Hello all. And just wanted to say first off. That i found this site a few months back and i enjoy reading everyones posts and comments..
I just wanted to get everyones advice as im new to saltwater. Ive owned a 150g tank fro many years now owning freshwater cichlids. I very seldomly did any water changes. Maybe 20 gallons every three months using straight tap water.. Fish thrived and grew like weeds.. I just recently. 3 months ago emptied out the tank and now working on saltwater.. Im going to tell all my steps in short just so everyone knows.
Filled the tank with straight tap water, added a double dose of prime and let it run for 3 weeks. Next added salt and it ran for 2 weeks. Then put in a 2'' layer of crushed coral 4'' layer of dry aragonite. And 1'' layer of live sand, tank has been running cycle for just about 3 months now. Last week i have just added my first 50lbs of live rock. Yes cured.. I cured it in a tank for 2 weeks all levels went to zero. Last night i tested all levels and everything is normal. Ph 8.2 phos. 0 hardness 12. Nitrite 0. Nitrate 0. Calcium lil high. But its 560.. Salinity between .023 .024.
I have 15 nesrea (sp) snails 9 crabs 4 trochus snails in the tank. The only thing i am having issues with is diatoms.. Green algae. Rock and sand have brown algae and green algae. And glass is constantly covered in green... Im just feeling around to see what everyones opinions are? Algae is my only issue 3 months in..
Here is my set up
-150g overflow with a 55g sump home built with refugium.
- led flood lights. 2 50w 12,000k daylights and 1 50w 14,000k daylight, and 2 30w 400-500 nm actinic blue floods
no ro/di water yet.. I have a 40g tote in basement with heater and bubbler in it, i put tap water in it with prime. And it sites for a week before putting in my tank.
Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated
ADDING.. LIGHTS WERE ON FOR 10 HOURS A DAY.. SHUT THEM DOWN AND RAN THEM FOR 5 HOURS A DAY. ALGAE SLOWED.. MOVED THAM BACK UP TO 8 HOURS A DAY AND ALGAE IS SLOWER. BUT STILL FORMING ON ROCKS AND GLASS
I just wanted to get everyones advice as im new to saltwater. Ive owned a 150g tank fro many years now owning freshwater cichlids. I very seldomly did any water changes. Maybe 20 gallons every three months using straight tap water.. Fish thrived and grew like weeds.. I just recently. 3 months ago emptied out the tank and now working on saltwater.. Im going to tell all my steps in short just so everyone knows.
Filled the tank with straight tap water, added a double dose of prime and let it run for 3 weeks. Next added salt and it ran for 2 weeks. Then put in a 2'' layer of crushed coral 4'' layer of dry aragonite. And 1'' layer of live sand, tank has been running cycle for just about 3 months now. Last week i have just added my first 50lbs of live rock. Yes cured.. I cured it in a tank for 2 weeks all levels went to zero. Last night i tested all levels and everything is normal. Ph 8.2 phos. 0 hardness 12. Nitrite 0. Nitrate 0. Calcium lil high. But its 560.. Salinity between .023 .024.
I have 15 nesrea (sp) snails 9 crabs 4 trochus snails in the tank. The only thing i am having issues with is diatoms.. Green algae. Rock and sand have brown algae and green algae. And glass is constantly covered in green... Im just feeling around to see what everyones opinions are? Algae is my only issue 3 months in..
Here is my set up
-150g overflow with a 55g sump home built with refugium.
- led flood lights. 2 50w 12,000k daylights and 1 50w 14,000k daylight, and 2 30w 400-500 nm actinic blue floods
no ro/di water yet.. I have a 40g tote in basement with heater and bubbler in it, i put tap water in it with prime. And it sites for a week before putting in my tank.
Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated
ADDING.. LIGHTS WERE ON FOR 10 HOURS A DAY.. SHUT THEM DOWN AND RAN THEM FOR 5 HOURS A DAY. ALGAE SLOWED.. MOVED THAM BACK UP TO 8 HOURS A DAY AND ALGAE IS SLOWER. BUT STILL FORMING ON ROCKS AND GLASS