Getting back into saltwater

[Strider199]

No substrate? Never really thought of that after the tank was ready for it. I will keep it in mind but I do see myself adding it down the road. The only tank I have ever had without substrate is my Betta tank. Mind you the bottom has enough java moss in it to make it look like a lawn. lol

Enough talk of freshwater tanks in this thread.

Just waiting for more R/O water from this system. I figure I'll have the tank half full by New Years. (12:00am that is). hehehe.

I appreciate your guidance and experience Cliff. Thanks and have a great evening.

[Strider199]

So today I was into getting a glass tank to make a sump. I bought a 20 gallon long and a sheet of acrylic. The 20 gallon tank was 1 inch too wide to fit inside my stand so I'm looking for something that will. I only have 11.25 inches in width which means I'm looking at making a sump from scratch with acrylic. This hobby is getting more complicated every day.

[Strider199]

I will be buying a few cut sheets tomorrow at a plastic specialist to make my sump/fuge which will fit under my existing stand. I'll learn to weld the acrylic together to make a container which will fit and accommodate my future state.

The adventure continues.

I also did a 10% water change and skimmed the scum from the surface of the tank today (alot of dead krill like shrimp floating on the surface). Ammonia still at .25 before the water change.

In for the long haul baby.

[Strider199]

Still in the cycle process. Todays Ammonia results, 0.50. It's been almost 3 weeks just cycling with uncured live rock with one 10% water change last week, is this about right?

I'm still working on a sump so the only water agitation in the tank are two power heads because the sump/overflow box isn't ready yet. Work is keeping me from finishing the project.

I was expecting an odour from the rock but so far so good (it must have gone through that faze at the lfs. hehehe).

[Cliff]

That is not unheard of Strider. It sounds like you just had a lot more die-off on the rocks than expected / typical.

How much flow are you getting in the tank from the two powerheads ?

[Strider199]

I have two of these, one at each end of the tank.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/koralia-evolution-750.html

They seem to move the water around quite well. One is slightly pointed upward (to agitate the surface), the other is pointed slightly down.

[Cliff]

That's about 26 or 27 times flow for a 55 gallon tank. That should be OK, so I'm guessing that your rock was out of water for a long enough time to get a large amount of die-off. Not a problem really, it will just slow things down a little at the worst.

Have you tested nitrites or nitrates yet ?

[Strider199]

I have the time since I'm still making the sump, so I'm in no rush.

I have not tested nitrites or nitrates yet. I will in a bit. I figured as long as ammonia tested present there wasn't a real need to test further. But I am curious now. Thanks.

[Strider199]

Just tested the tank;

Ammonia - 0.5 maybe 0.25 tough call.

Nitrites, sky blue, 0.00

Nitrates - using the reef kit, 10.... surprised.

[Strider199]

Tested ammonia today and wouldn't you know it. 0.00ppm. Now things get serious.

Should I add some food to feed the BB or just let it sit until I purchase a live critter?

I'm thinking shrimp or crab as my first inhabitant.