First SW ever owned...Build thread

you're right, the water is crystal clear

 

Parameters:
Salinity = 1.026-1.028
Temp: 79.9
NH3: 0.25
NO2: 0.05
NO3: 0

I'm slowly starting the cycle. I started with 5 lbs of live rock, 20 of cured dry and 5 of dry. I have been ghost feeding pretty much everyday twice a day, for 8 days. I have seen life. Some brown algae on rocks and a feather duster in one of the pieces of LR. I have since turned the lights off completely during the cycle. Below are a few pics of the feather duster and algae. Any comments or suggestions are welcome

 

All, I decided to throw a 2.5" long raw table shrimp in the sump last night in a media bag.WOW did that kick in the cycle!
in less than 24hrs; the parameters:
pH= 8.0
Temp: 78.2
NH3: 1.0
NO2: 0.5
NO3: ~8.0

~45hours before these readings i was barely off the ground with no measurable NO2,NO3 and 0.25NH3.

My question is how long should I leave that shrimp in there? Rememeber that I ahve been ghost feeding up until this evening. This shrimp size is likely overkill for the size of the tank. I'm thinking of leaving the shrimp in until I hit 4ppm NH3, then take it out and continue ghost feeding? your thoughts?

 

THE CYCLE IS DONE!
NH3 - 0.0
NO2- 0.0
NO3- ~15.0

Sadly I have found Bryposis growing in my tank. So I plan to treat that before I start stocking. See for yourself.....

 

congrats Redd!

 

Congrats. Good that you can get that briopsis squared away before you stock.

 

Things have progressed nicely, overall. FIRST FISH IS IN! I tried to knock back the Bryopsis, but as you'll see in the video (3:03), it's still with me. I went ahead and stocked anyways in anticipation with treating for it as I go with Mg. My LFS said that the elevated Mg will not affect the snails or clown, so I went for it.
I also am borrowing a turbo snail, purchased 5 Nassarius & 2 Margarita snails,

I'm wondering what the maroon/purple growth is you'll see. I'm leaning towards Cyanobacteria.
Enjoy!

 

The maroon is cyano, just syphon during next water change. I would take a tooth brush to that rock since it's very little bryopsis instead elevating levels in a new tank. Congrats on the fish.

 

I haven't posted updates in a while, so here is one.
Params:
Ca - 380
Mg - 1275
PO4 - ?
NH3, NO2, NO3 - 0.00
AlkH - 8.4 dKh
ph- 8.1 - 8.3
Salinity - 1.025
Temp - ~77degF
Lights - 5.25hr 10K, 10hr Actinic Blue, Blue LED varies ~3hrs (all stock BC29 PCompacts) This is a reduced time interval, see algae below
Media- stock Bio-balls, Active Carbon & Floss, (in that order in chamber 1, from bottom to top, 80%, 10%, 10% of the space) ~30lbs rock (now live)
Hydor SS nano
MJ1200 return
1 hydor koralia 425gph waver

~13% WC weekly (4 gallons) with Red Sea Coral Pro
RO/DI from LFS

Livestock:
1 Snowflake Clown (doing very well) ---- New Life pellets ~3-5 every day, 90-100% is consumed.
2 Margarita, 1 mex turbo, 5 nassarius, snails

Corals:
1 zooa frag with ~7 heads
1 duncan frag with 3 heads
1 rhodactis green mushroom, hanging in there after a tumultuous acclimation

Algae/pests I had/have:
Bryopsis, -------------Mexican Turbo has grown a taste for it so he's the tank hero right now
GHA: -----------------comes and goes in severity but nothing off the charts, probably will get 1-2 more margarita snails
Dinoflagellates, -----physically remove when seen, not too bad of a colony, but got close
Cyanobacteria, -----I think it's waning
Diatoms, --------------blooming, hopefully will die off in a few weeks,
1 small, newly discovered Aiptasia ! YESSSSSS! Look Closely in the last pic for it, under the zooa polyp.
Coraline Algae is beginning to form as well which looks way cooler in person than on the net!

Yes I know I should be testing for PO4, and that is likely the cause for algae outbreaks, but from what I have researched the test kits are inconsistent and expensive. Also, I can observe I have algae. I already know what feeds it (phosphates) and how to treat it. I am running carbon and haven't gotten to the algae levels in which I am willing to invest in a reactor and GFO or wheatever, so I am not buying a test kit for it as of yet. My brain tests for it and the results are, I have them, and its not too high. I also, have used Mg ion to raise low levels in the tank already a few times. Here are the pictures.....

 

Looks like you're on your way!!!!

Most important thing is to be PATIENT!