HELP - JBJ RL20 frag tank setup

Discussion in 'Frags' started by dannylez, May 5, 2014.

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  1. dannylez

    dannylez Plankton

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2014
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    cocoa beach, florida
    HI.
    I just bought the JBJ RL20 frag tank with 36" stand and Razor 120w 16k led light at the reef-a-palooza here in Orlando, Fl. It has an eggcrate raised about 1.5 inches and there is a spray bar for pump return. I have to admit it's a very nice looking setup with the tank and led light.

    I'm going to be using it to propagate mostly zoa's and paly's and soft corals. It came with the standard 3 stage filter (sponge, ceramic media and carbon). I just added the water and have it running. There are a few questions I have about cycling the tank:

    1. Is there anything I can add/replace to enhance the filtering system?
    2. are there products that I can get to speed up and/or enhance the cycle process?
    3. what would be the recommended cycle time before I can place corals in the tank and what tests should I run on the water?
    4. I might add 1 fish. any recommendation on what fish to add and do I have to do anything extra to the tank for the fish?

    Any other advice and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks;
    Dan
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !

    Hi Dan, welcome to 3reef.

    1. The Ceramic media will act as a medium for the growth of the beneficial bacteria. You can add more to that area or you can add live rock rubble. Just make sure to clean out detritus routinely.
    2. You can add Mr.Tims One and Only. You can add Microbacter7 as well.
    3. You're going to need to test for Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Typically a cycle last from 6-8 weeks. You can influence the time it takes to cycle by introducing already seeded items to the frag tank like live cured rock, floss or sponge (mechanical filtration) to the tank.
    4. You can add a fish after the initial cycle. Any of the smaller damsel fish will work nicely.


    Since this is a frag tank with no rock just egg crate or frag rack, the tank has limited area for the development of denitrifying bacteria. For this reason I would bio-balls or ceramic rings and use sponge or floss initially.

    Congrats on the new tank.
     
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