Advice for new tank cycling

[ShadowSurgeon]

Here at my specs on the tank i have just begun to cycle.

30 Gal long (glass)
Current fixture PCs 2x96W Dual Daylight, 2x96W Dual Actinic w/ moon lights (384W total)
Seaclone 100 protien skimmer
Emperor 280 Pump/filter
Penguin 200 Pump/filter
Tronic 100W heater
Live Sand/crushed shell substrate

I just have regular store bought/mixed salter water in the tank right now, but have added calcium and trance elements.

I'm running carbon in both filters right now, and i have Fluval BioMax in Emperor's the extra media slot.

I've got the lights set on a timed rotation at:
Actinics from 9am to 11pm
daylights from 11am to 9pm
Moonlight from 11pm to 9am

I also have a mass of Caulerpa serrulata floating in the tank right now.

________________________________________

The tank has been running for 4 days now and as of yet i haven't gone to have my water tested, but my salinity seems to be sitting around 1.028.

Is there anything im doing wrong?
What else could i do to improve?

When should i expect an algae bloom?
Any adivce would be welcome.

Thanks

[telman2010]

I would lower your sg down to at least 1.026. Otherwise just be patient the algae bloom will happen in a couple of weeks. Good luck.

[coral reefer]

Welcome!!
Yes I would lower your salinity to 1.024-1.026. Also, what dou you have in your tank to set your cycle in motion.. ie, damsel fish, prawn or krill. You don't need to have the lights on for as long as you have them on now, especially since you don't have corals... You may want to place the caluerpa in a refugium and grow it in their as oppossed to growing it in your maun tank as it tends to grow fast and then you may have a mess trying to control it. (Just a suggestion). Without the caluerpa in your tank, you can cycle your tank without lights. Because of the caulerpa in your tank now you need to leave the lights on longer so the caluerpa doesn't die.
Good luck with your tank!!What do you plan on having in your tank?

[ShadowSurgeon]

I plan on keeping mostly hard and soft corals, hence why I opted to buy such a strong light fixture. (MH lights are pretty but i don't want to deal with the excess heat.)

I've always had a love for SPS corals esp. acropora, birds nest and then softs like mushrooms/ricordea.
Not really looking to keep alot of fish this time around... I'd rather focus on the corals and inverts.

[rickzter]

384 is a lot of light for a 30g, especially the 30g tanks usually being about 18-20 inches deep. I'd be careful with corals as it could damage them. You will definately be able to keep nice acropora and high intensity clams. You can reduce the heat the metal halide puts out by running fans on both ends.

I've read bad things about caulerpa.

[ShadowSurgeon]

Frist, thanks for all the input!

SO let me confirm what I should do first before asking more questions:
1. lower salinity, just pull some out and add some OR fresh untill i get to my desired.
2. Cut my lighting time down.

I plan on removing the caulerpa once my tank has finished cycling.
Or should i just pull it the hell out now?

My other concern is should I do the whole dead shrimp thing, or add a live fish/shrimp?
(or does it really matter which i choose?)
Or.... is the live sand i've added enough to seed the cycling process alone?

[Frizza]

I would take some water out and replace with some fresh water as you dont have anything in your tank yet.

If you put in a live shrimp it will most certainly die as they are not very hardy and are very sensitive! I used a couple of cocktail shrimp and it kicked off the cycle nicely. The good thing with this is that you wont put any undue stress on the fish and possibly waste money just in case they don't make it. The other thing is that you can then pick fish that you want for your main display rather than being stuck with the aggressive damsels!

Live sand wont be enough to start the cycle you need decent amounts of waste, hence a decaying cocktail shrimp works a treat.

Good luck!