After 5 months of research, buying equipment and setup, I am finally in the cycle stage. The tank is a 120g AGA with dual overflows. 100 pounds of base rock and another 65 pounds of LR. I expect to get about another 30 pounds of LR for the tank later this week and some more rubble for the fuge. 210 pounds of sand and another 40 pounds of LS. A Tunze nano stream 6045 is placed on the right side of the tank. I have a Koralia 4 on back order. I ordered it two weeks ago originally expected it to be shipped on the 16th. Well I'm still waiting. I expect to receive it sometime next week.
I use a Mag 18 as the return pump from the sump. It is totally quiet. Can't here it all. I diverted some of the return flow to the fuge controlled by a ball valve. I also ran another line back to the return area. I wasn't sure if the 18 would be too powerful and wanted to plan ahead. Fortunately the ball valve there remains closed as I haven't had to use it. It does allow me to expand in the future if I want to use it for something else.
Early this evening I noticed one problem that I will look into later today. I noticed a slight humming sound coming from the sump area. I turned off the Mag 7 that is pumping to the skimmer leaving only the Mag 18 running. The 18 is totally quite and I couldn't hear it at all. I turned the 18 off and turned the 7 back on and found the culprit. It is the Mag 7. I moved it around, held it above the sump floor so that it wasn't touching any glass. The humming still exists. I'll inspect and address it sometime tomorrow.
Anyway, we'll see how the cycle goes. I'll begin testing tomorrow as well as attempt to get better pics. The aquascape looks better than displayed in the pics.
Oh yeah, Pay no attention to the wires under the tank. It will be cleaned up (installed) tomorrow.
I use a Mag 18 as the return pump from the sump. It is totally quiet. Can't here it all. I diverted some of the return flow to the fuge controlled by a ball valve. I also ran another line back to the return area. I wasn't sure if the 18 would be too powerful and wanted to plan ahead. Fortunately the ball valve there remains closed as I haven't had to use it. It does allow me to expand in the future if I want to use it for something else.
Early this evening I noticed one problem that I will look into later today. I noticed a slight humming sound coming from the sump area. I turned off the Mag 7 that is pumping to the skimmer leaving only the Mag 18 running. The 18 is totally quite and I couldn't hear it at all. I turned the 18 off and turned the 7 back on and found the culprit. It is the Mag 7. I moved it around, held it above the sump floor so that it wasn't touching any glass. The humming still exists. I'll inspect and address it sometime tomorrow.
Anyway, we'll see how the cycle goes. I'll begin testing tomorrow as well as attempt to get better pics. The aquascape looks better than displayed in the pics.
Oh yeah, Pay no attention to the wires under the tank. It will be cleaned up (installed) tomorrow.
