbed) a 4-bulb aquatic life T5 - seems good to me!

[redsea]

Update and questions:

Today I put in the rock from LA (45 lbs), and I really like the quick rockscape I made. I will post pictures later. I also added the water from the garbage bin my LR was in. Is it normal for this water (from the garbage bin) to be yellowish? Also, I was wondering how you all would recommend cycling and what I would need for it.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have all of the equipment running and I will add some LR from my 55g.

I was also looking at some corals on LA, and I found some I really like, I will get around to posting those eventually, lol.

I also wanted to know how often I should do PWCs. I have had the LR in the garbage bin since Thurs, and didn't change the water. Should I be changing the water in the 125g soon?
Thanks for reading!

[Buffy]

Ok I got in pretty late so I gotta go to page one to read. I'm following too or should I say I'm catching up.

[redsea]

Originally Posted by Buffy

Ok I got in pretty late so I gotta go to page one to read. I'm following too or should I say I'm catching up.

Fantastic! Thank you for following!

[Jlsardina]

Originally Posted by redsea

Update and questions:

Today I put in the rock from LA (45 lbs), and I really like the quick rockscape I made. I will post pictures later. I also added the water from the garbage bin my LR was in. Is it normal for this water (from the garbage bin) to be yellowish? Also, I was wondering how you all would recommend cycling and what I would need for it.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have all of the equipment running and I will add some LR from my 55g.

I was also looking at some corals on LA, and I found some I really like, I will get around to posting those eventually, lol.

I also wanted to know how often I should do PWCs. I have had the LR in the garbage bin since Thurs, and didn't change the water. Should I be changing the water in the 125g soon?
Thanks for reading!

I wouldn't do a water change until the cycle is complete. The water is a slight yellow probably because their was some die off in shipping times. As far as cycling- its preference. Some people use a dead table shrimp while others use pure ammonia from the hardware store. Either way- when you can see that all the ammonia dissipates into nitrates in a 24 hour period the cycle is complete. But just to be sure- get the ammonia back up to 4.0 and make sure it can do it again. During cycle- leave your lights off- make sure your water is running with powerheads and cycled thru your sump. I'd recommend testing your water a few days after you introduce your ammonia source to keep tabs on it. Don't do a water change until your cycle is complete though or you will just prolong the process. That's why it's so important to not put fish in a cycling tank (that and it's torture to the fish).

[redsea]

Originally Posted by Jlsardina

I wouldn't do a water change until the cycle is complete. The water is a slight yellow probably because their was some die off in shipping times. As far as cycling- its preference. Some people use a dead table shrimp while others use pure ammonia from the hardware store. Either way- when you can see that all the ammonia dissipates into nitrates in a 24 hour period the cycle is complete. But just to be sure- get the ammonia back up to 4.0 and make sure it can do it again. During cycle- leave your lights off- make sure your water is running with powerheads and cycled thru your sump. I'd recommend testing your water a few days after you introduce your ammonia source to keep tabs on it. Don't do a water change until your cycle is complete though or you will just prolong the process. That's why it's so important to not put fish in a cycling tank (that and it's torture to the fish).

Thanks for the pointers!

[redsea]

Here are the promised pictures.

[Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by redsea

Here are the promised pictures.

Can't see them

[redsea]

Thanks for letting me know.

[redsea]

Originally Posted by Jlsardina

I wouldn't do a water change until the cycle is complete. The water is a slight yellow probably because their was some die off in shipping times. As far as cycling- its preference. Some people use a dead table shrimp while others use pure ammonia from the hardware store. Either way- when you can see that all the ammonia dissipates into nitrates in a 24 hour period the cycle is complete. But just to be sure- get the ammonia back up to 4.0 and make sure it can do it again. During cycle- leave your lights off- make sure your water is running with powerheads and cycled thru your sump. I'd recommend testing your water a few days after you introduce your ammonia source to keep tabs on it. Don't do a water change until your cycle is complete though or you will just prolong the process. That's why it's so important to not put fish in a cycling tank (that and it's torture to the fish).

Is there anything I should be wary of when purchasing ammonia? Is there a kind with chemicals that I am not supposed to use? Thanks.

Also in other news; I got some more sand today. I hope to setup the sump, and hopefully add some ammonia tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for following! I really appreciate it a lot!

[coffeetwitch]

pure ammonia from ace hardware seems to be the best deal and most common that i read about on here.

glad your coming along.

[redsea]

Originally Posted by coffeetwitch

pure ammonia from ace hardware seems to be the best deal and most common that i read about on here.

glad your coming along.

Great, thanks for the advice. I am glad I am getting there too! I hope to have some fish swimming in here sometime in February.

[coffeetwitch]

like wise. and ive enjoyed following along and learning new things as it goes.

[mrbee2828]

Glad to see things are coming along. Following!