New Tank

Ok guys steer me right. I just setup a 34 gallon Solara with the builtin sump. Very nice little system. I started the tank wrong by using tap water. Tap water in Houston is not so great. I did get a OR system and have doen 2 50% water changes with the OR water, I use IO salt also.

When I started the tank I used live sand and put 10lbs of live rock 1 week later. System looks great now a month later. The lighting as of now is weak, I have just a 50W florsent which is just a temp setup which came with the system. I will be installing a 150W HQI when I get the extra cash.

There is a lot of brown algie on the sand and rock. I did another water 50% water change, syphon tthe sand and scrubed the rock. I have decided to keep the light off till the tank cycled?????

I was told by my LFS that by using OR water I can add whatever fish etc. without waiting for tank to cycle as long as I do a 50% change weekly. I have no fish or coral as of yet and have no plans to add any for a month or so.

My question is if I do 50% water cahnge weekly wll this be enough to keep things in check?

Do I need to do 50% water changes every week?

Does the tank need to cycle?

Why am I getting the brown algie? Poor Lighting? Or from the crapy water I started the tank off with?

Sorry for all the questions....

 

I am by no means an expert so correct me if I am wrong. I thought that while you are cycling a new tank you are NOT supposed to do water changes until everything balances out. If you are doing water changes won't that give you inaccurate readings on your what your nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels are.

 

Thanks for the reply Inwall. I have not got a test kit yet, i'll have one soon to check everyhting to get a good base line.

Would it be wise to leave the light off for now?

Also the rear sump has micro media balls. The balls are suppose to be under water in the sump. From what I have learned, the balls are not suppose to be submerged is this ture?

One thing I'm lost on is if you use RO water how does Ammonia, Nitrite, or Nitrate grow with no fish? and If I do 50% water changes weekly should this keep everything in check?

 

That's what I'm trying to figure out. My LFS guy told me setup the tank put fish, coal etc in. 1 week do a 50% water change and do a 50% water change every week with RO water and I should never havea problem.

PLease someone tell me what they think about this. I understand whats trying to be accomplshed here but I have never done it this way. I have always done the month or so setup and let the tank cycle first.

Being a 50% weekly change would seem like the tank would not ever reach a cycle? Is this the case? Or after time it will reach a point that it should be???? I'm lost HELP!!! LOL!!

 

I believe with the live rock and sand that you added, that should have enough die off on it to get the cycle going. Also remember if you add more live rock later you may get another mini cycle.

If it was me and I was planning on adding more live rock I would do it now and would monitor my water params and wait the cycle out. That is just my opinion.

 

Depending on how long tank has been set up I would consider removing all the in your words "not so great" tap water and replacing it with All RO water. Algae might be coming from the water, I do not know....

But if that isn't a possibility the we go from there.

First, no water changes.

Second turn off lights, that is nothing in there that need lights except for algae and that you don't want to help grow by giving it light right now.

Third, go buy some test kits, how can you tell when cycle is over if you don't have test kits. I am not recommending them but I use API for everything except for PH and calcium which I use Salifert and MG, red sea.

Fourth, if you don,t put a piece of shrimp or a fish in there you have no cycle. You need organic matter, a piece of shrimp, fist poop, something to start the cycle.

As far as fish go, you can add a Damsel to the tank now but no more than one. Do not do water changes you will just prolong the cycle. Many disagree with doing this and say just use shrimp, as far as I am concerned you do what you want to do both ways work.

Edit: Oh yeah, if'n you don't ask questions you can't learn so don't apologize please, and Welcome to the best little Reefing site on the web!

 

Thinking about adding some base rock. I sitll need about 30lbs more rock at least. How would base rock do? The live rock I have now should cure the base rock right?

 

Your LFS just wants to sell you stuff, then they want to sell you even more stuff when that stuff dies! If I were you I think I would look for another place to go!

Read my friend! Read the Three Steps to a Reef in the articles section.
Or read How to set up your very own saltwater aquarium in six pages,
or even better How NOT to set up your first reef tank. and notice the re-occurring theme..... Take it slow and you will not regret it!

 

Yes, base rock is a great way to go, cheap, no unwanted organisms. Takes a little while to become established but you wont regret it.